Getting Kids in the Kitchen doesn’t have to always be set in the kitchen.  I know.  Totally counter-intuitive.  But today, we’re stepping outside in an attempt to get kids excited about growing food, eating healthy food and *hopefully* cooking fresh fruits and vegetables.

A big thank you to Lisa from Topiary and Tiramisu for sharing that cooking begins in the garden – not the grocery store.

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I hate to admit it, but my childhood was a bit lacking in the cooking and gardening arena.  My mom cooked nice meals, but they were often out of a box. Our yard was an expanse of grass (pretty much garden zilch), with a few tomato plants scattered at the house foundation.  To top it off, I really don’t like tomatoes.

This is the irony.  Today I’m a landscape architect (and crazy about gardens), plus an illustrator…focused on drawing food.  I’ve thought about this a lot…lacking in both areas as a child, but being drawn to them (incessantly) as an adult.

I think this twist happened for two reasons: mystery and challenge.

I didn’t have those things.  Curiosity set in, and then I craved the challenge to learn more.

Kids exhibit this intrigue with mystery and hopefully crave similar challenges.  I’ve used these to my full advantage by making our vegetable garden a lure to getting our kids into the kitchen.  Though my 13-year old son still hesitates, my 10-year old daughter and three-year old son have dove in head first.  Both are willing to taste our garden growies and try new concoctions in the kitchen.  I am still learning to cook myself, so we’re all in this together.

 

 

Our mysteries include how those plants grow from seed and when do we actually get to eat them?  Our challenges wrap around how to prepare the final harvest.

 

My daughter and I have made a goal to prepare at least one new meal each week this summer with our garden bounty.  To be honest, I’m a little scared, but with recipes from fellow bloggers and my kids’ excitement I’m ready to take on that task with them.

{lisa}

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Lisa Orgler has a split personality.  Her training as a landscape architect lures her towards a love of garden design, but she also fantasizes about food creations through her whimsical illustrations.  This dual obsession drove her to create a garden blog, plus a food one.  When will this madness end?

www.topiaryandtiramisu.com  (garden blog)

www.lunchboxproject.com (food and art blog)