We've heard time and time again that there's nothing like growing your own food to help you feel more connected to what you're eating. This is especially true for kids, who often don't have or make great food choices -- especially if they live in impoverished areas.
Healthy food advocate and chef Alice Waters, of Berkeley's Chez Panisse restaurant, is bringing that message to schools across the country, helping them institute community gardens.
"When kids grow it and cook it, they want to eat it," she said.
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal actually grew up gardening and has teamed up with Waters in this "edible education" endeavor.
"Growing up, more than anything, I got to know my mother and father and my sister and they got to know me at the dinner table," he said.
So far, the program has taken root in about a dozen schools, and kids learn about veggies they've never heard of before (hello, kale!) and one student even boasted about his newly developed skill cooking up crepes!
So what can you do as a parent if there's no garden at your kid's school? "Go into the cafeteria and ask those questions: What are the children eating? It’s really important that we speak up," advises Waters.
How do you get your kids to eat healthy? Share your tips.
Want more info about the program? Click here.