Basic Fruits and Veggies...

Sad, isn't it? More than that, actually. It's scary that so many kids don't know what fresh food looks like! What is it with so many of today's parents? Is it because they're too busy to cook or maybe they're just plain lazy? I don't understand that "fast food" mentality, not one bit! I've always (with a few exceptions) prepared fresh food. Oh, we had "pizza night" every Friday when my kids were young but, aside from that, I bought fresh and prepared fresh. I did have the emergency can of frozen orange juice in the freezer, but preferred fresh. I made OJ and lemonade from scratch. I just don't get it. I was a working mom, totally on my own for the most part, and still had time to prepare fresh foods. My kids grew up recognizing all the fruits and veggies, except maybe the more exotic ones. We often took rides in the country and would stop to look at the cows, horses, chickens, etc. We even went to a farm once where you picked your own apples. My kids were very young at the time but they had a blast! They knew what apples looked like. Maybe I got this mentality from my mother, who was a kindergarten teacher for many years. I'd see her preparing for her classes and noticed what she was teaching these kids. For awhile, my mother taught in an inner-city school. The majority of those kids didn't know what a horse or cow were! My mother often talked with me about her day and it often included how surprised she was that these kids didn't know much of anything about REAL food. I can name all of those foods in the photo and I know my kids (now adults) could, also. I doubt my kids have ever eaten a kiwi because they're rather expensive to buy but I know that they know what they are. Even if they didn't, they would soon because I'm growing kiwi. They'll be eating them soon enough. LOL Now, to be fair to today's kids, I have to admit that I never gave tuna fish any thought at all until I saw a photo of them for the first time. I was quite floored at how large they are! All I ever thought about was that tuna came in a can.

ah the glory of convenience foods. I had a day care in my home, everything was made from scratch. If we had chicken nuggets, it came from a whole chicken. One day I thought for a treat, we would have french fries. So I started peeling potatoes. None of the kids (except my own) believed that you could get french fries from a potato. When we sat down to eat, the kids raved and how delicious real french fries are! That was just one instance, it happened a lot. Most of these kids mothers wouldnt have know what to do with a whole chicken if you handed it to them! Now I teach the teens at our church how to cook. Everything from scratch. A bag of flour means bread or biscuits. We buy our meat in bulk and our fruits and veggies (every meal) fresh! They have learned a lot and we are all having fun. So, the show you cited proves that so many of our kids have a terrible diet of convenience foods and not at all balanced.

I don't know... there must be more to this story. One would think the children would be able to identify apples and oranges, at least. And if he had included a pumpkin, I'm sure they'd know what it was, wouldn't they? I mean, people take their babies out trick or treating for hallowe'en...

I am not suprised about this with school kids. I am quite sure that my gf girls know the defference. they play with toy groceres and mom tell them what is what. so i know that they can tell the difference.

Nice picture and nice post. Fortunatly my (now 7 year old) grandson would have answered well since he learnt to talk. Many times I babysat him and as he grew tired of playing with his toys, I´d go to the kitchen and seek there edible toys.

If I read this discussion completely like I did, then I was told. Some fruts and vegies I get confused on sometimes so I try not to make fun of those who obviously don't know them. Children that age who don't know the basics, are probably not given a proper diet by their parents.

My granddaughter is not near enough to ask. I would guess that either she would name them all, or she might miss plums and kiwi. Her mom, my daughter, is a fruit and veggie consumer. Her dad works in a place that provides its employees with fresh fruits for breakfast, lunch or breaks. She is four years old. Besides not having these foods to eat, the other problem may be that parents do not talk to or with their children. I have seen that for over thirty years, and it is getting worse.

well here i cant see a picture but think I can name all that is grown in America. Grand daughte rcan several for she goes grocery shopping owth us.

I believe this....Its because parents work and when they come home they just get fast food for the family...My daughter cooks sometimes but she does this same thing...It is pizza, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, anything quick....I did live with my daughter for 3 months, and i would cook good healthy meals for the family when i was there, and the kids loved it, so actually its not the kiddo's.....I see that it takes both parents now to hold down a job in order to survive....when Mom gets homw she is really tired, my daughter would be so tired sometimes she did not even want to eat...........When i was growing up my Mom always had a good healthy meal cooked because she did not have to go outside the home to work....Its not that way anymore....I think it would be a lot better if our teens would get a really good education so they can get good paying jobs,so that one parent can be home to care for the house & children.....if you will notice alot of our kids now days quit school and end up working in a very low paying job....

Poor children in my country were the ones who eat vegies and few fruits that are grown in their backyard, while, the family with good income introduced their kids to fast foods and some few fruits available at the fruit stands. It is sad to say that many children didn't understand or appreciate the importance of the food nutrients, what the kids are after for are foods that their tastes liked, so medication expense is high nowadays.

