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CSA Share, How Do I Love Thee?

CSA Share, how do I love thee, let me count the ways:
I love the bounty of fresh vegetables and fruits you provide.
I love the new vegetables we have never tried that push us to try something new.
I love the interest you pique in my children when they see interesting shapes and colors among the produce.
And I love that I can include my children in washing and prepping the vegetables and fruits, which then increases their curiosity and interest in tasting them.

Our weekly CSA share provides an opportunity for education and entertainment. When we look at all the various produce we receive in our box each week, we look at how dirty it might be (because it is fresh from the farm and the earth!), what it might smell like, or what parts of it we can eat (not the greens on the carrot but the beet greens are tasty). Often we play a “what is it” game since sometimes it is completely new to me too. Do we need to peel it (my 4 year-old is learning how to peel), or put it in the sink full of water? Can we use our salad spinner? This is a great tool. Both my 3 and 4 year-olds like to stand on the step stool, swish greens in the water to clean them in the sink, dump the clean, wet greens in the salad spinner and spin, baby, spin.

A close second is helping chop and shred in our food processor. They love to put things in the food processor and turn it on and off. It makes a great noise, has immediate results, and we get to taste quickly as well. My daughter in particular is a very curious child and very willing to try new vegetables. She will snack on shredded parsnips and beets just because they are there and she helped shred them.

You don’t need to have a CSA share to include your kids in meal planning, and fruit and vegetable prep. Experiment with new fruits and vegetables bought at the grocery store or farm stand. Let them help you clean and prep them, tasting as you go. Ask them questions about what they like, if they like them raw or cooked, or with a dip.

Yes it can get messy, and it might take a little longer with my little helpers but we are spending time together, talking about why we eat fruits and vegetables, which ones they like best and they get to participate in meal planning. And I think that makes it worth it!
 

by PeggyKerans on 08/09/2011 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: Diet Tools, motivation, planning, strategies, kids, mommy blog

About the Author

Peggy Kerans

Peggy has worked at HMR since 1997 in a number of departments. She is a woman that wears many hats, and juggles a hectic family life with her husband and 3 small children. She likes to cook, do crafts, be a positive role model for her family and keep things fun.

Comments (3) Post a comment
I love how you include your kids in each step of the process form getting the veggies from the farm, to preparing, and eating them! You are a great role model for them and bring an enthusiasm to eating these healthy foods! How great they will grow up looking at fruit/veggies this way. We also have a CSA share and have really enjoyed trying new things. We took it on as a family this year to push us out of the comfort zone and try things that I would have never bought from the store. My favorite of the year might be the Patty Pan Squash! Its delicious roasted in the oven and then mixed with the HMR Mushroom Risotto. Yummy!! :)
by KimG on 08/24/2011
I know that your children will always look back on the time spent in the kitchen with you, experimenting together, with great fondness. Thank you for motivating me to change how I view prepping/eating veggies - from a chore to a bonding opportunity and an adventure. Bring on the Farmer's Market! :)
by PatriciaRNfit on 08/19/2011
Peggy, love how you are able to turn this positive lifestyle routine into a learning tool for your children! They are lucky to have these healthy habits in their lives - thanks to you!
by Ward1411 on 08/12/2011