Do Your Kids Know ...

[jezzie]

Written by Julie Knapp
Published on October 1st, 2009
Posted in Education, Outdoor Fun

Ask the average kid where milk comes from and he might very well say a jug. Bread? The grocery store. According to research by Kingston University in London, kids need more farm visits to dispel the ignorance and misconceptions about farming and where food comes from. Scientist Frances Harris, the author of the report, wants schools to take action to organize these visits.

Even if your child knows that milk comes from a cow, does she know that there is more than one variety of cow? A hands on approach at the farm could also help kids understand which foods are real and which ones are processed. They won’t see any Pop Tarts or red, blue and green grains that could make up their Fruit Loops on the farm.

Showing your kids where food comes from could set them up for a lifelong, healthier lifestyle. And actually being able to reach out and touch a cow is invaluable compared to watching a farm DVD or playing a video game.

Harris found evidence that when children took trips to the farm they had an impact on their parents’ shopping habits, too. In fact, 16 percent of parents said they would change their grocery list to be more sustainable, buying more local, organic and seasonal products.

Do Your Kids Know Where Their Food Comes From? : Eco Child’s Play

[sbarr]

How encouraging - we have a CSA, they're having a pot luck tomorrow and hope to take Lindsey, weather permitting.

[fawn]

Thank you Jezzie

I am the nutrition educator at an elementary school and the grant I work from encourages farm visits. This is a nice share.......

[wcwendy]

You mean there aren't any Fruit Loop trees?

[babetteq]

You mean there aren't any Fruit Loop trees?

ROFLMAO!!!


We live in farm country, so everyone here knows exactly where food comes from and often has had a part in killing it. Or at least knowing it's name before it hits the table. I have to say it doesn't stop the kids from getting bloody ginormous blue drinks from 7-11 whenever they can...

at the same time they know the difference between a McChicken and the stuff that is actually on the dinner table. My little cousin said about chicken mcnuggets "it doesn't taste like chicken, but it's good and salty - like soft chips" I said "that's because it's not real chicken. You know what real food tastes like - that's what your body needs to grow on. This stuff is just for the flavour, not for growing". Now, he's 16y/o and he's separated food into "timothy hay" (ie: food with nutrition) and "chewy hay" (food that's just for the chewing like horses need).

Honestly, I don't know a single kid that doesn't know where food comes from around here. Doesn't stop them from wanting junk, but they know that if everyone ate at mcdonalds, then Mr. Ennis, the butcher, up the street would go out of business. THAT they understand.