What’s New at the Barn…
Happy National Nutrition Month! Here at the barn we know that eating a variety of foods is one of the keys to a healthy diet. Everyone who has experienced HealthBarn USA will agree: You can argue, lecture, bribe, beg and threaten at the dinner table, but there is a better way to get kids to eat well and to enjoy their food. We make it happen by teaching children (and the grown-ups who love them) about delicious nutritious food and the healthy lifestyle that goes with it; all served up with a huge, tasty scoop of fun! Here are some tips for grown-ups from our founder, Stacey Antine, MS, RD.
- Make yourself a role model. If your children see you trying new foods and being open minded, they will likely do the same.
- Keep it positive. Be excited about the foods that you are serving instead of expecting your children to dislike them. Your enthusiasm is contagious!
- Involve your children. When children are involved in the process, they are curious to taste what they’ve created. Even just letting them pick out a new food at the supermarket or farmers’ market can give them ownership over that new experience. You’ll need to practice more patience because it will take more time – but it’s worth it!
- Make veggies crunchy. Try serving vegetables raw first, so your children can experience the vegetables taste and texture in their natural state. We recommend flash blanching vegetables by pouring boiling water over them in a bowl for 1-2 minutes and then, drain to serve crunchy. Overcooked or mushy vegetables are sure to get a thumbs down!
- Be patient. Would you want someone pushing one of your “yuk” foods on you? Encourage your children to take one bite. But beyond that, take it easy.
- Be persistent. According to the USDA, many children need to try a new food five to ten times before they like it.
- Don't Yuk My Yum! Peer pressure is powerful (friends and family, too!) so opinions about food need to be expressed with care. We express the taste experience with a thumb up if we like it, a thumb to the side if we are not sure and a thumb down if we don't like. Remember yuk is a four letter word at the barn!
Not convinced, yet? Put us to the test by signing up for a seasonal program at the barn and watch the magic unfold in your home, too! Click here for more information.
Spring for Upcoming Programs:
Grown-Ups Only! Vegetable Gardening 101 Workshop, Saturday, March 19 from 9:00 - 1:00 pm: Interested in starting a vegetable garden this spring? We are hosting a green thumb-proof, comprehensive organic vegetable gardening workshop led by Stacey Antine, MS, RD for grown-ups! You will learn hands-on, how to create a thriving produce garden that includes location, animal protection, soil, compost, irrigation, seeds, seedlings and tasty, nutritious recipes that will make your edible garden irresistible! Lunch and all supplies will be included. Space is limited to 25 people (last year it sold out!); please click here for more information and enroll by contacting us at 201-891-2066.
HealthBarn USA Spring Programs: We are enrolling in our super cool, educational springs programs, including Seedlings, ages 3-5, Sprouts, ages 5-7, Young Harvesters, ages 8-15 and Continuing Ed for Grown-Ups beginning the week of April 4, 2011. Families and kids are getting spring fever and signing up to make sure they get a spot at the barn and in the garden. Please click here for enrollment forms!
EARLY BIRD SPECIALS! Best of Bergen Summer Camp 2011: Voted editor's pick and Best of Bergen by (201) magazine, it's the ultimate "farm-to-fork" experience! HealthBarn USA is the only farm summer camp program in Bergen County, NJ for children, ages 5-12. During the day from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. campers indulge in delicious, nutritious food and the healthy lifestyle that goes with it! They are active by rotating between growing, harvesting, and cooking their own hand-grown organic fruits and vegetables, learning about nutrition and environmental science through games and enjoying activities in creative arts and crafts, nature, yoga and sports. Parents are psyched because a nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack are provided everyday (we accommodate for allergies!). Transportation is available for children coming from New York City.
Summer Seedlings: The Seedlings, ages 3-5 have an action-filled summer ahead that includes planting and eating organic fruits and vegetables, helping to cook healthy recipes and doing all natural arts & crafts. The New York Times featured HealthBarn USA in "No Yucks Allowed." The reporter, Kelly Feeney, learned a lot about growing vegetables and cooking healthy recipes during and found out that healthy eaters thrive at HealthBarn USA! We are enrolling for the Summer Seedlings program being held weekly in the afternoons from 4-5:30 pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays for 5 or 10-weeks.
If you are a parent who wants:
- healthy kids who are adventurous eaters,
- nutritious and great tasting ideas and recipes for what to serve and eat 24/7,
- green kids who grow and eat their own organic food,
- simple, fun-to-take steps that will get your family to a happier, healthier place - from a leading voice in family nutrition, come spend the summer with us at the barn! Click here for more information and enrollment forms.
School Enrichment Programs:
Ready to make a difference in kids' lives? Partner with HealthBarn USA through our enrichment programs because we make a difference in empowering children to make healthy choices. Our hands-on approach and unique curricula is not only one-of-kind, but also extremely effective in exciting kids and families about making good choices for their health. Click here for for the list of our 2011 offerings in school and at the barn. Here are some highlights:
Healthy Lifestyle School Assembly: Engage your student body in HealthBarn USA's "Try It -- You'll Like It," one-of-a-kind, hands on healthy-lifestyle experience that empowers children of all ages to try new foods that are allergen free, be active, participate in family meals and much more. Kids can't get enough of this fun and interactive tasting experience that leaves principals, teachers, parent volunteers and parents at home in awe as kids tempt their taste buds with fruit, vegetables, edamame, cereal without added sugar and so much more! Click here read the latest testimonials from other schools.
HealthBarn USA School Assembly on YouTube. If you haven't experienced the assembly LIVE yet, click here to watch the team and kids in action. Click here for more information about how to schedule an assembly at your school or other organization, please click here to contact Molly.
School & Scout Healthy-Lifestyle Field Trips: With nutrition education being a hot topic in schools among administrators, children, the PTO/PTA and parents, our hands-on, one-of-kind field trip is a must-do! The field trip curriculum meets the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 2.6, 5.4, 5.8, 5.10, 8.2 and 9.2. And, the HealthBarn USA experience is a perfect supplement to school curricula.
We are booking school trips for spring and fall 2011 -- don't miss out on this one-of-kind experience. Click here for more information.
We’re booking for scout field trips too, for spring and fall 2011 – scout leaders are booking early, so if you are interested in taking a field trip, please click here for more information.
Workshops & After-School Enrichment Programs: The workshop format for classes of 25 students during Wellness, Science, Health or Environmental Days are age-appropriate and cover a variety of topics, click here for more information. Our after-school enrichment programs are very popular because they are fun and create a positive learning experience as an extension to the school day with a hot topic for families. We are currently offering programs at Gerrard Berman Day School, Oakland, NJ, High Mountain Road and Colonial Road Elementary Schools in Franklin Lakes, NJ and will have spring programs at the Paramus Community School, Paramus, NJ. Click here for more information.
Private One-on-One Nutrition Counseling for children, teens and adults. To schedule a one-on-one appointment with Stacey Antine, MS, RD, in New Jersey or New York City, please click here to find out more.
We are wishing you double thumbs up for making the healthy of your family a priority! We'd love to hear your healthy living stories, please click here to email us! Thank you for reading about HealthBarn USA at Abma’s Farm in Wyckoff, NJ. Want to learn more.. visit us at the barn!
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