We know the first Thanksgiving feast dates back to 1621 when the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plymouth for their first harvest celebration. Today a traditional Thanksgiving meal might include roast turnkey with stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, creamed onions, glazed carrots and pumpkin pie. (The last four are mentioned in "What's in the Garden?")
Ask the children in your family if they know where this food comes from. When they know this, and may even have grown some of it themselves, food becomes more interesting to them. In my book (click on the cover to link to Amazon.com) readers guess a surprise fruit or vegetable after hearing and/or reading the rhyme.
In the past few years I've visited school yards where students are growing vegetable gardens, along with healthy eating habits. At harvest time, the vegetables are used in school cafeterias for them to enjoy.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has guidelines toward healthier school lunches requiring more servings of fruits and vegetables. What better way for kids to try fresh veggies than right from what they have grown themselves? Of course it's not always possible, but the knowledge of what is good for them certainly is!
Obesity affects one in three American children. So why not start a garden and/or cook more nutritious foods with your kids. Download ten tasty kid-friendly recipes from my book at http://dawnpub.com/activities/GARDN_Recipes.pdf.
In addition to being a great bonding and learning experience, it's GOOD FOR YOU!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND HAPPY HEALTHY EATING!
P.S. Be sure to go to www.carolscommoncore.com/ for lots of great ideas on how to use "What's in the Garden?" and also "Molly's Organic Farm." both published by Dawn Publications.
Ask the children in your family if they know where this food comes from. When they know this, and may even have grown some of it themselves, food becomes more interesting to them. In my book (click on the cover to link to Amazon.com) readers guess a surprise fruit or vegetable after hearing and/or reading the rhyme.
In the past few years I've visited school yards where students are growing vegetable gardens, along with healthy eating habits. At harvest time, the vegetables are used in school cafeterias for them to enjoy.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has guidelines toward healthier school lunches requiring more servings of fruits and vegetables. What better way for kids to try fresh veggies than right from what they have grown themselves? Of course it's not always possible, but the knowledge of what is good for them certainly is!
Obesity affects one in three American children. So why not start a garden and/or cook more nutritious foods with your kids. Download ten tasty kid-friendly recipes from my book at http://dawnpub.com/activities/GARDN_Recipes.pdf.
In addition to being a great bonding and learning experience, it's GOOD FOR YOU!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND HAPPY HEALTHY EATING!
P.S. Be sure to go to www.carolscommoncore.com/ for lots of great ideas on how to use "What's in the Garden?" and also "Molly's Organic Farm." both published by Dawn Publications.