I’ve often joked, “Do french fries count as vegetables?,” knowing that, of course, they do not. However some kids do not make that distinction. It seems like with the growth of fast food and fast dinners, the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables is becoming less and less, even though they are a critical part to growing up and staying healthy. In an effort to help encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetables, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and Amway have teamed up to “help educate Club members about the importance of healthy diets and lifestyles.”
A critical part to getting kids to eat more fruits and veggies is to get them excited about fruits and veggies. By enabling and helping Boys & Girls Clubs to start, and grow, their own community gardens, Amway is laying the foundation for healthy eating.
A POSITIVE SPROUTS Garden
The POSITIVE SPROUTS® program has made it possible for 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs to learn about healthy eating habits through the Positive Sprouts Curriculum. Not only do they talk about the importance of eating healthy fruits and vegetables, but they also encourage Boys & Girls Clubs to start and grow their own community gardens. To kick-start the efforts of those clubs who are interested, Amway is donating 150 Garden in a Box kits filled with fruit and vegetable seeds and supplies to clubs that have “demonstrated an interest and need for establishing a community gardening program at their Club.”
This garden looks wonderful!
Amway previously helped fund community gardens and this year, they are renewing their support through their POSITIVE SPROUTS® Sustainability Grants. Ten deserving Boys 7 Girls Clubs will receive $30,000 in Sustainability grants to help maintain their gardens and improve nutrition for their members.
If your child is part of a local Boys & Girls club, consider talking to them about starting your own community garden. Not only will it provide an opportunity for the kids to get involved in planting and growing their own food, but it will help encourage them to make the food they grow part of a healthier diet and healthier lifestyle.
The Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA) Online
Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Amway. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating. All opinions are my own.
This is a great article. I enjoyed reading it.
I think this is a great ideal. We should teach the children to grow their own garden and the importance of eating healthy. I
There is so much for kids to learn when they plant a garden. They can see where the food really comes from.
What a wonderful thing to do for and with kids!! I wish they had something like this around Pittsfield, MA. The kids around here have nothing even close to that after school. There is a Boy’s Cub, but nothing like that. I don’t have a school aged child or I would consider looking into it!! Thank you for this information!! :0)