Jennie Garth
TheStarScoop.Com brings you a multi media interview featuring questions from TheStarScoop.com with Jennie Garth as she talks about the original digital series from NBC Universal Digital Studio and the makers of Hidden Valley Ranch, "Garden Party."
Joshua Maloney:
So it looks like you’re having, you know, just a really good time selling the series and interacting with the kids. How did this project come about? How did you get involved with it?
Jennie Garth:
Well, you know, I did have such a great time doing Garden Party. I didn't know that I would get to interact so much with the kids but we ended up in the middle of a field in LA and we were totally gardening and eating vegetables all day. We had so much fun. How I got involved was, you know, a lot of people my age are moms. And so I'm a pretty recognizable face for a certain age woman and people that grew up watching Beverly Hills 90210, the original show. And so now a lot of us women have kids.
And one of the, you know, big issues is how to get - make sure our kids are eating healthy. And I know I struggle with it with my own kids. And I love to talk to other women about, you know, relevant issues and this is definitely a relevant issue so they came to me and asked me to do this Web series and ended up being a really fun time.
Joshua Maloney:
Cool. Now you seem also very comfortable talking about the foods and talking about different, you know, serving options that exist and making them more appealing to kids and that. Do you consider yourself something of a food, I mean, did you have this knowledge ahead of time or did you find that you learned a lot yourself in doing this series?
Jennie Garth:
You know, I thought I knew everything there was to know about a vegetable but after I did this I learned so much everyday just shooting this. I think that anybody that watches it will be kind of surprised too. And I got some really great tips. Everyday I would come home from shooting this Web thing and I would try a new vegetable at home. And the kids were into and so it did actually end up teaching me about new vegetables, new little tricks I could try to get my kids to eat them. And so it was a learning experience. But I am kind of a foodie, I like food and I love to cook.
Jamie Steinberg:
What are some of your favorite vegetables?
Jennie Garth:
Oh my gosh I love sugar snap peas and asparagus. I love every vegetable I swear to you. When I was doing this series standing out in these beautiful fields full of fresh vegetables I was going crazy because there were gorgeous vegetables all around me. And so I introduced - I got introduced to several vegetables that I'd never even heard of. I can't remember the names of them right now but like Japanese turnips and crazy things. And they were so delicious straight out of the field. And so I love - we cook a lot of carrots and broccoli stuff like that at my house, you know, kid-friendly vegetables.
Jamie Steinberg:
Why do you think people will want to take their time to watch Garden Party?
Jennie Garth:
Well I think that there are a lot of moms out there that are like me and they’re a little lost when it comes to how do I get my kids to eat vegetables? I know they’re supposed to eat them and I know, you know, it’s our responsibility to give these kids a balanced diet and not only just, you know, feed them but teach them how to incorporate vegetables into their own diets when they get old enough to choose, you know, what they’re eating when they’re away from you. So I think that that was - is the reason I did it was to help, you know, educate other moms and educate myself about vegetables.
Jamie Steinberg:
Other than a particular vegetable type that you were introduced to was there something about vegetables in particular you learned from doing this?
Jennie Garth:
Something about vegetables that I learned from doing this? I learned about, you know, going straight to the fields. If you can in your neighborhood going to local farmer’s markets to get fresh produce and try to stay away from - try to buy local which was something that I learned about, you know, that I didn't really think of before. But, you know, when you think about all the shipping and how far the vegetables are traveling when they’re coming from Chile and all these places. It’s best to get the freshest, quickest, closest to you grown vegetable you can.
Jamie Steinberg:
Yes I'm sure your stomach appreciates you learning this new...
Jennie Garth:
I'm sure it does too. And I also learned that, you know, I always thought maybe putting dressing or dip or whatever was not so good for kids but this is actually a great alternative, a way to get your kids introduced to vegetables and get them to like them. And I think a great tip is to when they’re hungry and they come home from school they want a snack and just put out, you know, some vegetables that you've cut up and a little bit of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing and they dip it in there, they eat it up because they’re hungry and all the sudden they’re craving vegetables and dip.
Monica Garsky:
So you were mentioning, you know, obviously you as a mom have also struggled to get your kids to eat vegetables and stuff. What is the most dreaded veggie in your household? What’s the one that the kids just run for, you know, the halls screaming?
