Empowering Kids to Make Healthy Food Choices

...that's the goal of the Midwest Food Connection, a non-profit group in the Twin Cities, dedicated to educating elementary school kids about healthy eating, as well as sustainable and organic agriculture.  My 7-year old son, Drew has been attending one of their programs at his school.

Imagine how thrilled I was when Drew came home talking about how you should eat foods that are 'close to the plant' instead of foods that are processed.    Using the example of corn, he informed me that fresh corn is closest to the plant, then popcorn, then cracker jack, then corn oil and corn syrup.  (all explained in the kind of charming detail that only a grade-school kid can pull off!)

That was just the first class.  They also learned about whole grains (and got to grind some wheat into flour), sweets & sugars (how they're not so good for you) and healthy snacks (knowing what your body needs).  Each time, he came home all excited about what he learned. 

And by golly, it seems to have sunk in!  Drew still loves his sweets, but his new favorite dessert is Ambrosia, a tasty low-sugar concoction he learned in class.  There's no set recipe, but here's how it goes:

Mix plain yogurt together with some honey and maple syrup and season with cinnamon.  Yum!