Farm to Table Activities for Healthy Kids

 Image courtesy of Flickr

With the rate of diabetes and obesity skyrocketing for children across the country, it’s more important than ever to instill an understanding and appreciation for whole and natural foods in our children. The “Farm to Table” movement aims to help children and adults ditch processed, chemical-laden foods and get back to eating healthy, farm grown foods that our bodies were designed to eat and enjoy. These activities can help educate children about whole, healthy foods in a fun and interactive way.

Join Your Local CSA

Signing up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share is not only a fantastic way to get a steady stream of vegetables onto your family’s plates but also a good opportunity to show your children the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables available in your area and how they are grown and harvested. A CSA share not only supports your community’s agriculture but gives kids an opportunity to see where their food is grown. CSA shares are often picked up right at the farm they are grown and offer shareholders dinners, seminars, and tours of the farm to enjoy in addition to their vegetables.

Visit a Dairy Farm

While your child may start every morning with a fresh glass of milk, children often don’t understand where that milk truly comes from. A visit to a local dairy farm provides children with an up close look at how milk is produced and processed. Many dairy farms offer tours to the public, offering instruction and observation of the large herds of cows, milking rooms, and processing centers. Buy a bottle of fresh milk to make cheese or butter to extend the fun.

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Raise Backyard Chickens

The backyard chicken movement is sweeping small towns and big cities alike. More local governments are allowing families to raise small flocks of poultry and if your community is one of the thousands that allow backyard chickens, consider raising a few with your children. Chickens are low maintenance and entertaining pets that not only are adorable as chicks but provide children with an interesting window into where their store-bought eggs originate.

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Plant a Garden

Victory gardens used to be a national necessity but today’s produce can easily be obtained at the local grocery store year round. Children often have no idea what connection weather patterns and rainfall have to do with growing vegetables. Teach your child about local agricultural with a hands-on project that not only provides an educational experience but also a lot of fun by planting a small garden.

Pick Your Own

Pick-Your-Own is mostly associated with apples in the fall but throughout the year, pick-your-own farms allow families to scavenge for their fruits based on seasonal selection. Call local farms to find out when each season is due to arrive and take your children out for an afternoon filled with fun, fruits, and foraging. Farms often have small side projects like producing cider or raising bees so ask about any additional opportunities to learn about local agriculture.

With access to junk foods and sugary drinks unavoidable, teaching kids about proper nutrition early is essential. Rather than making your kids sit at the table until their vegetables are gone or giving in to the constant cry for fast food, make healthy eating an interactive and interesting family event. Foster good nutrition by teaching kids about where their food originates and how farmers produce what they find on the table.