Jennie Garth:
I don't know. You know, I can't really get them to eat asparagus. I try. But there’s no like, you know, Brussels sprouts horror stories happening here because I really only cook the things that I know that they’re going to eat; why waste my time cooking things that they’re going to just spit out?...So it’s - it’s all copacetic here; we’re all eating vegetables at every meal and I'm definitely - I stress the importance of them having a balanced diet.
Monica Garsky:
Okay perfect. And then what about for you and your like relationship with vegetables growing up and everything like that? I know you grew up on a ranch. So was that kind of the start of you really liking like fresh foods and things like that?
Jennie Garth:
Yeah we had a big garden since I can remember growing up. We would always - and we lived way out in the country and we didn't have a lot of money so my mom - we always had our, you know, our vegetables grown in our garden and we would be out there taking care of them and growing them and gardening. So doing this Web series really sort of brought me back to my roots I guess - excuse the pun.
And I really enjoy, you know, I can remember when I was little walking in the corn fields in Illinois and just having fresh corn whenever you wanted it right outside your door. So...it was quite a luxury. I didn't know it then but I appreciate it now.
Monica Garsky:
Awesome. And was there ever a vegetable for you growing up that you really dreaded that you did, you know, the old hide in the napkin trick at dinner or anything like that?
Jennie Garth:
I wasn't very fond of zucchini when you cook it, it gets a little slimy...Wasn't really crazy about slimy zucchini.
April MacIntyre:
I had to laugh when I first saw the press release for this show. I have to douse vegetables in Hidden Valley Ranch to get my kids to eat them so...
Jennie Garth:
And you know what there’s nothing wrong with that. Don't feel bad about it. I have to too.
April MacIntyre:
Yeah. Anyway I wanted to follow up on the question that you just answered. You know, I always found that when I was growing up we always had a vegetable garden too. And it was such a bonding thing. And my parents, even though they’re elderly, they’re in their 70s, they still have a vegetable garden every year. And my children, you know, really connect with their grandparents. And I was just wondering if you can talk about the bigger picture of gardening which is just kind of - it’s a really bonding experience. And if you could just elaborate more on that and what you hope - what values you hope your own children will take as they grow older.
Jennie Garth:
Well, you know, we - I haven't had a garden for a while. We have a garden at our ranch but we don't live there. So we live in the city and we didn't have a garden. My husband’s father came in and helped us plant a garden in our front yard. I said I don't care, I want a garden. Rip up the grass let’s get it going, you know. And we made it happen. And over a weekend...We put in this really great little garden. And it’s just fun and I can be cooking and I say oh girls go get me a cucumber or go get me some tomatoes and they love going out there and picking it and having that connection with what they’re actually eating. And as far as like what it means to our family I think any tradition you can pass along to your children that you had when you were younger are priceless.
April MacIntyre:
Yeah, so this is Peter’s father correct?
Jennie Garth:
This is, yeah.
April MacIntyre:
And he’s Italian and that’s mandatory isn't it to have...
Jennie Garth:
He can grow tomatoes like on a gutter vine, I don't know, this guy is - he can do anything with vegetables - growing things.
April MacIntyre:
Excellent. And my last question for you is NBC going to be doing more Trojan horse type advertising with a good message in other words picking products? Are you going to be involved in more sort of Web series where the advertisers are worked into a storyline that’s also educational? Are you going to be...
Jennie Garth:
You know, I think it’s a great - it’s definitely a great medium. I'm very proud to be a part of this, you know, I've never done something like this, like an education sort of Web series. But I loved it. I love teaching people and I love talking to other women about what I know and what they know and sharing information. So I think this is a great place to do that. So I hope they do, I don't really know about their future plans so.
Troy Rogers:
Now I want to know why is it important for children to learn where their food comes from or even how to grow their own?
Jennie Garth:
Well I think it gives them a sense of sort of investment, you know, they care about what, you know, when you teach your kids instead of just sort of preaching to them, when you teach them about why something is good for them they want to do the right thing. Kids have this inherent quality to want boundaries and they want to do the right thing. So when they know how good for them eating fresh vegetables from the garden is instead of, you know, packaged and processed foods they want to take care of themselves and they want to be healthy and strong and be able to run and play. So this is, you know, it’s vital information to children to parents to teach their kids that what they’re eating and how it’s affecting their body and their performance at school, you know.
