Spring is a time for new beginnings in the garden and in nature. Plan a family outing to a local park or garden to see what is happening in nature this spring.Children today are spending more time in front of screens, whether it’s computers, phones, television, or video games, and less time playing outdoors. This has led to an all-time high in childhood obesity and increase in chronic disease in youth across the nation. Let nature motivate your family to create healthier habits by spending time outdoors, trying new foods, and planting a spring garden.

Get your family active and excited about nature and gardening! Find a park near you by visiting: http://www.discovertheforest.org/ and get inspired to live and eat healthy this spring!

Grow Your Own Container Gardens in Reusable Grocery Bags!

Spring newsletter

Gardening for Nutrition

Celebrate National Ag Day In March! www.nationalagday.org Try planting your own garden this springto raise awareness of the importance of agriculture in your family.

• Did you know that every farmer feeds more than 144 people?

• Agriculture contributes to most everything we eat, wear, and use on a daily basis

If you are like many adults, you may have fond childhood memories of a grandparent or family member who always grew fresh vegetables, but you don’t feel like you have the time or

space to grow your own garden with your family. The truth is, anyone can grow a garden! All you need is a reusable grocery bag, potting soil, and seeds or seedlings and you are well on your way to gardening success!

To get started:• Find an outdoor spot for your garden with 4-6 hours of

sunlight, whether it is on a patio, stoop, or sidewalk. • Fill your reusable grocery bag with potting soil.• Plant your seeds or seedlings (daily watering is needed with

seeds until they start to grow).• Water regularly to maintain your garden – Your finger is the

best tool for determining when to water. If the first 2 inches of soil are dry, it is time to water!

• For spring container gardens, try planting lettuce, spinach, broccoli, radishes, turnips, peas, swiss chard or beets. The last frost date for most Marylanders is around April 15th, which means that after tax day, you plant your grocery bag garden! (Visit www.eatsmart.umd.edu/locallygrown/gardening for more information and ideas!)

Youth participating in gardening and nutrition programs are more likely to choose more fruits and vegetables over less-healthy alternatives.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP in cooperation with Maryland’s Department of Human Services and University of Maryland Extension. The University of Maryland Extension will not discriminate against any person because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.

Eat Local! Its good for your family and our farmers! Have you ever looked at your plate and really thought about where all of the food on the plate came from? If you really think about it, everything we eat began on a farm in some way. Everything from the oats in our morning oatmeal to the tomatoes in our ketchup to the milk in our cereal came from a farm.

The next time you sit down to a meal with your family, trace all of the steps your food went through before it arrived on your plate. This may make you want to eat more locally grown or fresh foods. Aim to eat foods that are less processed, with fewer steps!

• Many farmers’ markets and pick your own farms begin to open in late spring. Visit www.marylandsbest.net to find out what is happening in your area. (Most farmers’ markets accept WIC checks and EBT cards!)

May is National Strawberry Month, which means that by late May, you should find local farms offering “Pick Your Own” or locally grown strawberries showing up on your grocer’s shelves. If you would like to share the experience of picking strawberries with your family, visit: http://www.pickyourown.org/MD.htm

Fruit and Spring Greens SaladServings: 5

Ingredients: 4 cups spinach or salad greens, washed and dried.1 cup strawberries, washed and sliced, or orange segments¼ cup nuts, chopped2 Tablespoons lemon juice2 Tablespoons vegetable oil1 Tablespoon honeySalt and pepper to taste

Directions: 1. Remove tough stems from spinach.2. In a large bowl, mix spinach or greens, fruit, and nuts.3. In a small bowl, mix oil, lemon juice, and honey to

make dressing.4. Pour the dressing on top of the salad and mix.5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Visit www.eatsmartmd.blogspot.com/2015/05/recipe-spotlight-fruit-and-spring.html for step by step instructions on how to prepare this recipe.

Gardening for Nutrition