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whole kids organic

How To Feed Your Kids Organic

What:  Every parent would like to see their children eat their veggies with gusto. The thing is, it can be a struggle to feed kids with nutritious food. They may complain about the taste, or say it looks too weird to eat. Deciding what to feed children is a common dilemma for many parents, and while it can be easy enough to go to the closest drive-through when you are busy, we all know that isn’t healthy for them. Know however, that organic foods – veggies and fruits, can be delicious, and as more natural food stores and organic brands surface, it’s now easier for you and your family to eat organic, which is a good thing considering all the health benefits of an all-natural diet.

Why:  What our children put into their bodies also affects their ability to think and to grow up healthy and strong. One of the huge advantages of organic foods is that they haven’t been doused in pesticides. Organic farms ban artificial pesticides. Pesticide residues turn up, not just on fruit and vegetables, but in bread, baby food and other products. Governments claim that there’s no need risk to health from these pesticide traces, but wouldn’t you rather feed yourself and your kids on food that’s pesticide free? You’re also doing the environment a good turn when you choose them. Intensive farming methods erode soil, destroy ancient hedgerows, and decimate wild life. Organic farms on the other hand look after the environment.

How:

1. It’s best to start when your children are very young.  Getting your children into the habit of eating healthy from a very early age is important. It will significantly reduce the risk of them being overweight, and will also help to ensure that they continue with good eating habits as they get older.

2. Encourage, rather than scold. Even if they spit out the veggies at first, at least they gave it a go.  This should be encouraged rather than scolded. It can take a child or baby over 10 tries before they get used to taste and texture of foods, so every attempt counts. Remember to give your kids very small portions of new foods or foods they are retrying so they don’t feel overwhelmed.

3. Try the rewards system every time your child eats a healthy food. For smaller children, you might want to have smaller, more frequent rewards. Some ideas: trips to the movies, points toward video or TV time, the purchase of a new toy, or even a special ice cream treat or dessert.

4. Do a grocery store trip or go to a farmer’s market to hunt out interesting, healthy foods. This is a key to inspiring them to eat healthy. Take them through the produce isle and let them pick out an exotic fruit or brightly colored vegetable. Pick up one or two organic items every time you shop.

5. Find your favourites! Try different brands, and once a week, buy something new to try: organic tofu, stuffed vine leaves, soup. There’s an organic version of almost every food you can think of, from coffee to baked beans, pizzas to eggs. You’ll soon find favourites. If the cost of organic foods is a concern for you, consider growing some of them on your own. This way, you can have your children help you with the garden as well. Research shows that children are more likely to consume foods that they help to grow as well as prepare.

TIP: Visit your local farmer’s markets when you can – this saves everyone money in the long run because there is less cost for transporting food – therefore, less oil used!

How do you know something is really organic?

When I was a kid, strawberries tasted a whole lot better than they do nowadays. I wonder sometimes if it’s because of all the darn pesticides! So we all know organic is the healthier choice, but how do you know if it is completely organic. I read an article recently that said the organic food business is pushing $23 billion dollars! We pay practically double for organic stuff, but what if it’s not really organic? The grocer could easily lie about it saying it is when it isn’t. And another thing….who are those people shining all those tomatoes, apples, and pears? They don’t come that way from the ground or tree! What are your thoughts?

if you are buying from a store and not direct from the grower than you have to depend on the green and white USDA certified Organic seal. If it is there than means the farm has been inspected, records checked, etc.. You can further check things out by looking at the label and seeing who the certifying body is (this has to be listed by federal law). contact that entity and ask what farm grew the food you are eating and than when you get the contact info call up the farmer and ask about their farming practises (ask about GMO, what kind of pesticides they use-get brand names and than go to the OMRI website and get their lists of pesticides and other inputs allowed on Organic farms and compare. Also ask about tillage practices, crop rotation and how they keep their fertility up.)

The grocer cannot lie about a product being Organic and if they do it is a simple matter to contact your state dept of agriculture and turn them in. If they are caught they face a $5000 fine for each offense. know that Organic farming is heavily regulated and one cannot sell stuff as organic with out getting inspected by a 3rd party inspection service, keeping meticulous record of what is planted and where and just what inputs (fertilizer, pesticides, etc) are used on each crop, records of where all seed, animals, feed, fertilizers etc., come from and if they are from an organic source, filling out a lengthy and detailed application and more.

Otherwise, buy direct from the farmer, ask questions, visit the farm(s) and even help out. That way you will know just who grew your food where they did it and how and it will be a lot fresher. When buying local know many of us farmers no longer get certified Organic but we still farm using Organic management methods and in most cases go above and beyond the requirements of the USDA NOP

http://www.localharvest.org

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop

http://www.omri.org

Whole Kids Adventure – Help Us Change The Junk Food Culture

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