By Amanda Causey Baity
As the spring starts to roll in so do the warmer days. Going to the farmers market is a fun outing for
kids, but can also be a great learning experience for them. From an early age, I began taking my children
to the farmers market to explain how farmers grow things and why eating healthy is important, as well as teaching them about supporting local businesses. Here are a few activities that you can try with your family.
1. What is local food?
Understanding what local food is gives kids a sense of appreciation for their meals, and shopping at a local
farmers market can make this concept a little more concrete. By asking the farmers where their farms are located, they will understand that food is grown local to where they live. As a parent, you can share with them the importance of eating locally-grown foods to support financially the family farm and local community, as well as to reduce environmental impact by purchasing foods that require less gas mileage to get from the production to the consumption site.
2. What goes into making a meal?
How does that food get to the table? Eating isn’t a matter of microwaving something or boiling it. Food
goes from ingredient to recipe to table. Children can learn more about that process, including picking out a recipe, shopping for the ingredients and then preparing the meal. For older children, teaching the actual reason for including individual ingredients and the science that is involved with cooking is a way to keep
them engaged.
3. What different types of farming are used?
There are quite a few adults who don’t understand how organic and conventional farming differ, but you and your kids can learn first-hand. If you point out which foods offered are organic, it will spur a conversation about the differences between organic and conventional farming and also turn the conversation to the many different ways farmers treat their crops. For more details about different farming techniques in Prince William, please reference our August 2015 issue.
4. Do foods have different seasons?
Strawberries in January? That’s not natural… and your kids can learn that if you teach them about seasonality. As children visit farmers markets on a regular basis, they will see the availability of certain foods at certain times of the year, rather than all foods being available at all times like in a supermarket. They can ask the farmers questions about why foods grow better at certain times of the year due to weather and growing conditions.
5. What’s the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?
The simple act of learning the names of all the fruits and vegetables can be a powerful teaching moment for you and your children. If you don’t know what to call it, how likely is it you will eat it? While getting your children to eat brussels sprouts is not likely, teaching them about how fruits and veggies grow and taste differently is a good idea. Talking about icky vegetables may increase the likelihood of a taste or two!
Tips for your trip to the farmers market:
• Go early. You’ll beat the crowds and snatch up the best-looking produce. Be spontaneous. Sure, you
know a few things you have to pick up when you get there, but if your kid eyes a gorgeous basket of
peaches, don’t say no.
• Bring reusable bags. Most vendors at farmers markets don’t have bags, so be prepared by bringing
your own.
• Carry cash. Some farmers market vendors accept credit cards, but not all of them do. Be prepared with cash for easier transactions.
• Let your kids pick the best-looking produce. Tell them what you need, and one at a time, let them examine the fruits and veggies and make their selections. It may make your trip take a little bit
longer, but it’s a great way to teach the kiddos how to make a good pick.
• Plan your meals from the market. Make that smartphone do some work. Once you’ve seen
the selection the market has to offer, pull up your favorite recipe app and let the kids help you decide
what you’re going to cook for the next few nights(using the fresh produce from the market, of
course).
• Ask the vendors questions. Chances are, if they grow it, they eat it. If you run into a piece of
produce you’re not familiar with, ask the vendor what it tastes like and how they like to prepare it.
• Shop around. If you’re at a farmers market with a lot of vendors, maybe don’t grab the first pretty red tomatoes you see. Look around for the best prices and selection before you pull out your wallet.
• Try something new. Chances are, there’s plenty at the farmers market you haven’t tried. Try to select something new every time you go.
Amanda Causey Baity (abaity@princewilliamliving.com), Prince William Living’s director of operations and photo editor, also blogs about thrifty family activities on her blog GreenOwlCrafts.com.
