What IF...Festival

On Saturday, September 15, the Flying Carrot had the great privilege of being part of the extraordinary What IF...Festival in downtown Colorado Springs! We had no idea what a large event this would be and were so excited at the opportunity to educate so many people. At this event, we really focused on VEGGIES! We made our famous berry-beet recovery smoothies on the human-powered blender bike to demonstrate how to creatively use an oft unpopular veggie. Additionally, to highlight the season's produce, we prepared a simple cucumber tomato salad, fresh carrots, refreshing watermelon, and whole wheat zucchini bread for tasting. Needless to say, with such tasty produce from Venetucci Farm and Harlan Wolfe Ranch, we ran out of everything! Many kids (and adults) were surprised to find they liked beets and zucchini.

Gosh, I just love a little beet smoothie mustache!!

To get creative juices flowing, we debuted a new art project at this event. In addition to the healthy plate project, we allowed budding artists to express their love of fruits and veggies through painting. A large canvas and colorful acrylic paints made for an attractive display, which became more and more beautiful as festival attendants painted their favorite fruit or vegetable. They were also asked to think about and express how their favorite piece of produce tasted and/or how it made them feel. Knowing what you eat and why you eat it is so important to healthy eating. Challenge yourself to really focus on the flavors, smells, sounds, textures, and sight of the food you eat. What does it taste like? Why do you like it? Do you know where it comes from? How was it grown? Become a mindful eater (rather than a mindless) eater. This is the most enjoyable way to eat and fosters healthy eating habits!