Emily Eileen Carter, Special to WNC Parent Published 6:00 a.m. ET June 25, 2019
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Western North Carolina offers an abundance of places to buy fresh, local produce from grocery stores to tailgate markets to onsite at area farms.
But getting kids excited about eating those fresh vegetables and fruits can be a challenge. How do you rewrite your child’s food story to promote healthy eating and investment in their foods? A few local experts offer these suggestions:
Discover the story of your food
“It’s important for kids to learn where their food comes from,” says Mary Carroll Dodd, of Red Scout Farm in Black Mountain, and a mother of two, explains. “We live in a society where there is not lot of understanding about that. Kids are disconnected from their food and where it comes from.”
Start by visiting a tailgate market.
“Helping your children discover the story of their food, how it grew, where it came from, and who grew it can be a powerful tool in promoting healthy eating,” Carroll Dodd says.
Another idea? Introduce children to those who grow their food.
“When food has a face, a story, when kids feel a connection to it, they are more likely to be invested in and try a variety of healthy foods,” says Emily Jackson, Program Director for Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. “For example, in local Ingles stores we began posting ‘Farmer Profiles’ over produce sourced by local farmers. We’ve heard kids talk about this and make that connection in our school programs. It’s amazing. They are connecting what they eat with a story and person who grew their food.”
Let your children shop for food
Taking your child with you to buy your groceries, whether to a farmers market or U-pick farm or supermarket, is an important part of promoting better eating habits.
“If kids have a relationship with their food they are more likely to try it,” Jackson says. “If you go the farmers market, perhaps make it a game, where they try to buy as many different colors as possible.
At a tailgate market, shoppers may get to meet the man or woman who grew the food.
“This is also a great time for them to talk to the farmer get to know the person behind the food,” she adds.
Let them cook
To further your child’s interest and investment in their diet, bring them into the kitchen. They can add pre-chopped food, stir or sprinkle spices to feel part of the process.
You can also let them help add veggies to some of their favorite foods.
“I try to let my children help me cook even if it’s just adding something I’ve already prepped,” Carroll Dodd says. “I also do my best to sneak in veggies any way I can! Spinach, Swiss chard and/or kale blended and in muffins or in pasta sauces. I sauté or roast veggies and then tuck them into quesadillas or add them to pizza.”
Model healthful, positive food behavior
It’s not uncommon for parents to want their children to eat healthier without monitoring their own diet or attitude toward food. Modeling a healthful diet and having a positive attitude about foods are important.
“Don’t blame kids for bad eating,” Jackson says. “Children often take cues from parents. Parents need to model eating good food, make it fun, keep it positive.
“Often, I hear parents say, ‘Oh my child won’t eat that.’ Parents need to be open about trying and continuing to offer healthy food options. When they keep food experiences positive and model good eating themselves their children often follow.”
Grow your own garden
Wither it’s just a few potted herbs, a raised bed or a plot behind your home, consider growing a small garden with your child.
“Gardening definitely makes my boys want to eat more because they can eat what they ‘grew’ right out of the ground,” Carroll Dodd says. “They can pick anything they want to eat right then.”
Jackson encourages adults to get kids involved in every aspect of eating.
“Children can be the change makers in their families. They can lead the whole family towards healthier food choices and lifestyles,” she says. “Let them become a part of their own food story and experience is an investment in their health and diet.”
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