Troy Rogers:
Plus it probably tastes better if they grow it themselves?
Jennie Garth:
I'm sure that they, you know, they get a kick out of going to the garden and being able to pick something right out of the ground and wash it off and eat it, you know, there’s something so cool about that and especially when it tastes good.
Troy Rogers:
Right on. And also what have you found is the easiest way to introduce vegetables into your children’s diet and make it fun for them?
Jennie Garth:
Well the, you know, the old go-to for any mom is to dip it in the Hidden Valley Ranch because that stuff like’s magic. It tastes really good and kids think that they’re having a treat but really they’re getting the nutrients from the vegetables and it really makes it a little easier.
Troy Rogers:
So aside from the dip is presentation key like what if you made it into a funny face or something does that work?
Jennie Garth:
Yeah you can, I mean, I did some of that in the Web series too making funny faces out of the vegetables or letting the kids actually participate in preparing them. They love to like cut and peel stuff, you know, so if you can get your kids up on the kitchen counter helping you to prepare their vegetables, that’s always an incentive for them.
Troy Rogers:
So would it be a good idea around Halloween to show them how to cook a pumpkin?
Jennie Garth:
Of course that would be a good idea. I don't see why not. You can use the seeds and teach them how to roast the seeds, they love to do that.
Megan Ward:
Okay so I'm correct, this month’s vegetable is broccoli. So what’s your favorite way to prepare broccoli?
Jennie Garth:
You know, I have recently stopped using my microwave for health purposes. Like I was just realizing oh my gosh I'm microwaving everything. So one day I literally put tape across the microwave saying don't use me. And so I used to just like nuke it and put some cheese on it.
I haven't done it yet since then but I think I will just put it in the toaster oven in some water. I just cook I a little bit because the kids like to have that crunch, you know, instead of all soggy and mushy and disgusting. So don't overcook it.
And then I like to sprinkle or lay some like singles - like cheese slices over it and just put the lid back on it and let the cheese sort of melt onto the broccoli. My kids love it.
Megan Ward:
So you have a very busy life with your career and your husband three beautiful daughters so how do you keep it all balanced?
Jennie Garth:
You know, I am just like any other person out there. I make lists and I try to, you know, accomplish things everyday. I could lay in bed and, you know, take the kids to school and then go back to bed but I don't, I go and exercise and I jut try to keep, you know, the ball rolling. You've got to keep it going and keep accomplishing things with your time.
And I think also just prioritizing, you know, and really sort of planning out work - your work commitments and your, you know, family time, carving out dinner for family every night.
And I do spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to feed them too, you know, as mom I think about that a lot and I prepare their meals everyday. So it’s just, you know, it’s about balance and trying to keep it all together.
Amanda Hamilton:
Thank you so much for doing this call. Now I checked out the Web series today and I saw there are a lot of (episodes) everything from going to the farm and seeing where vegetables are grown to actually what to do with the vegetables when you get them home. But what was your favorite part of filming the show?
Jennie Garth:
Oh, you know, I wasn't sure that I was going to have as much as I ended up having. Just being out in the fields, we were out at a local farm here and being out there with the real farmers and with the kid and we got to spray off all the fruits and pick them and, you know, chop them and eat them right out there on the farm; it was a lot of fun. And just I had a good time - we did like a neighborhood veggie party one episode. And just chatting with like this woman that was - we called her grandma because she was everybody’s grandma.
And just hearing everybody’s stories, you know, and how they like to eat their vegetables and what, you know, what it means to them to feed their kids and their families fresh healthy foods. I'm kind of one of those women that likes to sit and gab with other women, you know, and share stories. So I think that was a lot of fun for me.
Amanda Hamilton:
Excellent. And you mentioned earlier some of the vegetables that you learned about that you had never heard of while you were doing this show. Have you tried to introduce any of those to your family? And of so what do they think?
