Grady’s Garden is a company and a cartoon series, all about healthy food and getting kids to eat their vegetables.
“Hey, this lettuce, tastes like lettuce. Because it is lettuce.”
Founder Mike Wheeler says their products have no artificial flavors, colors or added sugar and reduced sodium.
“All raw materials are sourced here in Michigan except the tomatoes are from northern California.”
Wheeler is thrilled Grady’s Garden will now sell its salsas and pasta sauces at 264 Meijer stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Net proceeds from all food sales support Grady’s Classroom, a non-profit program developed to teach elementary children about healthy lifestyles and the importance of growing and eating vegetables with an animated series about six kids who start a community garden.
“Your grandma eats salad from the dirt? Michelle, every salad comes from the dirt.”
and a curriculum for classrooms and after-school programs in under-resourced areas where childhood obesity and food insecurity are most prevalent.
“We’ve activated it with over 1700 kids primarily in Grand Rapids but we’re leaking out into Lansing and Detroit.”
And beyond, with an app launching next year. Wheeler says they’re seeing results.
“Kids on average will require 8-11 exposures before they’re willing to try a vegetable they may have aversion to. We’re getting trial pretty much on the first exposure.”
There is information on the educational program, products and where to find the animated show at gradysgarden.com.
