Tasting food grown from seed is one of the best ways to inspire a love of healthy eating! That's why every Growing Healthy Kids garden lesson includes a tasting. Each garden class, students sample a healthy, seasonal food. Usually, their tasting comes right from the garden.

Garden Educators work hard to make Garden Class a safe place for students to try new things. After they taste, students get the chance to show what they think of the new snack by voting: Did they "Love it", "Like it" or "Tried it"? No matter what they pick, their garden teacher will be proud they tried something new.

And most snacks are a hit! From 2022 – 2024, garden educators gave over 73,000 tastes to students. For 80% of all taste tests, students voted that they either “loved it” or “liked it.”

In the winter when it's cold and rainy, nutrition becomes the main focus of our daytime elementary school garden classes. For four weeks, students participate in a cooking and nutrition unit where they learn to balance meals using the food groups, and build cooking skills such as measuring, mixing, and chopping. Students look forward to tasting new recipes and get to eat delicious food they made themselves. Some favorite recipes include "Six Plant Part Wrap", "Winter Salsa" and "Apple Faces."

Growing Healthy Kids encourages students to take recipes from class home! Check out these videos from our annual #MyGardenSnack challenge!

Donya, Bancroft Elementary Grade 4, Cooks "Persimmon Banana Smoothie"

Belinda, Fair Oaks Elementary TK, Cooks "Rainbow Salsa"

Xavier and Abriella, Rio Vista Elementary Grades 1 & 2, Cook "Rainbow Smoothie"

To participate in the next round of the #MyGardenSnack challenge, submit your video here by March 9th! Recipes are found here.