A few weeks ago, I left behind a rainy Seattle to visit my hilarious and adorable nieces in California. On my last day there, we visited their other grandparent’s, Safta and Zada (Hebrew for grandma and grandpa). Safta is an avid gardener and was excited to show my nieces and their cousins the carrots they had personally planted.

I watched my younger niece, 3 years old and the epitome of precocious, excitedly dash around waiting for her turn to pull out her carrot. Now, this girl is the type of child who is less than enthusiastic about food. She tends to get distracted at meals and is destined to become one of those adults who forget to eat. But when she knew that “her” carrot was ready to be harvested, she acted as though Mickey and Minnie were about to join us.

As a cooking instructor, I’ve watched many, many children surprise their parents by eating foods they usually snub but upon preparing them, decided that it was the best meal of their life. But even I was impressed with how excited the children were to pull, wash and eat “their” carrots. I realize that as aunties, you may not have the opportunity to garden with your nieces and nephews on a regular basis but there are lots of opportunities to introduce them to the wondrous miracle of growing food.

Great ideas for getting them to eat what they grow!

Go to a nursery. It’s planting season, so instead of taking them to the toy store, let your nieces and nephews pick out a fresh herb or a tomato plant to take home and nurture – they don’t need a yard for these plants.

Take them to a farm. Lots of farms are connected to Community Supported Agriculture programs (which deliver boxes weekly to customers) and welcome visitors – some may even have special activities for the kids. Visit Local Harvest to find a farm near you.

Go berry picking. We are a little early for berry season but depending on where you live in the U.S., there are lots of Pick Your Own farms that offer great produce and an afternoon of fun for children. 

Find a neighbor with a garden. I’ve never met a gardener that doesn’t love giving a tour of their beautiful yard – many would be flattered if you asked them to stop by with your nieces and nephews. You’ll probably end up leaving with a fresh bouquet of flowers and some just-picked produce.

Take them to a farmer’s market. It’s not quite the same as seeing food in the ground but many farmers love sharing stories and your nieces and nephews could pick out a new fruit or vegetable as a treat to eat at the market or take home to prepare together.

Start your own garden. This is the time of year to begin planting! If you’re looking for tips on how to get started, visit www.backyardgardener.com.

After you have collected a few vegetables from your food adventure, try serving them raw with a Homemade Ranch Dip. It takes only minutes to prepare and the yogurt and lack of preservatives makes it a lot healthier than most store bought products. If you’re willing to use a food processor, try blending in cream cheese or a avocado for a different consistency and flavor.

Homemade Ranch Dip

1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup whole milk plain yogurt (low-fat products won’t provide the correct consistency)
1 tablespoon of lime juice
1-2 tablespoons minced fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, tarragon
¼ teaspoon crushed garlic (which is more kid-friendly than fresh garlic)
¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
Fresh ground pepper to taste

Combine mayonnaise and sour cream in a small bowl – blend them together very well. Add lime juice, minced herbs and garlic - stir gently. Add salt and pepper and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serve dip with a platter of crunchy vegetables such as carrot sticks, pepper strips, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, or blanched snow peas.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves 2-4

Recipe by Julie Negrin © 2005