Cultivate good nutrition in your own garden

Happy and healthy kids make happy and healthy homes! Get your kids learning even
more about staying healthy with Makulay ang Buhay on GMA Tuesdays at 9:30 AM
with replays on Saturdays at 9:45 AM on GMA.

You can also catch all episodes on the GMA Playground YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ZfW2mbiXc&list=PLLYaldfT7P2Srl7yZg8HP
qMXFLUjkj4p2

We’ve all noticed how there has been a surge in the number of plantitas and plantitos in the recent months, and how having plants at home can be beneficial by bringing a semblance of the outdoors and nature into our homes.

Many find that caring for plants is therapeutic and relaxing while others love the air purifying benefits. This time, we can make planting even more beneficial by involving the whole family and growing our very own fruits and vegetables to supplement the nutritional value of our meals.

The value of home harvests

Part of proper nutrition is having access to fresh produce for our everyday dishes. Growing your own vegetables in your garden through the goodness of clean water, soil, sunshine, and time means knowing you can grow nutrition right in your backyard. With the garden in your own home, freshness is never an issue. The fresher the vegetables, the more intact the nutrients are. Harvest them at the right ripeness or maturity when needed and incorporate them immediately into the day’s delicious dish. That’s truly farm to table!

Planting the seed of knowledge

Growing your own fruits and vegetables is also valuable in teaching children how to appreciate the time and effort it takes to grow food. That leaf of cabbage or that piece of tomato that provides them with fiber and vitamins are no longer the mere store bought commodities they take for granted. They become more than a piece of produce when they learn how plants go through stages of growth over time and have a life cycle of their own. The appreciation of investing time and effort also helps them understand how food should be valued and not wasted.

Get up and grow

Get ready to plant your own vegetable garden by starting off with the easy-to-grow vegetables you can use in your everyday cooking. These can provide you with ingredients for your home cooked meals in the span of approximately two weeks to a month:

• Kamote: 14 Days
• Onions: 20-30 Days
• Kangkong: 20-40 Days
• Pechay: 30-40 Days
• Lettuce: 45-65 Days
• Kamatis: 55-65 Days

Get your backyard ready for planting. Clear off areas and get it ready with rich soil. If you don’t have a yard, you can repurpose containers like empty plastic bottles, plastic ice cream tubs or pints, basins, egg cartons, or even large, old plastic buckets for root crops that need to grow under the dirt. Place holes in the bottom of your containers for drainage.

For small spaces, these planters can be made at home. Make them with the kids and show them how anyone can find ways to make their own planting spaces and care for plants easily.

Help your kids make these at home! Put holes in the bottom of your plastic tubs, use egg cartons, or make these self-watering planters to start your own home planting project.

You can download the activity sheet here

Now that you are ready, give your kids seeds or seedlings to plant! Start them off on their journey to growing their own vegetables. Teach them the growth process of plants so you can all monitor the progress of their plants as they grow.

You can download the activity sheet here

Growing your own produce may take time, but the rewards are many. Aside from getting them fresh, you control when to harvest them so you get the most out of your fruits and vegetables and save money in the process. It is also a great activity you can share with the family, and a good opportunity to teach kids about nutrition and the importance of a healthy diet. When we plant the knowledge of making good and healthy choices in the minds of our children, then it makes it easier for them to lead healthy lives! 

Help them learn more about health and nutrition with Makulay ang Buhay on GMA, Tuesdays at 9:30 AM with replays on Saturdays at 9:45 AM.

You can also catch all episodes on the GMA Playground YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ZfW2mbiXc&list=PLLYaldfT7P2Srl7yZg8HP
qMXFLUjkj4p2