Gardening with toddlers can be a great way to encourage them to eat veggies.

When asked, many children consider ketchup and French fries vegetables. And, according to the World Cancer Research Fund, four out of five children eat less than the recommended five portions of fruits and vegetables a day.

These sobering statistics all contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic we face today. But, there’s good news. Just getting out into the garden with your child could turn those statistics right around.

Ready, Set, Plant

Got experience in the garden? Great. You can involve your child right away.

Don’t know how to garden? Don’t worry. Children often think their parents know everything, so showing your children how important it is to learn new things can be a wonderful lesson in itself.

Ask an older neighbor or someone in your family to share his or her gardening wisdom. If you can’t find an expert, take your family on a visit to a nearby farm (a u-pick perhaps). The farmer will be tickled to give you some pointers.

When picking plants, think round carrots, purple beans, and rainbow colored chard. These colorful veggies are sure to delight your child when growing, and they taste great too.

Also give your child the opportunity to make the decisions—what to plant, how much to plant, what you want the garden to look like. Being a part of the process is vital to getting them jazzed about the garden experience.

A few planting tips: Don’t worry about neat and tidy. Children prefer the wild rambling garden where morning glories run amok, not perfect little rows and lots of worry about where they can step.

Children also like “hidey places,” like pole bean tepees or sunflower houses, sized for kids—no adults allowed. You’d be amazed at what some twine and bamboo can do. But remember the flowers.

Sunflowers grown as tall as the sky and flowers that have powerful scents attract children as well as bees.

And though you’ve been told time and time again to forego the mint (because it can spread all over the garden), I say, go for it. Containers will keep it under control, and children love the fresh, spring-like smell.

Enjoy the Experience

While healthy, fresh vegetables are certainly one reward of a garden, the experience is too. If something doesn’t grow, don’t get discouraged. There are still lessons to be learned and fun to be had.

My grandmother once told me that everyone should eat a peck of dirt before they die. This is great advice if you want your child to truly experience the garden. There’s nothing that compares to eating a cherry tomato they grew themselves right there, smack dab in the middle of the garden. Just give it a rub on your sleeve—no washing necessary (as long as you have grown them without sprays of course).

So, what are you waiting for? Start planting the seeds for a happy, healthy life today.

Next - Bathtime learning and fun ideas for toddlers

Great Gardening Children’s Books

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

This book explains the cycle of life in a kid-like story fashion.

Scarlette Beane by Karen Wallace

A fantastic tale of growing vegetables and seeing the miracles of the garden. Children will hoot with pleasure.

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert

A great way to introduce new veggies and fruits with a helpful glossary.

By Emily Jackson  - Emily is the founder and current program director of the Growing Minds Farm to School program for the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (www.growingminds.org).  Emily lives on a farm in with her husband, dog, two cats, and eleven chickens.

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