Garden provides nutrition lessons
YOUNG children love being in the garden, and a home garden provides opportunities to teach them some of life’s most valuable lessons, experts say.
Gold Coast nutritionist Kelley Bright says more and more children today have less contact with the natural world and this is having a huge impact on development and their health.
“Children are very disconnected from knowing where their fruit and vegetables come from, as well as the meat on their plates,” she said.
“It’s not only children who are disconnected, research shows that only seven per cent of Australians eat the recommended serve of vegetables, salads or fruit each day.”
Coombabah mum Rosie Pryer said it was important for her kids to step out from behind computer screens, and learn, hands on, where their food came from.
“It’s important for us as parents to encourage our kids to be active, and active in the garden as well,” she said.
“They’re really interested in watching the seeds grow. One of my sons has a huge love for tomatoes, so he’s desperately waiting for those to come and grow so he can eat them.
A recent News Corp survey shows that more than a third of children between the ages of three and five think fruit and vegetables come from the supermarket and not farmers or seeds, and 12 per cent between 12-14 think the same.
Both Ms Bright and Ms Pryer are excited about collecting all 15 (basil, thyme, lettuce, radish, cucumber, oregano, mint, spinach, tomato, parsley, coriander, chives, dill, silverbeet and rocket) of the easiest to grow seeds as part of the My Little Seed Garden collection. Each day, until September 9, you can collect a new growing kit, complete with seeds, soil and a pot, all you need to do is add water.
“It (a vegetable garden) teaches kids to be more tactile with food and eat a wider variety. Once they see it growing ... and eventually chopping them, it increases what they’re open to,” Ms Bright said.