And it’s not enough to get kids to eat their vegetables so what can parents do to encourage healthy eating in their children?
We need to help children learn where their food comes from, who grows it and why it’s important to share meals with friends and family. Here are 10 ways families can eat with greater awareness and engage young people in food and agriculture:
1. Read Books About Food
2. Play Games
3. Encourage Farm-to-School and Environment-Based Curricula in Schools
4. Engage Kids in Community Gardens and Farms
5. Understand the Importance of Biodiversity.
6. Start a School Campaign Dedicated to Food Security Issues.
7. Start a Family Garden
8. Watch Educational Programs
9. Include Kids in Meal Planning
10. Establish Family Meal Times
Danielle Nierenberg is President of Food Tank (www.FoodTank.com) and an expert on sustainable agriculture and food issues. She has written extensively on gender and population, the spread of factory farming in the developing world and innovations in sustainable agriculture. Sarah Small is a research assistant at Food Tank.
Sources: Common Grounds