14 | Spring 2022
The Benefits of Gardening with Kids MEGAN OSTLER, MS RDN
contributing writer, @meganjanesplate
As a dietitian, it probably isn’t surprising that I encourage people, including kids, to eat more fruits and vegetables. Most of us are aware that fruits and vegetables are good for our bodies. Although we may not be able to name them, we understand, that they provide us with important nutrients. So, we try to buy them at the grocery store, encourage our kids to eat them, and often get discouraged when that expensive produce is thrown out. But what if I told you there were benefits to growing a garden for your children, even if that lettuce still ends up on the floor? Now you might be asking, why lettuce on the ground offers any benefit to our children, so let me back up and explain. As adults, we have had thousands of opportunities to be exposed to different foods. When we see a raspberry, or a carrot, we likely know how each will taste. We probably even have memories associated with various foods. Our children, depending on the age
and level of exposure, have had far less exposure to new foods. They may not know what that red squishy thing tastes like yet. And they don’t care that this bitter green stuff is good for their eyes. Just like you might be afraid to try an unknown food in a foreign county, it is completely normal for kids to be nervous or fearful around new foods. This fear doesn’t always look like fear, it can also look like yelling and throwing. How do we help our children eat more foods? We expose them to more foods. Exposure doesn’t just mean tasting and may not involve their taste buds for a while. It can start with touching, playing, smelling, and observing. The more they are exposed to a food, and the more positive experiences they have associated with that food, the more likely they will be to eventually eat that food. Depending on the child (or adult) it can take many exposures and a variety of exposures to build that trust around a new food. This brings us to the first benefit of gardening
Megan and her children enjoy working in their large outdoor garden together and then enjoying their produce as a family.
