I’m a lucky woman. Simply because my grandparents and parents had large gardens, I learned to appreciate and enjoy the taste of fresh, straight off the vine garden goodness. My Mom, Grandmother and my 4-H experiences taught me to cook, bake, and preserve all manner of things. Growing up in a farm and ranch community, living a rural route lifestyle, I learned to know about and prepare for weather, appreciate where my food came from, and have amazing natural experiences. It wasn’t until I came to the Big City that I realized how fortunate I am.
The main thing I learned was that you learn to like what you eat—if you are raised on fast food and junk food, then that is what you will continue eating until poor health leads to an early grave. If you learn to eat and prepare fresh and healthy foods, that eating lifestyle will stick with you for life. Your eating style can even impact who you choose to be your partner. I admit I ended a few relationships with nice fellows because they wouldn’t eat a vegetable other than potatoes or corn. Luckily, my husband is one of the healthiest and most adventurous eaters I know. That was important to me, as I wanted to raise a healthy family.
So many adults my age (and their children) don’t like vegetables. I call this group “the lost generation”. Some might vaguely remember a garden at grandma’s house, but have no experience growing or tasting anything they or their parents grew. There was the luxury of a no sweat, no thought dependence on store-bought food. That’s where food magically comes from, right? No wonder the lost generation doesn’t like vegetables, when you take a bite of store bought produce, or mass canned foods, compared to something you taste right from the garden. There is a huge discrepancy in taste, and an equal loss of nutrients when compared to what you can grow yourself. Plus, there is something about ownership of growing something that makes a kid more willing to take a bite.
Since most of your taste for vegetables is acquired as a child, it is very important to expose kids to as many fresh and tasty options as possible. It isn’t important for them to eat a lot—a small bite of something new each time it is available is enough. What is important is that they are expected to eat that small bite, then be exposed to it again next time it is available. Eventually, it is an acquired taste. Every time a child comes to my garden, I ask if they would like to try something—“a piece of organic lettuce or a cherry tomato, perhaps?” Their parent might say, “They’ll never eat that!” Most of the time, I can convince even the toughest cases to try something, and usually they admit to liking it and often want to try even more.
My kids and the neighbor kids that have a community garden plot next to ours can decimate a lettuce patch in 5 minutes or less, if you don’t give them some guidelines. Those girls give Peter Cottontail a run for his money on garden gorging! Aren’t they lucky? I hope to inspire every parent and grandparent to get out and grow something fresh and organic with your children and grandchildren. It’s an investment far bigger than a college fund, it is an investment of memory making and a gift of lifelong health.
Heather Rinaldi owns Texas Worm Ranch
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Her Mission: Growing Organic Gardens, Families, Communities and Business in Dallas