Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Home Grown Food

Home grown foods can benefit your entire family.


If you're interested in gardening, or already have a garden that includes edible plants, know the benefits of home grown food. Producing your own fruits and vegetables has several perks--not just for your family, but for the environment. Does this Spark an idea?


Significance


Home grown food may motivate kids to eat more fruits and vegetables, since children will connect a sense of accomplishment with growing their own food. According to Medical News Today, growing an edible garden with your children so that they can cultivate their food makes them more likely to eat healthfully and to have healthier arteries than children who don't eat as many fruits and vegetables.


Benefits


Aside from getting children to eat healthier, home grown food carries additional benefits. When you grow your own fruits and vegetables, you're reducing the amount of fuel it takes to get these same foods from a commercial garden to your local grocery store, according to MyOptumHealth.com. You're also eliminating the use of paper or plastic to keep fruits and vegetables fresh during their transport to grocery stores, which reduces waste.


Considerations


If you're just starting to grow your food at home, it's best to choose plants that are easy to grow, like lettuce or carrots. Be sure to select plants that you know you'll like to eat once they grow. Remember to water the plants in your edible garden on a regular basis to ensure healthy growth and to keep the garden weed-free.

Tags: fruits vegetables, grown food, edible garden, grow your, Home grown