Jennie Garth:
You know, I did, I came home - I had bushels of fresh vegetables after we visited that farm. And we tried everything from the eggplant which wasn't a big hit, I'm not going to lie because it got a little slimy. And I gave them jicama which they dipped in ranch dressing and they loved it which they'd never had. And sugar snap peas which was something that they didn't know about and they liked those a lot because they’re kind of sweet and crunchy.
Traci Grant [TheStarScoop.com]:
Hi Jennie.
Jennie Garth:
Hello.
Traci Grant [TheStarScoop.com]:
Thanks for being here. I wanted to know what your thoughts are on doing a Web series versus being involved, you know, in a TV series and kind of what differences there were or if there were any differences involved in this project from other projects you've worked on in the past?
Jennie Garth:
Well this Web - I've done Web series that were purely for entertainment. I did one other Web series, it was for entertainment. But this was more of an educational angle. I thought it was a great way to sort of partner NBC up with Hidden Valley Ranch and not only advertise the product but at the some time teach people some valuable information.
So I was excited to jump on board and sort of be the vegetable spokes-lady, you know. And I learned a lot along the way. And it was very easy filming it. It was something that wasn't a huge time commitment for me. And it was quick and voila, now it’s on the Web and it’s going to be reaching just thousands of people and it’s going to be teaching so many people about vegetables that they - these things that they didn't know and different ways for moms to get their kids to eat veggies.
Traci Grant [TheStarScoop.com]:
And so you mentioned all to of times also that...fresh vegetables are really important and everyone knows that...coming out of the ground they’re a lot tastier. Not everyone...can get them right out of the ground. So what’s the next best thing?...Should people only get fresh vegetables? Is it okay to go with frozen or canned vegetables?...Where does, you know, all of that stand?
Jennie Garth:
Sure. I think, you know, I would definitely check your community, search for farmer’s markets. So many areas are having these farmer’s market or maybe there’s like a little farm stand in your town - I have that up in a town that I visit - where they just sell vegetables on the roadside, you know, that they've picked out of their garden.
That’s something you can do if you live in a really rural area. I would say - and my personal choice if I can't get fresh I usually go to frozen next and my last resort would be canned. I think that, you know, that - I don't know - I don't love canned vegetables. And I don't feel like I'm eating anything when I'm eating them so that would be my .ference.
Traci Grant [TheStarScoop.com]:
Yeah. Well they lose a lot of their nutrients so...
Jennie Garth:
And they’re mushy, it’s weird.
Traci Grant [TheStarScoop.com]:
Thank you so much.
Jennie Garth:
You’re welcome.
Sammi Turano:
My first question is have you taken any cooking and nutrition classes to prepare for this role? And if not do you plan to in the future?
Jennie Garth:
Well, you know, I learned a lot doing this. I think I learned so much about vegetables I don't need to take anymore classes. So I feel that I brought home some really great healthy tips for my family. And it’s just about incorporating those things into their diets, you know.
Sammi Turano:
Now will we be seeing your family on the show or...
Jennie Garth:
No I did this series with a bunch of really great local kids. We had a lot of fun out in the fields. But those were not my children, no.
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
Hi Jennie it’s so nice to speak with you.
Jennie Garth:
Hi.
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
I'm one of those moms that I've been watching you for years and I have three boys...
Jennie Garth:
Oh thank you.
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
...so you with three girls I was like...
Jennie Garth:
Oh it’s a match made in heaven.
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
Yes.
Jennie Garth:
Do they eat vegetables?
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
Well they - my very first one he’s almost eight now he started with broccoli because it was the first thing he could stick on a fork so he loves it. And now he’s straying away - he still will do it but...
Jennie Garth:
Oh gosh.
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
...he’s not such a fan anymore. I guess he ate too much at a younger age, I don't know. But...
Jennie Garth:
You've got to let him dip it.
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
I had one question about if Peter enjoys the vegetables as much as you do? And do you have to do any tricks to get him to eat them?
Jennie Garth:
You know, he is a boy...I do have to - I honestly have to feed him like I would a child because if it were up to him - he’s from New York - he would be eating pizza at every meal and there’s no - there’s not a vegetable in that pizza, you know...So he thinks that, you know, the tomato sauce is his vegetable. But - so I consider him just like one of the kids when I'm feeding him. I make a balanced meal and they eat it, you know. When I serve a protein and a vegetable and like a carbohydrate they eat it, you know, they eat what I've prepared for them because I think that they love sitting down to dinners as a family. So he’s just like another little boy though.