I love that show!! Jamie is awesome! My two boys would know all of those foods. I was blessed to be a stay at home mother so they didn't get processed food, I cooked everything fresh and let them help sometimes. They knew where their food came from because I would take them to farms to pick vegetables--couldn't grow our own because it was Arizona and they don't have decent dirt out there. We are killing our children because we are too busy or too lazy to feed them properly.

I haven’t tested my daughter with this yet because she’s at school right now but I am confident that she will not fail although she refuses to eat most vegetables as I mentioned in another response. We have found substitutes for what she may be missing and she seems healthy enough so...It is sad that kids in the classroom did not recognise the healthy foods in the picture because it must mean that these kids have had no exposure to fruit and vegetables and that is amazing to me. My daughter doesn’t like the green stuff but she’s at least seen it on her plate!

It is so sad to hear that there are a lot of children that are ignorant about different fruits and vegetables. I can assure you that my children would not fall into that trap. I try to provide them with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables as a part of their diet (and I like them as well). In addition to that, my daughter's school provides the children with fresh fruit and vegetable snacks twice a weeks so she has had the opportunity to try several things that we wouldn't ordinarily have in our home. She knows all of the basis ones that you've mentioned in addition to strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, starfruit, cauliflower, green beans, snow peas and probably several more.

Basic fruits and vegetables are the essential eatables one should have in daily life inorder to balance our life. Balance diet comes from minimum each 10 servings of fruits and vegetables. Scientist say that we should eat fruits and vegetables which are in Rainbow color.this will balance us with the nature around us.

It is sad in this day and age of fast food that children, and even adults, don't know veggies and fruits. Like here in my country, our native fruits are becoming endangered because no one is growing them anymore. Our farmers have grown imported crops because people are buying them more, and sometimes they last longer than local crops. I guess its because these imported crops are genetically modified that's why they last longer. My niece and nephew thankfully know their veggies because we make sure they eat veggies and fruits. Since I live in a third world country, one of the problems in our society is poverty and malnutrition. Its because the poor in my country don't see the nutritional value in veggies that grow so abundant in our soil and are not that expensive. I am not a vegan, but I can buy veggies that I can cook for one meal that is worth P10- P20 ($.50). Its just a matter of choosing the veggies and fruits that you will consume.

That is very sad. But YEA my kids know what veggies are and how they taste on a regural. I had a problem with fruit to be honest. I was ale to bring in different types of fruits and introducing them to my kids. Now I have to make sure I purchase some kind of fruit when I go shooping. Their favors are oranges grapes (red &/or green as long as their seedless)plums apples & kiwi. I prefer them to snack on fruit before candy or anything like that.

My daughter knows hers. But it really is sad they didn't know. It is very telling with this why so many kids are becoming over weight.

I find this information extremely interesting, but not surprising. My husband and I don't have kids yet, but I would sure hope they'd know what all these fruits and veggies are someday! Of course, when I read your discussion I was reminded of something my younger sister told me - she's only four years younger than me, but very insightful in this case. She said of all the times she's been over to visit me and my hubby, we've never eaten fruits or veggies. The sad thing is, she's right! I tried to think back to those times when we had her over for dinner, and I think all I made was mashed potatoes from the boxed mix. Not healthy at all! Of course, one time we did have fish so I'm sure it was pretty nutritious. Seriously, though, I'm starting to understand why kids think fruits and veggies are foreign. Some parents just don't include it or even think of it when drawing up meal plans. Of course, that's probably just it - they don't make meals plans. I know I don't most of the time because it's just my husband and I so I feel like it's no big deal. Anyway, this discussion has definitely encouraged me to do better about putting on balanced meals, even if it takes a little more thought and preparation! We have plenty of fruits and veggies available for eating. Thanks for reminding us how important these can be to our daily meals!

hi twoey I was raised on a farm and we grew oodles of veggies and we also had fruit orchards too,apples, cherries, and plums and raspberries too. I always ate lots of fresh fruit and veggies growing up. I am appalled at what kids are being fed now, its truly mind blowing that they do not know any other veggies besides french fries.Oh yes I can name them all because as a diabetic when I was cooking for myself, I relied mostly on veggies ,salads and fruits, a small serving of lean meat, and a small potato or slice of multi grains bread. Here I am at the mercy of the cooks but I can cut back on the too large servings of carbs, and I can also buy some fresh fruit occasionally to supplement what they leave out. Oh yes and we also grew ripe canteloupes and watermelons too. oh do I miss those farm days. well no sense in looking back, thats so sad those kids did not know even the basic veggies, what the heck are their moms feeding them, maybe the moms dont know either? wish that Jamie Oliver could visit Gold crest and teach these people what good food for good health is. great discussion.

They would know all or most. They wouldn't necessarily EAT all of them. :-)