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It's quite common to hear of children not liking, hating, and downright refusing to eat their vegetables. Knowing what's best for their kids, parents encourage them to the best of their abilities to eat those greens! But it's not always fun! Getting your kids involved in the food process by helping them plant a garden is one way to make eating those vegetables fun and rewarding. The best part - your kids will get the nutrients they need while developing habits to ensure a healthy adulthood eating pattern.
Great ideas for getting them to eat what they grow:
Go to a nursery. It’s planting season, so instead of taking them to the toy store, let your nieces and nephews pick out a fresh herb or a tomato plant to take home and nurture – they don’t need a yard for these plants.
Take them to the Valparaiso farmer’s market! It’s not quite the same as seeing food in the ground but many farmers love sharing stories and your kids could pick out a new fruit or vegetable as a treat to eat at the market or take home to prepare together. The Valpo Farmers Market is on Saturdays in May from 8a - 3p and can be found on the corner of Lafayette and Indiana streets in the future Central Park Plaza.
Take them to a farm. Lots of farms are connected to Community Supported Agriculture programs (which deliver boxes weekly to customers) and welcome visitors – some may even have special activities for the kids. Click here to find a Valparaiso Farm to visit!
Go berry picking. We are a little early for berry season there are lots of Pick Your Own farms that offer great produce and an afternoon of fun for children.
Find a neighbor with a garden. I’ve never met a gardener that doesn’t love giving a tour of their beautiful yard – many would be flattered if you asked them to stop by with your nieces and nephews. You’ll probably end up leaving with a fresh bouquet of flowers and some just-picked produce.
Start your own garden. This is the time of year to begin planting! If you’re looking for tips on how to get started, visit www.backyardgardener.com.
After you have collected a few vegetables from your food adventure, try serving them raw with a Homemade Ranch Dip. It takes only minutes to prepare and the lack of preservatives makes it a lot healthier than most store bought dips. For even more fun, let the kids help prepare the dip. If you’re willing to use a food processor, try blending in cream cheese or a avocado for a different consistency and flavor.
Homemade, Kid- Friendly Ranch Dip:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup whole milk plain yogurt (low-fat products won’t provide the correct consistency)
1 tablespoon of lime juice
1-2 tablespoons minced fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, tarragon
¼ teaspoon crushed garlic (more kid-friendly than fresh garlic)
¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
Fresh ground pepper to taste
Combine mayonnaise and sour cream in a small bowl – blend them together very well. Add lime juice, minced herbs and garlic - stir gently. Add salt and pepper and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serve dip with a platter of crunchy vegetables such as carrot sticks, pepper strips, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, or blanched snow peas.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves 2-4
Enjoy!
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