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
I completely understand. I do - I have a fourth son, I say my husband at the dinner table so...he’s the same way. And now that you’re stepping away from your time on 90210 are you going to - my question well you've already talked about your garden so you’re going to be able to spend more time out there with the girls right now that you’re taking a little less time on TV?
Jennie Garth:
Yes, we'll be planting our second garden season here in the city and hopefully have time to get up to our bigger garden out of town which, you know, they really grow everything up there.
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
That'll be great. And one last question. Do you do - do you grow everything organic? When you buy stuff do you buy organic vegetables or is it fresh just either way?
Jennie Garth:
I used to - I used to go to Costco and buy the fruits and vegetables there and then I realized these are not organic in any way shape or form and why are...they so perfect looking like they’re all like giant and perfect...And so it got me thinking, you know, and it really started me thinking about the organic choices that I needed to start making. And I do make every effort to buy organic now. You know, it costs more but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do it especially, I mean, there are lots of studies out there that will tell you if you search around on the Internet - I just read an article, I can't remember what magazine it was.
But it was talking about there’s like major offenders of fruits and vegetables that really cling onto the preservatives and that stuff that they spray on it...I try to buy the ones that aren't too, you know, that are not going to suck up the preservatives as much. You know, I...keep that in my mind when I'm shopping. But when I'm buying food like strawberries and stuff I definitely go organic.Yeah, going straight into their little bodies and I don't want to put all that chemicals and pesticide. I mean they've got - for me there’s like no doubt that there’s a connection with why there are so many cancer cases now as opposed to where, you know, it used to be...
Jennifer with backseatcuddler.com:
When everything was organic back in the day.
Jennie Garth:
Yeah. So I'm definitely conscious of it.
Dawn Rizzoni:
Good to talk to you. I asked my readers what one question they would want to ask you if they could and they would like to know if - well they commented on your youthful appearance and the fact that you never seem to age. And they’re wondering if that has anything to do with your diet with vegetables? And that could possibly be an incentive to children for the future to look to so that they know that eating vegetables can help them do the same thing.
Jennie Garth:
Well they don't even think they’re ever going to age, you know, when you’re a kid you’re like oh I can eat Doritos at every meal and it’s okay. But as you get older you start to realize that there’s such a direct connection with what you put in your body and on your face and your skin, you know...so I try to keep everything as organic and pure as I can. There’s just so many toxic chemicals out there in our food and in our creams and lotions......so I really try to stay organic with my fruits and vegetables and definitely eat like a, you know, a very color diet, it’s really important to your overall health so your internal organs and your skin, you know, your beauty...But another thing is to try to keep chemicals out of your skincare products and your healthcare products.
Dawn Rizzoni:
Okay. Yeah because I agree with you with the connection between organic and, you know, us not using it as much and the increase in cancer. I've seen it...I've lost several family members and my husband is only 42 and was just diagnosed with bladder cancer.
Jennie Garth:
That’s just crazy I'm so sorry to hear that...It’s like every time you turn around.
Dawn Rizzoni:
And that’s how I feel so I myself am more interested in looking into organic and, you know, learning about this myself.
Jennie Garth:
Yeah. Yeah you should check into the content of your deodorant and your sunscreen and your, you know, everything that you’re using every day like routine habitual, yeah. Think about that because once you start going there you will start buying, you know, much cleaner products; you won't be able to go back.
Kendra White:
Did any traveling for the show to go to any further away farms or anything or if you mostly stay local?
Jennie Garth:
We stayed local. We, you know, we went to Santa Barbara which was this, you know, great weather and a lot of beautiful vegetables up there. And we went to Underwood Farms which is local here about 30 minutes out of town. So, yeah, we kind of stayed, you know, within a two hour radius of LA.
Kendra White:
Neat, cool. Also I was curious what other projects you have going on right now if you’re not doing as much 90210 or if you have any more educational-type projects or anything else coming up?
Jennie Garth:
I am the spokesperson for the American Heart Association so I'm doing a lot of work with them especially with February coming which is, you know, Heart Awareness Month. And I am working on a children’s book. I love kids and I love to read to my kids so I'm working on a book series for kids. And I, you know, I have all kinds of irons in the fire. My husband is writing a script that we’re sort of developing for television so we'll see.
