Discover how gardening can increase your child’s vegetable intake. Learn how involving your kids in the garden can lead to a love for fresh produce. Start your own garden adventure today with your kids.
Vegetables are packed with essential nutrients that help kids grow and help fight off illnesses. But sometimes, getting kids to eat their vegetables can be a challenge.
That’s where planting a garden comes in. By growing their own vegetables, kids can develop a love for fresh, healthy foods while also learning valuable lessons about responsibility.
Do you know growing your own fruits and vegetables increases the number of fruits / vegetables your kids eat? Kids love trying the foods that they grow.
My friend Sarah decided to plant a small vegetable garden in her backyard. She thought it would be a fun project for her two boys, Jack and Alex, during the summer break.
They started by digging up the soil and planting seeds for tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots. Every day, the boys watered the plants and watched them grow taller and stronger.
As the vegetables began to ripen, Sarah encouraged Jack and Alex to pick them and bring them to the kitchen. Sarah showed them how to wash and prepare the vegetables for meals.
Surprisingly, Jack and Alex were eager to try the vegetables they had grown themselves. They tasted the sweet cherry tomatoes and crunchy cucumbers with delight. They even asked for seconds!
Throughout the summer, the boys continued to eat the vegetables from their garden almost daily. Sarah was amazed at how much they enjoyed eating healthy foods.
She realized that growing a garden had not only been a fun summer activity but also a great way to get her boys to eat more vegetables. It was the summer they discovered a love for gardening and healthy eating that would last a lifetime.
How a Garden Can Increase Your Child’s Vegetable Intake
One of the most significant benefits of gardening is the opportunity to increase your child’s vegetable intake. When kids grow their own food, they feel a sense of pride.
They are more likely to try the fruits and vegetables they have grown themselves. This hands-on involvement in the growing process can encourage even the pickiest eaters to expand their palate and try new foods.
Choosing the Right Vegetables to Plant
Choosing the right vegetables to plant in your garden is essential for a successful gardening experience with your kids.
For beginners, it’s best to start with easy-to-grow vegetables that require minimal care. Some examples include cherry tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, and green beans. These vegetables are resilient and can thrive even in less-than-ideal conditions, making them perfect for beginner gardeners.
Popular choices among kids include carrots, cucumbers, sweet peppers, and sugar snap peas. By growing their favorite vegetables, kids will be more enthusiastic about tending to the garden.
Letting your kids help decide what to plant is a great way to get them excited about gardening. Sit down together and look through seed catalogs or visit a local garden center to explore different vegetable varieties.
Discuss with your kids which vegetables they would like to grow and let your kids share their ideas. By involving them in the planning process, you’ll empower them to take ownership of the garden. Together, you can create a garden filled with vegetables that both you and your kids will enjoy eating.
If they pick out something that doesn’t grow in your area, you can use it as a teaching moment to discuss which plants grow in your climate.
My son asked to plant bananas; however, bananas do not grow where we live. We had fun looking up where bananas grow.
Also have your kids draw a picture of what the garden should look like. It is a great learning activity for them.
This year my daughter wanted to grow brussels sprouts because she liked the way they looked. She never had eaten brussels sprouts.
We bought one brussels sprout plant. It is an awesome way for her to try new foods.
Enjoying the Fruits (or Veggies) of Your Labor
When my kids start to see the vegetables growing, they get excited. Sometimes, they get too excited and pick them early.
Sometimes, they eat the fruits and vegetables instead of putting them in the basket. That makes me smile, I know they are getting the fruits and vegetables their growing bodies need.
Enjoying the fruits (or veggies) of your labor is one of the most satisfying aspects of gardening with kids. Once your vegetables are ripe, involve your kids in incorporating them into meals and snacks.
Let them help wash, chop, and prepare the homegrown produce for cooking or eating raw. This not only teaches them valuable cooking skills but also reinforces the connection between the garden and the dinner table.
Incorporating homegrown produce into meals and snacks is a great way to encourage kids to eat more vegetables. Use the vegetables you’ve grown to create nutritious dishes like salads, stir-fries, soups, and sandwiches.
Experiment with different recipes and let your kids get creative in the kitchen. When kids see how tasty and flavorful homegrown vegetables can be, they’ll be more willing to eat them.
What If I Don’t Have Space for a Garden?
If you don’t have space for a traditional garden, don’t worry. You can still grow vegetables in containers, even if you have limited space.
Container gardening is a great option for anyone with limited yard space. All you need is a sunny spot, some containers, potting soil, and seeds or seedlings.
Choose containers that are large enough to accommodate the root systems of your vegetables. You can use pots, buckets, or planters. Just make sure the containers have drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogged soil.
With container gardening, you can grow a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, herbs. Just make sure to choose vegetables that are suitable for container growing and match the size of your containers.
What do I grow in our garden?
The previous owner of our house had rhubarb and asparagus growing in the garden. My son likes rhubarb which surprises me. He started eating it because we had it growing in our garden.
We grow tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, green beans, sugar snap peas, blueberries, strawberries, and carrots in our garden. We grow the strawberries in hanging baskets. The green beans and sugar snap peas climb our garden fence (a chicken wire fence). The blueberry bushes are planted as a border along the patio.
Last year my kids wanted to grow a pumpkin, watermelon, and cantaloupe. We live in the North with short summers and the watermelon and cantaloupe didn’t grow. It was a good learning experience for the kids.
Key Points to Remember
Involving your kids in planting a garden is an excellent way to help increase your child’s vegetable intake. Per one dad: “the summer we grew a garden was the summer my kids ate the most vegetables”.
I encourage families to start their own garden adventure today, whether it’s in a backyard, a community garden, or even just a few containers on a balcony. Together, you can enjoy the joys of gardening while nourishing your bodies with fresh vegetables.
What will you plant in your garden?
