Do Your Kids Know Where Their Food Comes From?

Ask the average kid where milk comes from and he might very well say a jug. Bread? The grocery store. According to research by Kingston University in London, kids need more farm visits to dispel the ignorance and misconceptions about farming and where food comes from. Scientist Frances Harris, the author of the report, wants schools to take action to organize these visits.

Even if your child knows that milk comes from a cow, does she know that there is more than one variety of cow? A hands on approach at the farm could also help kids understand which foods are real and which ones are processed. They won’t see any Pop Tarts or red, blue and green grains that could make up their Fruit Loops on the farm. Showing your kids where food comes from could set them up for a lifelong, healthier lifestyle. And actually being able to reach out and touch a cow is invaluable compared to watching a farm DVD or playing a video game.

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Harris found evidence that when children took trips to the farm they had an impact on their parents’ shopping habits, too. In fact, 16 percent of parents said they would change their grocery list to be more sustainable, buying more local, organic and seasonal products.

What’s on your child’s field trip list this year? If a farm visit isn’t planned yet, talk to your child’s teacher and volunteer to chaperone or to help organize a trip. While your child might understand where food comes from and you might already buy organic, you could help out another student and his family.

Image credit: jepoirrier on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

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