Stony Brook Medicine brings kids on site for rooftop farm visit, cooking classes

To teach young diners the benefits of healthy eating, Stony Brook Medicine in Stony Brook, N.Y., this week hosted three days of educational programming and cooking classes.

Fourteen kids ranging from age 7 to 10 attended the event, which aimed to give them hands-on experience with harvesting ingredients and incorporating those items into healthy meals, according to a press release.

On the first day, participants made hummus and veggie wraps, fruit smoothies and tabbouleh. They also visited the hospital’s 2,242-square-foot rooftop garden, which provides produce for patient meals as well as local charities.

In addition, they learned about eco-friendly farming initiatives such as composting and water conservation.

Efforts to get kids engaged with food production have taken off in recent years, with a number of K-12 schools implementing on-site gardens, orchards and hydroponic farms.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is awarding 103 farm-to-school grants to schools and districts across the country this year. Recipients are putting the funds toward the addition of school greenhouses, hydroponic towers and more.