Nancy Harrington:
We wanted to start by telling you that our mom got us to eat fruits and vegetables as kids by smothering them in butter and brown sugar.
Jennie Garth:
Oh yummy.
Nancy Harrington:
So we’re - that Hidden Valley Ranch is probably a step up from that.
Jennie Garth:
You know, I'll take the butter and brown sugar too.
Nancy Harrington:
It’s really great.
Jennie Garth:
It’s even good on zucchini. If you don't like zucchini you'd really like it that way.
Nancy Harrington:
We were wondering if you ever miss farm life enough that you would want to move back to your ranch permanently and get out of the city?
Jennie Garth:
You know, that’s something that Peter and I talk about a lot. And it’s actually what - where my interest lies. You know, I just have to get my city boy on board with that.
Nancy Harrington:
Absolutely. Have you always been interested in cooking and cooking shows or is this a new field for you?
Jennie Garth:
This is - I've never done a Web series sort of with an educational angle like this. My parents are both teachers so it’s sort of organic to who I am and how I grew up and I love to share any kind of little tidbits of knowledge that I have with other ladies or other moms out there. So this was definitely a new venture for me but something that felt really comfortable and easy.
Erica Stahl:
I was looking over the Garden Party press release and two things caught my eye along with the little videos and all that is the Cook and Tell cookbook and the What’s for Dinner meal planner. I have three little ones and I'm always asking myself what I'm going to make for dinner that night, not always prepared. Can you tell us a little bit about both of those elements?
Jennie Garth:
Right well they go along with the Web series. And they’re just really chocked full of helpful information that you can take from the Website. And it’s just lots of great tips for moms, ideas, you know, I'm always running out of ideas what to cook for dinner and how to make a vegetable or how to get a balanced meal in my kids. So these are just really helpful tools that parents can sort of have in their toolkit.
Erica Stahl:
Okay. And do any of the recipes hide the vegetables? Like you - that seems to be the thing nowadays you’re seeing all these cookbook where you’re hiding the vegetables. Are you doing that or is it more of...
Jennie Garth:
I do that. I do that...I'm not very familiar - I'm not 100% familiar with what the content is on - that they've updated in the product but it definitely do that with my girls. I make their favorite is spaghetti and I put - I can't even tell you how many zucchinis yellow and green, big giant onions, bags full of carrot and fresh garlic that they’re eating and they have no idea...It’s amazing.
Erica Stahl:
See my daughter is tuned into that; she picks anything chunky or green.
Jennie Garth:
No you have to puree it...You have to puree it really fine then they don't know anything. And also you have to think about the color like red - if you can mix a red sauce with it you can totally hide it and they'll never know...You can also put green - this is crazy - you can put tons of spinach and broccoli - if you steam it and puree it - into meatloaf or turkey meatloaf...And they don't - you know, what I mean - they don't even know it. If you just puree it fine enough - my husband is - sorry. Go away. Okay my husband is attacking me sorry. I'm done now.
Erica Stahl:
Okay so the puree is the trick.
Jennie Garth:
It is. I - honestly I got that book, you know the first book - the good book - let’s see, there’s two - there’s the book with - what’s it called? Sneaky Chef or something?...It’s not the famous - the lady that was - the Seinfeld lady’s one...If you could just - you have to take like a day to prepare all this stuff and throw it in your freezer and then you use it and it becomes like habit and it really makes you feel good as a mom because you know they’re getting a bunch of vegetables that they wouldn't be getting.
Shannon Stilwell:
Hi, well my question is kind of - it’s kind of similar to the one that was right before me but I was going to tell you that I have a 1-1/2 and 2-1/2 year old and my 1-1/2 year old will eat anything but my 2-1/2 year old will live on pizza and nuggets. And what I do is I'll make a whole wheat pita and I will just put all kinds of veggies on top such as spinach, you know, peas, he'll eat anything on the pizza. So I was going to ask you if you did, you know, if you did something like that where you hid food but you just talked about the spaghetti. But have you ever done anything like that when you kids were really small? Did they - did you have trouble feeding them vegetables when they were like toddlers?
