'Potatoes Come From Pigs': New Survey Shows Children Have No Idea Where Food Comes From

'Potatoes Come From Pigs': Survey Shows Kids Have Some Funny Ideas About Food
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Children have some funny ideas about where their food comes from, a new survey has revealed.

One in 20 (5%) children think cheese comes from pigs and that strawberries grow in the fridge, while 4% think potatoes come from pigs.

The study, which polled 1,000 UK boys and girls aged five to 11 showed that many school children did not know how many staple foods were produced or how fruit and vegetables were grown.

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One in three (33%) children did not know that pork comes from pigs, and one in five (18%) did not know that they are also the source of bacon.

Three in ten children (28%) did not know carrots grow underground, with almost one in 10 children (9%) believing they grow on a bush.

Six in ten children did not know lettuce grew on the ground, while nearly eight in ten (78%) did not know broccoli grew on a plant.

Fewer children are seeing farm animals first hand too, with more than one in three never having heard a sheep baa (37%) or a cow moo (34%) up close, with thousands only experiencing it through their TV or computer screens.

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The survey was commissioned by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) who have run Open Farm Sunday for the past decade and also organise Open Farm School Days throughout June.

This weekend Open Farm Sunday will see hundreds of farms open their gates to visitors of all ages so they can see farming first hand and learn a little more about the basics.

Annabel Shackleton, LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday manager said: "Over the past decade more than a million people, including families, have visited an Open Farm Sunday event but the results show that there is still a disconnect with farming for today’s youngsters (as well as for many parents too).

"We must all work together to ensure that this does not become an increasing trend and so we’re calling on all families to head to their local farm on 7 June for Open Farm Sunday to experience all the sights and sounds of a farm for themselves."

Visitors can find their local farm to visit at www.farmsunday.org

15 Healthy Foods Your Kids Will Actually Want To Eat
Baked apple chips(01 of15)
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Kids love chips, but we all know they aren’t the healthiest snack. Thankfully, we have a great alternative: apple chips! With no sugar added, it’s amazing that these chips taste like candy! After one try, your kids will be hooked.

Get the recipe: The Viet Vegan

(credit:The Viet Vegan)
Chocolate yogurt dip(02 of15)
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Satisfy your kid’s chocolate cravings with this healthy yogurt dip. This fun finger food will surely satisfy their cravings and you’ll rest easy knowing they got their daily intake of fruits!

Get the recipe: What’s For Dinner

(credit:What’s For Dinner)
Sweet potato toddler snack(03 of15)
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These heart-shaped cookies are made from sweet potatoes and are the perfect substitute for kids who have a lot of allergies.

Get the recipe: Little House Living

(credit:Little House Living)
Strawberry roll-ups(04 of15)
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Homemade fruit roll-ups are actually quite healthy and easy to make! Just create a puree out of strawberries, lemon juice, and agave nectar (or honey) and spread it on to parchment paper. Once dry, peel it off, roll it up, and it’s ready to eat!

Get the recipe: Buona Pappa!

(credit:Buona Pappa!)
Chocolate avocado pudding(05 of15)
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Chocolate pudding? Yes please! Your kids won’t be able to resist this little treat, especially since it hides all traces of avocado. This snack is particularly healthy because it’s full of antioxidants.

Get the recipe: How Sweet It Is

(credit:How Sweet It Is)
Peanut butter yogurt fruit pizzas(06 of15)
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Your kids will love trying new fruits if you give them the option of making their own peanut butter yogurt fruit pizzas! We promise.

Get the recipe: Well Plated

(credit:Well Plated)
Spinach muffins(07 of15)
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This might sound gross, but your kids won’t ever know these muffins are made of spinach! This recipe uses apple sauce and very little sugar for its sweet taste, making it a healthy after school snack.

Get the recipe: Mama Say What

(credit:Mama Say What)
Frozen yogurt blueberries(08 of15)
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Kids who love sweets will love these frozen yogurt blueberries. Not only do these bite-sized bits taste great, but they’re also easily portable and mess-free.

Get the recipe: Heart of Deborah

(credit:Heart of Deborah)
Zucchini chips(09 of15)
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Kids love the texture of chips so much that probably won’t even realize they’re eating zucchinis. Now that’s a win!

Get the recipe: Table For Two

(credit:Table For Two)
Banana oatmeal bars(10 of15)
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This super simple recipe doesn’t involve any complex steps or complicated ingredients like eggs or flour. Instead, it only uses bananas, rolled oats, vanilla extract, and salt. We love this nut-free, dairy-free snack because it’s contains a great source of fiber, potassium, and protein all in one!

Get the recipe: Lala Lunchbox

(credit:Lala Lunchbox)
Banana “ice cream”(11 of15)
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This ice cream is made purely from bananas! The trick is to chop the bananas up and put them in a blender. Continue mixing and scraping down the sides until you get a creamy consistency. Then, pop the mixture into the fridge so that it hardens to scoopable ice cream!

Get the recipe: Come Together Kids

(credit:Come Together Kids)
Greek yogurt and carrot muffins(12 of15)
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These healthy Greek yogurt and carrot muffins are packed with protein. They make a great after school snack for kids and are freezer-friendly so that you can make a huge batch and save some for the weeks ahead.

Get the recipe: I Should Be Mopping The Floor

(credit:I Should Be Mopping The Floor)
Avocado and pear baby food popsicles(13 of15)
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These popsicles are specifically made for babies, but you can make them for your kids too! All you have to do is puree two avocados and two pears and freeze them using popsicle molds. Easy peasy!

Get the recipe: The Spunky Coconut

(credit:The Spunky Coconut)
Homemade fruit snacks(14 of15)
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Homemade fruit snacks really are the best! Not only are they delicious, but they’re also easy to store and pack in your kid’s bag for school.

Get the recipe: Thank Your Body

(credit:Thank Your Body)
Orange creamsicle yogurt bites(15 of15)
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This simple, yummy treat is made with yogurt and orange-flavoured Jello. It contains lots of protein from the yogurt and is fat free! Your little ones will especially love this snack because they’ll be able to eat it with their hands. Plus, you can change the flavour by using any kind of Jello you like.

Get the recipe: Cookies and Cups

(credit:Cookies and Cups)