So many good things happening right now when it comes to REAL food - all the way from Michelle Obama bringing attention to the unacceptable food being served to our children down to my son Lucas' second grade class trying red chard on Valentine's Day.  I don't know exactly what Michelle's impetus for her campaign is, but for the 2nd graders on Valentine's Day it was two homeroom moms and a conscientious teacher who wanted to do a different kind of party.  One where the kids wouldn't be loaded up on sugar, but instead would learn more about REAL food and how to be adventurous eaters.

I went into the class a week before and did a 45- minute lesson with the 2nd graders on the differences between REAL food and fake food.  They caught on quickly - and agreed that the food companies must think they are dumb to buy into all the hype about fake foods.  After the lesson, we brainstormed a list of about 24 REAL red foods - from apples to goji berries to red chard to pomegranate seeds to dragon fruit (which we couldn't find but subbed with red cactus pears).  After giving them the science behind tastebuds - that it takes dozens of times for a food to become acceptable to some people's taste buds - especially if they've been tricked by fake food chemicals - they all committed to being very Adventurous Eaters for our 'Naturally' Red Food Taste Testing at the Valentine's Day Party.  I quickly assigned (in writing) a food item for each child to donate.  I made strawberry/banana/apple juice smoothies.  One of the room moms made whole grain muffins with chocolate chips and dried cranberries.  On the day of the party, we set-up the food - which every child brought in except for one - on a few tables.  We labeled everything and gave each person a sheet that had pictures and names of the foods.  As they taste tested everything, they were able to mark whether they liked it or not. 

I find over and over again that kids respond to education and they respond to the adults around them.  We had buy-in from the kids because I taught them some information, asked them for their input and the teacher and the moms in the room on Valentine's Day were positive, encouraging all the kids to try the foods.  Of course these children would have loved a bunch of sugary treats and maybe some would have rather had the 'traditional' V-Day party.  That's not the point.  As adults, we have the responsiblity and the power to change our children's expectations and consequently their behavior.  And that doesn't mean taking away all the fun.  These 2nd graders were having fun as they tried new foods and talked about them.  They still got to take home their Valentines some of which had candy attached.  However, as one smart little guy was walking out, he said, "Mrs. Batten, look at the list of ingredients in this candy.  There's artificial colors in here because of the numbers listed behind the colors, right?"  He's one step closer to making better choices for himself.

Take the time to teach your kids.  Coming from a teacher, it's never too soon to start.  Check out our resources below - all of which will give you ideas about how to engage your child in learning about REAL food.  It will change your child and it will change the world.

~Angelle

More REAL Resources:
Activity Cupboard
Name This Product
REAL Mom of the Month
Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
Institute for Integrative Nutrition