Samuel Siegel, pediatrician and event organizer at the Dignity Health Woodland clinic, speaks with a family about growing his plant at the clinic’s “Homegrown Health Event” in Woodland. (Gerardo Zavala/Daily Democrat)
The Dignity Health Woodland Clinic – located at 2081 Bronze Star Dr. – held a “homemade health event” for children on Saturday that provided children in the community with their own vegetable garden and the opportunity to learn how to grow their own. food.
“Children will eat more fruits and vegetables if they grow the plants themselves,” said Samuel Siegel, a pediatrician at the clinic and event organizer. “It’s important that children learn healthy eating early to avoid unhealthy habits, which lowers their risk of developing childhood obesity.
Just an hour after the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. event began, Siegel noted that the clinic had already distributed 100 tomato seedlings to families.
“I’ve been doing pediatrics for about a decade now and pediatric obesity has gotten to a point where we have to try everything that’s available to us,” he said. “We can’t just talk to patients at the clinic…we have to show them, and there’s no better way to show this child how to eat healthy than growing their own vegetables at home.
He argued that children enjoy their home-grown vegetables more than store-bought produce because of the pride it gives them and the taste.
“A big part of the reason kids don’t like vegetables in stores is that they don’t taste very good,” he explained. “I guarantee that when they grow them at home, they’ll love the taste.”
For parents interested in making small, lasting changes at home, Siegel recommends offering a fruit or vegetable with every meal.
“Sometimes kids don’t want broccoli with their dinner all the time. Sometimes they want apples or grapes, and that’s fine,” he said. “Just one fruit and one vegetable at each meal.”
Siegel also pointed out that the clinic will likely have leftover plants after the event and encouraged all clinic patients to ask their doctors if any plants are still available on their next visit.
Additionally, the clinic highlighted data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which shows that one in five children in the United States is affected by childhood obesity.
“Many different factors can contribute to childhood obesity, including access to nutritious foods,” the event release read. “The link between learning to grow food and reducing the risk of childhood obesity is an increase in the consumption of fresh produce.”
Manmeet Kaur attended the event with his daughter after recently visiting the clinic and seeing a flyer for the event.
“Usually you see flyers and forget about them, but I was like, ‘no, I have to take the lead on this,'” she pointed out.
Kaur explained that her family gardened, so she thought the event would be a good opportunity for her children to participate in the event and “see the community come together.”
“Kids can see where the food comes from, ask questions, and be educated so they can make the right food choices when they go to the store,” she remarked. “You teach kids this process at home, but it makes a big difference when you see it visually.”
Kaur enjoyed the event and said she hopes to bring her children to other clinic events in the future.
“Even if it’s for 15 or 20 minutes, it makes a difference, really,” she concluded.
Plants for the event were provided by the clinic’s pediatric department and Woodland Community College.
Pots and soil donated by CL Smith Landscape Materials and Tractor Supply Company were available for anyone who did not have space at home to plant their vegetables.