Coming up with inventive, entertaining family activities in the summer can be a daunting challenge. If you’re seeking an activity that will be enriching for the whole family—without driving out of town—look no further! Taking your kids to the farmer’s market on a regular basis is a great way to get out of the house, support your community, and teach your kiddos about healthy eating habits in an exciting way.
The sky is the limit when it comes to thinking of fun activities to keep your children entertained at the famer’s market, but it’s not always easy to get the creative ball rolling. Here are a few fun ideas for kids of all ages to get you inspired!
A great starter for younger kids is to have them pick out a fruit and vegetable for every color of the rainbow. Not only is this a great way to simultaneously get your kids to practice their colors and learn more about the fruits and veggies they eat, but it’s also a good opportunity to incorporate better health into your child’s diet in a fun, kid-friendly way! Dietitians say that a rainbow diet provides an increase in vitamins and nutrients that allow our bodies to thrive, and helps prevent diseases (“Today’s Dietitians” 1). So with these health benefits in mind, this color seeking activity is a no-brainer!
Another great activity for little ones is getting them to find a fruit or vegetable for each letter of the alphabet. They can practice their letters and gain familiarity with healthy produce at the same time!
We at Local Llano are always proponents of learning how to grow and harvest your own produce, so a great way to get your kids thinking about producing their own food is to get them to find 10 foods that grow above ground, and 10 foods that grow under ground. If you’re unsure about this one, you can encourage your kids to engage in conversations with the vendors, and ask them which of their crops grow above and under ground.
To get your older kids involved, try leaving them in charge of the list, and (if they are old enough) the money. This is a great empowerment activity that allows children to use their critical thinking skills, gain experience choosing their own healthy foods, and practice their math all at once. A great way to add to this activity is coming together as a family before heading to the farmer’s market and picking a new recipe that you can all make together. Then, assign an ingredient to each child, and allow them to find it on their own!
There are so many ways to engage kids at a farmer’s market, so let your creativity flow and try a new activity with each trip! Here is a great resource for printable activities your kids can bring with them to the farmer’s market.
Food is such a huge part of life, and a great way to get the family together. We all have emotional connections to food, but most people associate emotional eating with negative feelings. We also eat to celebrate, though, and taking your kids to a famer’s market is a great way to establish healthy foods as your child’s go-to when they’re feeling happy! Taking your whole family to the farmer’s market on a regular basis will teach them to associate their happy memories with the healthy, wholesome food they consume from the farmer’s market.
On your next trip to your local farmer’s market, take a print out of our Scavenger Hunt list for the kids to enjoy and share your farmers market finds with us on our social media!
