Kids Get Hands Dirty To Become Healthier

NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) -- Battling childhood obesity is not easy, but a program at Miami-Dade College North Campus hopes to change that by educating kids early.

Toddlers as young as two-years-old are getting their hands dirty to become healthier.

Toddlers at the Miami-Dade College North Campus pre-school lab program, with the help from adults, learn to water their vegetable and herb beds.

Thanks to an endowment from an alumnus, young students are learning how to build and organize a garden and most importantly to eat better.

"I'm making compost. It's the best way to recycle, it can also make banana trees," said 5-year-old Chris Garcia. He said, "I think its fun."

Roger Horne with the Green Urban Living Center at Miami-Dade College teaches the toddlers in the program.

He says the kids enjoy the program.

"They love it, they love picking fruits and tomatoes off the trees, they eat this stuff better. And once parents start seeing they can eat vegetables and they don't have to fight with them, then they're more encouraged to cook them at home and that's what we want," said Horne.

Parent and teacher Ana Garcia believes the earlier her son and students learn about healthy eating, the better.

"I think he needs to start early," said Garcia. "Because I want the next generation to do the same. I'm going to start in my own home with my son and I wanted the same with my class too."

Director of Miami-Dade Pre-School Lab Michelle Manjarrez said, "So, they're not only going to be harvesting and learning about it, but they're going to be able to take it home and teach their own families how to eat right."

The Urban Green Garden program is part of a program to not only target childhood obesity, but also fight poverty.

This program is a model project expected to be implemented in four elementary schools in Opa-Locka and funded by the Blue Foundation.