Jennie Garth:
Yeah, you know, it’s - it might sound sort of rigid but when they’re hungry enough they'll eat it. And...you know, I have three kids and I used to run myself ragged making like three different meals and trying to please everybody. And I just got - now I make a meal and it’s balanced and we eat it. And if you don't eat it I'm sorry you’re going to be hungry.
I have to be really sort of diligent about that because if I'm not they'll just say, you know, I want cereal for dinner and they'll get - they know how to manipulate you and control you. So you have to just sort of take charge with - when it comes to that.
Shannon Stilwell:
Yeah. I'm trying to do better with that because he will eat pretty much any kind of fruit, he loves bananas and things like that but getting him to eat green vegetables and things is really difficult. So I'm going to try the spaghetti.
Jennie Garth:
Yeah, I would definitely recommend that book and also just let them try different kinds of dip. There are lots of different dips out there in the market and I know Hidden Valley Ranch makes tons of them. They love to dip stuff oh my gosh.
Shannon Stilwell:
Yeah, he loves ketchup and I haven't tried the ranch yet so I think I'm going to try that and see how that works.
Jennie Garth:
Try it, it worked at my house definitely.
Debra Wagner:
I wanted to ask has having children changed the way you look at nutrition or were you always a sensible eater?
Jennie Garth:
Well being pregnant, I mean, I was always - I took the best care of myself when I was pregnant, you know, and when I was thinking about feeding someone else. So now I know it’s my sole responsibility to, you know, feed these kids balanced food because if I just let them eat what they want they would just, they wouldn't be very healthy let’s put it that way.
And, you know, I take it really seriously because I want them to have the best, you know, performance at school that they can. I want them to be able to run and do whatever they want to do. And I know what a direct impact foods and sugars and all the simple carbs out there and things that are available to them. I know how bad that stuff is for them...So I really - I’m super proactive about, you know, our meals and what I cook and what they eat definitely.
Debra Wagner:
That’s great. Now I think the show is based on a great idea. And it seems like you’re really giving great ideas to parents like me who happen to have picky eaters. What is it that you think that has caused our kids these days to have a problem with their diets and do you think it’s just the fast food or the - why they would rather grab something that’s not natural and healthy for them?
Jennie Garth:
Oh my gosh because we’re so busy. I mean, you know, everybody’s running a million miles an hour. And I get it but it just takes a little bit of thinking ahead, you know, as a parent, as a mom you've got to think ahead to stock your cabinets with things that you know that they’re going to - they’re going to want and they’re going to eat.
And preparing foods, you know, there’s so many - you walk through the store and it’s just all prepackaged convenience foods now. And you think oh I could just buy this and be done with it but if you think about it it’s so much better for you to go home and cook it from scratch actually make that meal instead of just open a package, you know...And they get so many more nutrients. So, you know, I understand moms are busy, moms work, moms have a lot going on but you just have to sort of plan it into your day how you’re going to better feed your kids, you know...And you just start feeding them a more balanced healthy diet, you know, like I said when I make a meal for my family I set it down and we eat it; there’s no griping about it, you know, and I teach them to be thankful for the food that they have and, you know, it’s just about taking that time and that sort of persistence as a parent.
Debra Wagner:
That’s great. Now do you feel that alternative venues like the Internet will help bring this information and show...like Garden Party out to more consumers?
Jennie Garth:
Absolutely, yeah...Definitely, I mean I - when I have a problem I search the Internet now, you know. And I can pretty much do anything. I had a girlfriend that - her chicken - she had chickens and she was raising her own fresh eggs at her farm and she was so excited but the chickens were doing something weird so she Googled it and figured out a way to make the chickens lay the eggs the right way. I mean, you can be a farmer now because of the Internet. You know, so there’s so much available to you on the Internet and it can be such a great educational tool. That was, you know, my sole reason for jumping on board with this and NBC and Hidden Valley Ranch putting this project together that it’s bringing information to people that they wouldn't know about, you know.
Debra Wagner:
Right, right. Well thank you so much. And I know as a mom I'm going home and pureeing spinach and broccoli tonight and hiding it in the tomato sauce.
Jennie Garth:
You have to really hide it or else they'll know.