Mumsnet users discuss getting their children to understand where food comes from with innocent

[JustineBMumsnet]

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Getting your DC’s to learn about and understand where their food comes from, can be a great way to ensure they are engaged with what they are eating...particularly healthier foods such as veggies and fruit. innocent would love to hear about your own growing experiences, and/or any barriers you may face growing your own food at home.

Here is what innocent has to say: “With 9 out of 10 young people not getting their 5-a-day, we’re on a mission to get kids growing and eating their own veg. Growing at home doesn’t have to be complicated. You just need seeds, soil and a windowsill. In such a fast-moving, instant gratification world, growing their own food also teaches kids the value of patience, and gives them an understanding of where their food comes from. More time getting their hands dirty, less time glued to screens.”

Did you ever grow food with your parents when you were younger? Do you grow your own fruit and/or veg with your children so they can see where it comes from? If you do grow your own food, tell us what works and what doesn’t – and your tips and tricks for growing! Do you grow in the garden, or indoors? Or perhaps you would love to grow your own food but you feel you don’t have enough space?

Whatever your experiences and methods comment on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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We have a herb garden and my kids love running outside when I ask them to get whatever I need.

we never did this when i was a child but i think its a great thing to do with the children as it teaches them about where food comes from.

We’ve tried various things over the years, growing potatoes is easy and fun. Digging them up with toddlers is like discovering gold.

I think the best way to get kids interested in their food is to get them cooking and helping to prepare meals. I'd also love to see community growing places. I think that could work so well.

with my parents potatoes, spinach, marrows, apples and pears. At the moment dont have much of a garden to do the same with my kids. only potted herbs for now.

We have an apple and plum tree and also last year planted strawberries blackberries and raspberries. The kids love picking them washing them and eating them. They seem a lot more excited about it than shop bought fruit

The most my parents did was to grow a broad bean on blotting paper. We grow runner beans, broad beans, courgettes, spinach, herbs and beetroot. We have apple, pear, cherry, apricot trees and strawberries and rhubarb. The biggest problem with have are slugs and snails and the ethics of killing them in the most humane way!

Much as I'd like to grow my own fruit and veg I'm afraid I am the opposite of green fingers as everything I touch seems to die!!

I always grew food in my families garden and still do no. We have fruit trees, grow a whole range of veggies and soft fruits. You can control what you use on them and they are as fresh as you can get.

we didnt, but i do grow veg with my children

We grow some of our own veg in pots - the kids like planting the seeds and seeing them grow - still need the supermarket for most of it though!

We never grew vegetables when I was a child, we did have chickens which we named and loved making it upsetting when it was time to eat them

We grow our food on an allotment nearby, and recently we have just harvested some rhubarb, so we'll be having rhubarb crumble for the next couple of months probably!
We don't have any children yet but we can't wait to feed them with with home-grown pure fruits and veggies with no added rubbish to them.

Tip: remember to water them

i remember the smell of my grandad's greenhouse and the tomato plants when went to visit him :)
My boys love helping out growing exciting food in pots or in the garden. Potatoes are ideal as can be grown in pots and exciting to see how many you get. Also the boys like different foods like blue pumpkins, yellow french beans and stipy tomatoes!

Yes xx dad has his own allotment and we are taking this over - we grow all sorts and very proud of our wonky veg!

We didn't when I was younger but it is such a fantastic way to educate children about healthy eating!

Yes, My parents used to grow their own vegetables and now I do too with my own kids. I find it encourages them to try more varieties and they enjoy eating what they have grown.

We grew potatoes, carrots, strawberries and various herbs. Always wanted to grow tomatoes but didn't have a greenhouse. The strawberries were amazing though full of flavour.

Grew Tomatoes, Dwarf French Beans, Lettuce, Marrow, Cucumber, Melons (greenhouse) many years back. Really nice to have fresh produce though had to space out as otherwise would have too much ready at once!! (lettuces were fast!)

Can't really grow much of my own stuff now as we have only a balcony, but when I was at home and younger, we had fruit trees (parents still do), tomato plants and mint leaves. Love growing your own mint because it goes so beautifully in many dishes and makes amazing tea!

No we don't, currently don't have a good enough garden to do that. Hope to move this summer though, so will maybe start . I'll note some tips from this thread :)

I can always remember my Dad and I planting lettuces when I was small and I can remember them being the tastiest lettuces that I have ever tasted.
My DC's don't have much interest in wanting to grow their own veggies though we do go and pick our own strawberries and they love the taste of those so much more than the ones that we get in the supermarket.

Yes, we had a greenhouse and we grew lettuce, tomatoes, radishes. Nothing like home grown foods 😋

I have an allotment and it took a few years before I got it, and its brilliant!

I grow potatoes, onions, garlic, peas, beans, squash, lettuce, gooseberries, blackberries, apples, strawberries, leeks, radish, spring onion, cucumber, pak choi, swiss chard, and many other things i cant remember!

I think its great as its a good place to take the dog, there is loads of space and even the teenager pops down now and again to pick off the peas, strawberries and raspberries as he loves those.

My family love eating the home grown veg, and this year it costs even less as i have saved my own seed potatoes from last years crop and started to save my own seeds and have made my own compost instead of buying in.

In our town there are a few big planters that have some herbs and foods grown in them that are free for everyone to pick - I think it would be fantastic if these were all across the country and schools could help in their maintenance - good experience for the kids.

I think growing your own is good for your soul - get the kids involved, give it a go, even if you only sow lettuce for your butties its far more fresh and crisp and pesticide free if you grow it yourself!

I never grew food with my parents but I do think it's a great idea. I tried last year and failed miserably. I planted my seeds, they grew but I forgot to find out when to harvest. I didn't want to pick to son, so I let them grow and then they got eaten....oh well at least the bugs had some dinner!

My mum gave me my love of gardening and we used to grow a lot of our own veggies. My son helps me to grow veggies and fruit. We tend to stick to foods that we eat a lots of; strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, courgettes, potatoes, peas and onions. We use toilet roll tubes to plant peas (they are good for growing long roots and are bio-degradable once planted in the soil). Courgettes grow really easily and quickly so are good for children to help to grow. Strawberries multiply and are really easy to look after too.