“Is it organic?” I overheard my daughter ask when offered a treat. In the moment, I was proud of her, I had instilled a sense of curiosity about where her food came from and the courage to ask. Inspiring the next generation to choose organic is beyond a label or logo, it’s fostering a deep connection to our food and the systems which bring them to our table.
We talk about food a lot, I mean, don’t we all? What do you want for dinner? Any requests while I’m at the store? Food is a family event! Together we talk about ingredients, we bake, we chop, we simmer, and we appreciate our farmers. Engaging children’s natural curiosity is a great way to encourage engagement with how their food arrived on their plates. As we go out into the world, whether in the grocery aisle, out for dinner, at school for lunches or classroom snacks, I hope they keep the conversation going!
In our home, we don’t shame food, we are curious! “Mom, how come you never buy *some popular snack*?” So we read labels together, we laugh at our bad pronunciations, and usually all agree to forgo the purchase. Sometimes we are given something we might not normally purchase or eat, and again we remain curious, reading the ingredients and the children are left with a choice. Honestly, I love it when they have tried something that has exciting colors and marketing behind it, and my kiddos admit it wasn't worth the hype.
We are grateful to live in Eugene where local grocers and organic farms are easy to access. A trip to the Farmers Market incites enthusiastic excitement where the kiddos want to try new things and enjoy picking out their own produce. “Farm or Factory?” I ask my 4 year old son as I hold up carrots, “Farm!” he exclaims.
Our family is committed to creating deeper connections with our local agriculture, organic food, and what’s on our plates. We aim to inspire and cultivate curiosity, it’s more than one conversation or one moment, it’s an ongoing process.
Instilling values around organic and healthy food systems is most effective when the process is engaging and enjoyable for everyone involved. When we make the conversation about food fun, it creates an opportunity to bond and build a deeper connection with what we eat. Here are a few ways to do this:
- Storytelling: Share stories about where food comes from, how it's grown, and the people behind it. It can make the journey of food feel more personal and interesting.
- Hands-on Activities: Engage in activities like cooking together, visiting local farms, or even starting a small garden. These experiences build a sense of ownership and appreciation for healthy food systems.
- Celebrating Seasons: Introduce the concept of eating seasonally. Talk about the different fruits and vegetables that grow at different times of the year, and incorporate them into meals. This keeps the experience dynamic and connected to nature.
- Tasting Challenges: Make trying new foods fun! Challenge each other to taste something new, whether it's a vegetable, a new grain, or a different fruit. You can even make it a friendly competition with rewards for the most adventurous eaters.
- Explaining Benefits: Make the health benefits of organic and healthy food relatable. Instead of just telling kids it’s good for them, explain how these foods support strong bodies, better energy, or a more vibrant lifestyle.
- Make Learning Fun: Create lessons with math, economics, love, health, engineering, science, nutrition, world cultures, food safety, art, politics and of course cooking, based on food. Or have them compare shopping from bulk bins with their own containers versus buying packaged products, there is so much to learn.
The key is to keep it lighthearted and creative. When people are having fun and feeling connected to their food, it can spark a lasting appreciation for healthy eating and sustainability.
Helping to inspire the next generation is a big job. Be curious, and let food do most of the work.
PHOTO: Now that our kids are grown up they are Organic Produce Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share members and they choose foods from the Organic bulk aisle, they will probably have a garden themselves someday.