3 Projects to Get Kids Excited about Real Food

I've noticed my kids appreciate food and connect more with new foods when they grow it themselves. It started last summer, when August got his first taste of growing his own watermelon. And this year he planted his own patch of radishes and said "it's spicy, but I like it!" And now the boy walks around eating pickled radishes from a jar!

Here are 3 ideas to get your kids excited about real food:
1. Sprout seeds in a jar - It's so easy to sprout some seeds in a jar. They sell little packets of sprouting seeds like clover and radish, it's often called a sandwich sprout mix and it's only a few bucks. Get the packet, grab a quart jar, and create a little mesh screen across it (I used a cheese cloth). You'll have sprouts in 3-5 days!

2. Plant seeds in own plot or pot - You don't need an entire garden to give your kids space to grow things. You can just grab a medium sized pot, add some organic potting soil or dirt from your yard, mix in some compost, and plant nearly anything. August has some radishes and a lettuce blend growing in a pot this summer.

3. Create compost on a small scale - you can even use a plastic tote to make a composting bin. You just need to drill holes in the bin for air, then start adding plant scraps. See the DIY page for that