How to get your kids eating more vegies?

Mealtime can be stressful for parents especially when the children pick at the vegetables or refuses them all together. Don't despair! 

The American Dietetic Association have conducted a study on 99 children, aged 10 to 13 and the result, after 12 weeks, indicated that for those who started their own school garden doubled their intake of fruits and vegetables as compared with their previous consumption.

The children were encouraged to grow a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, with involvement in watering, weeding, and harvesting. They were also taught in the classroom to make various dishes with their harvest.

With this type of intervention the eating habits of children could be improved now and in the future. Generally our personal food and exercise habits were established between the age of 10 to 15 years old, and therefore it is extremely important that positive nutritional messages be introduced at a young age. We must remember that the ability to choose healthy food is not instinctive, but a skill which we learn from our experiences and the surrounding environment.

So start your own veggie garden at home with your kids! The harvest is not only rewarding and such activity which involves the whole family is also a great way to bond; plus the fact that the children are also taught to appreciate nature. Research suggests that children who have access to green outdoor spaces play more creatively, and score higher on tests of self-discipline. Furthermore, studies also show that nature and gardening are one of the best ways to relief stress.

Allow your kids the freedom to be creative in the garden. Encourage them even if they fail to plant in straight lines because the veggies will grow just the same! Perhaps they could have their own little vegetable patch in the garden. Entrust them with the responsibility of watering and weeding their own area. Plant some fast growers, such as lettuce or radish, to keep make it interesting. Endeavour to make gardening as much fun as possible.

Stay tuned for more updates on how to start a vegetable garden at school or at home, gardening tips, etc.  Enjoy a healthy and happy meal every time!