Budgets are tight this year. And especially during the winter, fresh produce can be expensive. But when it comes to your family, nutrition is very important. So how do you get your little ones involved in the fresh fruits and veggies scene while still pinching those pennies? Here are a few fun ways to get them interested while spring starts coming in.
Check out the local farmers
Lucky for us Boise dwellers, Idaho is still largely an agricultural state, and soon there will be plenty of local growers selling what's in season. There are always the big ones, like the Capital City Public Market or the Stage Stop Market, which are larger flea markets that involve things like crafts. But there are plenty of markets all over town if you know where to look. Stop by the East End Market @ Bown Crossing or Meridian Farmers Market, both of which will open starting in April. Many of these places have been operating for years and have a wide selection of produce from local growers.
Let the kids do the choosing. When they walk in and can smell all the fresh fruit, they'll be hungry for it. Let each of them choose a type of fruit or vegetable that they want to eat. Have them ask the sellers or growers how each grows (on a tree? in a bush? underground?). Seeing it all and learning about it will make them more likely to try a bite. For a longer list of markets found in Idaho, try the Idaho Preferred webpage.
For an even more interactive experience, keep your eyes open for signs. Many local farms have stands out front for their own produce, and sell whatever is on hand. Not only will you stock up on fresh produce (way better than anything shipped from another country) but the kids will get a first-hand farm produce experience!
Grow it yourself
What kindergartener hasn't come home with a bean plant in a cup, only to forget entirely about it while his mom grows it in the window? You can one-up the project by involving all of your kids in an at-home window garden. If you have a yard, great. Build a plot and get some vitamin D at the same time! But if not, never fear. There are cheap and easy ways to get involved in the planting fest no matter where you live.
For you apartment-dwellers, find the window with the most sunlight and set up shop. And don't worry, you won't have to spend a lot of money on planter boxes or heavy ceramic pots, which aren't kid friendly in any case. Instead, hit the local Walmart or Target and get some wide and shallow plastic tubs, like this one. They're usually inexpensive and will be more durable when you get the younger ones involved.
Give each child their own spot (use string to block out plots of "land" if you need to split up the bins) and let them decide what to grow. Research when and how to plant each kind of seed but let the kids do it. Make sure your little garden is in a prominent area, where you can make checking on and caring for the plants a daily activity for the kids.
Most importantly, stick with it. If you aren't fully invested, it will be easy for your little plots to get ignored like all those kindergarten beans. But if you and the kids are patient and devoted gardeners the first year, you'll be able to see the results and want to do it again the next year. And boy, do home-grown veggies taste so much better.
Replace sweets with the naturally sweet
When the kids are feeling snacky, it's easy to bribe them off with something chocolate or fatty. Nature has already given you something sweet, however, in fruit. Fruits contain natural sugars which make them sweet and delicious without all the empty calories of a cookie or snack cake.
So instead of having something sugary every night after dinner, make fruit salads. Tell the kids when they're hungry that fruits and veggies are always okay. Increase the presentation by mixing bright colors together. Have the kids build a rainbow or a monster and then eat it. Just be creative.
So as summer comes in and the greenery starts to show, let your kids experience the good stuff in a fun way--and one that will get them the vitamins they need.
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