Most parents know how challenging it can be to raise children to adopt healthy eating habits. One way to address this challenge is to integrate local and seasonal foods into the family diet. In this blog article you will learn why this is so important and how children can learn from it.
Why are regional and seasonal foods important in children's nutrition?
Local and seasonal foods offer a wealth of benefits, both for health and the environment:
- Freshness and Flavor: When food is grown near you and harvested at the right time, it tends to be fresher and tastier. Anyone who has ever eaten a beefsteak tomato in winter knows what I'm talking about!
- Nutrient Density: Seasonal foods are often more nutrient dense because they have less time to travel or be stored. This means your children benefit from the best nutrients.
- Environmental protection: Buying local and seasonal food reduces the carbon footprint as less transportation is required. Of course, this does not apply to heated greenhouses, but to what can naturally grow in the field seasonally. A reduced footprint is not only good for the environment, but also an important lesson for children about sustainability.
How do children learn about regional and seasonal food?
Children learn best through experience. Here are some ways they benefit from local and seasonal foods:
- Shopping together: Take the kids to the local market or farmers market. Show them how to choose fresh food and encourage them to ask questions. It is important that children learn about food outside of the plate, it simplifies the process of trying a new vegetable/fruit.
- Cooking and preparing: Learn together how to prepare seasonal foods. This can be a fun activity where you can create your own meals. For more inspiration, you can also take a look at the children's cookbook.
- Gardening: If possible, plant a small garden with seasonal vegetables and fruits. Children love helping with cultivation and harvesting. This can be done even if there is little space on the windowsill. Urban gardening for children can, for example, simply work with spring onions, lettuce, radishes or kohlrabi.
Would you like to learn more about healthy children's nutrition and regional and seasonal nutrition?
In my try it children's cookbook "Anna's children's cooking school for at home" you will find a variety of recipes based on regional and seasonal foods. These recipes are not only healthy, but also delicious and kid-friendly. The children can learn how to handle food themselves and also learn something about sustainability in the family kitchen. Incorporating local and seasonal foods into your family's diet is a valuable decision that has a positive impact on both your children and the environment. Take advantage of the opportunity to teach your children healthy eating habits by teaching them the importance of fresh, seasonal foods. And for all kids who want to acquire the knowledge themselves: The audios in the Try it app contain exciting additional knowledge about nutrition!
So let's create healthy eating habits for children together and integrate more regional and seasonal foods into the weekly menu in the family kitchen!
Do you have any questions about child nutrition, the children's cookbook or this blog post? Then feel free to write me a message !
All love
Anna from Try it
