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So many of us are finding out that gardening is a rewarding activity on many levels. It keeps us active, supplies us with nutritious food, and reduces global food miles. It helps the local ecosystem, feeds native pollinators, and provides good habitat. Plus, it’s wildly empowering to know we can still feed ourselves.
And, of course, as we learn that we can still feed ourselves, the hope is that we can encourage our children to learn to do the same. Fostering their interest in the garden is an important next step in the process. In other words, our little ones should be part of what’s happening in the veggie patch so that they can pass it on to their children and so on.
The best way to bring the garden to life for children is to show them what to do with what grows there. When the garden goes to the kitchen and out comes delicious treats, it’ll start to make perfect sense. Then, gardening becomes not just healthy but great fun. It just takes a few exciting recipes to get the ball rolling.
1. Kale Chips
Kale is one of those dark, leafy greens that provide all sorts of important vitamins and minerals in our diet, It’s easy to grow. Even better, it likes cool weather, so it can be grown throughout most of the year, even when other stuff in the garden is producing food.
A great treat that’ll give the kids a new perspective on eating their greens is kale chips. OGP has a fantastic recipe for cheezy kale chips to introduce kale to the kids.
2. Zucchini Fries
Nothing produces in abundance quite like summer squash plants, zucchini included. In the South, mid-summer is notorious for gardeners trying to give their excess zucchini away to friends, neighbors, and anyone else who’ll take it. In that regard, it’s a great plant for kids to grow.
Zucchini is much more versatile than it is often given credit for. It’s great in zucchini bread, great in squash casserole, and at home in a pasta bowl. But, the kids are going to love baked zucchini fries.
3. Sweet Potato Brownies
Two things to know about growing sweet potatoes are that they need a long, hot growing season and that they take up a lot of room. Sweet potatoes grow in clusters underground, but they send out a wild mess of vines above the ground. They are easy to grow and so much fun to eat.
While most of us are familiar with sweet potato casserole and sweet potato fries, sweet potato skillet brownies might be something that wow a young audience.
4. Mexican Street Corn
Sweet corn is a one of the classic American crops, and while corn the commodity crop has garnered a deservedly bad reputation, some homegrown non-GMO corn remains a favorite. Summertime just doesn’t feel right without some corn on the cob.
But, rather than just going run-of-the-mill with that corn on the cob, it can be turned into an event by making it Mexican street corn.
5. Twice-Baked Potato Bites with Coconut Bacon
Potatoes are another easy crop to grow, and as a vegetable, they are a crowd-pleaser. Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, French fries, hashbrowns, roasted potatoes, potato salad, and on and on and on.
In other words, get a little funky with these twice-baked potato bites topped with coconut bacon to get the kids’ attention.
6. Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkins are super fun to grow because they are huge plants and put out enormous fruits to boot. It feels like a real accomplishment. Of course, many of us rarely eat pumpkins save for pumpkin pie or maybe the occasional soup.
A great way to eat more pumpkin is to whip up a batch of pumpkin butter to spread on toast and biscuits, or even to stir into oatmeal.
7. Garden Sushi Rolls
One of the best ways to get a lot of fresh, raw vegetables on the table without being too blatant about it is to have a sushi party. Rather than raw fish, these rolls are filled with fresh veggies from the garden. They are colorful, tasty, and fun to make.
Carrots, cucumbers, chard stems, green beans and bell peppers are great vegetables to use. Of course, throwing in some avocado and tofu can add a bit of protein and healthy fat to the mix.
The kids will love the challenge of rolling their own sushi, and a kit only costs a few bucks at the supermarket.
Just like including kids in the food-growing process, including them in meal preparation will prepare them for life and create great bonding opportunities. That sounds even more amazing than these recipes!
