March Madness for Children

March is a month filled with important dates to remember. One particular date is Meatout on the 20th. Spring ahead not only your clock this Sunday but also your outlook on food. Grocery stores are well stocked with vegetables, fruits, grains and desserts making it easy to whip up a meal the entire family will relish. Forget basketball for a moment and create a tradition of March Madness For Children.

Model for children how to care for animals, humans and the environment by boycotting meat and animal products. Give up meat on the 20th and carry through with your convictions even on Easter, March 23rd. Easter has turned into a commercial holiday promoting lamb, ham, junk food, bunnies and chicks. Children learn by our example. Foster kindness, compassion and nutrition in just a few simple ways.

Buy seed starter kits and begin growth right in your very own kitchen. Children will water and tend to these seedlings in preparation for moving them outdoors when the weather warms up. This is a meaningful way for children to learn about how food grows and participate in choosing good wholesome foods. Children will beam when harvesting produce in the summer - "I grew this!"

Get new stories even cookbooks. Make children an active part of the process. Books about animals and how animals socialize and feel are accurate and compelling because most children are greatly motivated by animals. Children are eager to learn more about animals. When a face is associated with a burger, it is a lot less appetizing. Cook and bake treats without animal and animal products from your new books.

Adopt an animal from a farm that will remain at the farm. Some people think bunnies and chicks will teach children responsibility but more often than not families are not prepared to care for such animals. Nor are families so enthralled with full-grown rabbits and chickens. To discard these beautiful creatures, teaches children that life is disposable. In light of factory farms' inhumane treatment of animals, farm sanctuaries provide havens for these lovely creatures that you can sponsor.

I know some people are thinking - what about dying Easter eggs? PETA offers wonderful cruelty-free ways to celebrate Easter from crafts to food. Check its site out for inspiration.

No series of games, hoops or balls needed for this March Madness to be a success - just a series of good deeds. By the way Good Samaritan Day is March 13th.