HEALTHY CHOICES INVOLVE NATURE I believe the key to fostering healthy eating behaviours amongst children is through education, using an authentic learning approach. In line with this I have created a menu for an event that happens one Saturday each month, involving children, vegetarian food and culture. On this day, a group of friends and I get the kids together at one of our homes to prepare and cook meals using items from the garden. We see it as a great opportunity to demonstrate where food comes from, how it is our most direct daily link with the earth and the important role it plays in human culture (the various dishes associated with world cultures). To make it more fun, the day is themed to give the kids an opportunity to explore and celebrate food of different cultures. The theme for March is Mexican/Spanish, so the children will come in a token Mexican outfit (sombrero), make a two course meal (main, desert and a freshly squeezed fruit juice). They will enjoy Spanish music and play a Pinjata game later in the day. The number of people attending has grown since we started and others inspired by the idea have started this same activity forming their own groups. |
