How to Teach Kids Where Food Comes From – Get Them Gardening

Browse the shelves of most supermarkets and you will undoubtedly come across rows of foods designed to appeal to children. Whether it’s chicken nuggets or turkey twizzlers, many foods these days bear little resemblance to their original ingredients – “junk food” now fills the shelves of supermarkets to an appeal to young consumers.

The impact of supermarkets on children in the UK should not be underestimated. These super-retailers generated just under £164 billion in 2011, and UK grocery sales are predicted to rise to just under £197 billion by 2021.

This makes the children’s food and drink market a very lucrative sector. In the US, for example, it is worth more than $41 billion (£30 billion) this year so farChildren tend to influence their parents’ purchasing decisions when shopping – and marketing tactics such as free toys and media tie-ins can play a massive role.

It is no wonder then that a recent study by supermarket Asda found that many children lack basic knowledge about where their food comes from. The study, which involved 1,000 children under the age of eight, found that 41% I didn’t know that eggs come from chickensSimilar surveys have shown that many children are unaware that milk comes from cows.

There have of course been many campaigns to address this lack of knowledge by raising awareness of the risks and issues associated with feeding children processed foods and ready meals, including a campaign launched a decade ago by chef Jamie Oliver, real school lunches. It’s no wonder that many children are still unaware of the origin of their food.

Ignorance about food

It all comes at a time when childhood obesity is a solemn problem in the UK, with many children getting fatter as they go to school. Almost 60% more children are classed as “severely obese” in their final year of primary school than in their first, according to the figures. latest government data.

For a variety of reasons, many children now spend long periods of time indoors, indulging in sedentary, screen-based hobbies – which is a massive part of the problem. It’s something that was only recently highlighted when TV star Kirstie Allsopp [smashed her son’s tablet] among Twitter ad confusion.

Of course, most schools routinely teach healthy eating and the importance of exercises as part of the curriculum. But that doesn’t mean children will follow the advice they receive from teachers in the classroom.

Restricted choices

Nutrition is often an significant component of food adult choicebut it’s the taste, texture (and pleasure) that are likely to be of more interest to the average child. So, while schools routinely encourage children to think about nutrition, neither the curriculum nor school lunches provide a broad sensory experience of eating.

This means that many children go through school without trying a variety of fresh and nutritious foods, and remain unaware of the source and value of such foods as they grow up. This is significant because the research we conducted shows that the sensory experience of eating is a factor in shaping children’s knowledge about food and nutrition.

By observing children in two schools in the UK, our work reveals that gardening clubs provide novel and exhilarating opportunities to connect production with consumption. These spaces have the potential to change the way schools think about vigorous eating, giving children the freedom to touch, taste, smell and – most importantly – understand the source and value of fresh food.

Let the kids get soiled

For kids, this means sensory engagement with the “mess” and materials typically filtered out of sanitized retail, marketing, and food service. Encouraging kids to play with soil, discover animals and insects, and explore the garden is fun. Encouraging them to get their hands soiled is key to this fun experience. More importantly, as they engage in these activities, feel the soil, touch the worms, dig, or even just run around, they learn about food at their own pace.

Tests shows that when children experience growing food outdoors in this way, they are much more likely to taste and enjoy it. And they even challenge their parents to try what they have grown.

The benefits of learning outdoors are: well documentedBut gardens are necessary if children are to grow up with a practical knowledge of growing food and the pleasure of harvesting everyday crops such as radishes, chives and peas.

Most schools could offer growing and gardening as part of the curriculum – even on a compact scale. Unfortunately, many schools don’t – worried about the practicalities of it – and the time it takes away from “more significant” subjects in the classroom. But if the government is solemn about tackling obesity, food anxiety and ignorance, the school garden is the best place to start.