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As in most ordinary families, getting the right amounts of fruits and vegetables into our kids (let alone in me and my husband) is always a daunting task. Lately, I've been letting the farmers do some of the work. After all, they're the experts, right? Here are a few "farmish" things that have actually worked lately in this regard.
Farm Visit: My best friend's parents live on a small family farm. They have sheep, a few goats, a llama, a pot-bellied pig, a few chickens and hens, and dogs. They also have a small vegetable garden. The other day we went for a visit, and my friend's dad had my five-year old eating sweet peas, outside shell and all, right off the vine. Hey, I'll take whatever I can get when it comes to his "green" intake. Find a family farm near you.
Farmer's Market: There's something so exciting about the Farmer's Market—for both me and the kids. It's fun to walk along, talk to the farmers, and try fruits and vegetables, including new ones we've never tasted or seen before. I'll usually buy anything my boys like. Plus, there are all kinds of yummy prepared-from-fresh treats du jour to enjoy, like fresh baked goods (at ours, they even use wheat flours in many of them) and popsicles made from the best in-season fruits. Any trip is worth it if it means snacking on good food as well as taking home good food to eat too. Find a farmer's market near you.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Box: A few months ago, we subscribed to a nearby farm's weekly CSA box. The farm delivers us a box of produce every week, and let me tell you, aside from a little kale and rainbow chard (we're working on it...), we've been eating up every single bite. Fresh fruit. Fresh veggies. Even the occasional nut. My son loves to open the box with me each week and see what surprises are inside. The kids may not love everything, but they'll pretty much "try" everything because it comes in the special box from "the farm." Find a CSA near you.
For many kids, farms and farmers hold great power, you see? I have no idea what it is, but I'm taking any chance I can get at letting the "farmer" do the produce pitching at our house.
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