We live in a time where we can walk into a market and find almost every kind of Fruit and Vegetable any day of the year
We can often forget that the strawberries we’re eating in October didn’t come from a local grower. It could have traveled hundreds, even thousands of miles to reach us. Educating our children about seasonal food helps them learn where their food comes from. To understand that they grow naturally and are best eaten during certain seasons. Their nutritional value and flavor are at their best when in season. It also supports local farmers, and suppliers and gives us a greater variety in our diets.
Using a harvest calendar is a great way to show them what is available during certain times of the year. Try out this suggested link: Texas crop harvest calendar to discover when fruit and vegetables are normally available and ready to pick in Texas.
Get together with other school moms and plan a fun day at the market or farm
Take the kiddos to the farmers’ markets throughout the year to see fresh fruits and veggies firsthand is a wonderful morning and a great memory for you and the family. You can also plan visits to local farms to give the kids the opportunity to see where their food comes from and pick their own. YUMMY
Grow your own
Growing their own tomatoes or berries, even in pots, provides the opportunity to plant a seed and truly grasp where their food comes from. The process of using their hands to plant a seed, caring for it, and picking something they can eat is a wonderful teaching tool.
Another great outing is to visit your local grocers
Show them the labels of where the produce comes from. Using a map helps put it in perspective. Explain that when it travels that far it loses its flavor and nutritional value. You could even buy some and compare it with the local farms’ produce. Let them taste for themselves. It is amazing the difference in flavor.
Getting your children involved with buying, picking, growing their food, and maybe even cooking in the kitchen will help them make good food choices
throughout their life and be able to pass it on to others
So let’s review the top 3 reasons to eat fruit and vegetables in season:
- Tastes Better
- Better for the environment
- More nutritious
While you are busy learning all about local food, check out one way you could help another family. Backpack Friends is all about helping keep kids fed.
A wonderful local organization that could use a little help. Share the love and shop local.
Now that you have your fruits and veggies
Check out these links on Tips on Cooking with Kids and Homemade Lunchables
Most of all have fun, food is fun when the team gets together from the market to the kitchen! Life-long lessons that the kids will look back one day and say, “remember when…”
At Wilco Wellness, we believe that health is a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. It infuses positive energy into the body, mind, and spirit.
The best journey is living to support a complete state of harmony.
Thank you for reading our blog on Teaching Our Children the Importance of Eating Seasonal Fruits and vegetables.
