Kindergarten Farm Food Initiative video transcript
Childhood obesity continues to be
on the rise in the United States. Schools are trying
creative ways to help kids choose healthy fruits and
vegetables instead of junk food. Kent Faddis with the
University of Missouri shows us how a trip to the
country might be the answer.
These city kids are going to a place they've never been
before - the farm. Kindergarteners from Kansas City
schools are not only seeing where their food is grown,
they're smelling it and tasting it.
Alex Sahr, Kindergartener
“It’s a yellow tomato. It’s kind of funky.”
On the field trip, University of Missouri Extension
nutrition specialists encourage kindergarteners to try
different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Ann Cohen, MU Extension Nutrition Specialist
"To have the kids at the kindergarten age be conscious of what they’re eating and making better food choices, it starts them off at the right point and it’s easier to start from the beginning than to try to make corrections later on in life.”
MU Extension's Kindergarten Farm
Food Initiative works with select schools in Kansas
City. The program links the schools and families to area
farmers.
Brandon Fahrmeier, Farmer
"They know what it looks like in the store but they don’t know what it looks like on the plant. And for them to be able to pick a tomato off the vine and then taste it, it's pretty rewarding."
Crystal Weber, MU Extension Community Development Specialist
“We hope that by offering healthy snacks that we’ll instill better eating habits, nutritional habits that will combat obesity, hypertension, high blood pressure or diabetes.”
Involving parents is also important so kids eat healthy
meals at home.
Ann Cohen
“They were hungry for the pears and the peppers that we had. They couldn’t get enough; their arms were out asking for more."
Cohen says patience is the key for parents. They may have to offer a new food to their child 10 times before he or she decides to like it. But improving eating habits now is easier and will last a lifetime.
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Last update: Wednesday, July 22, 2009