Our latest Fit Kids February story takes us to Cypress Hills where a food program is teaching kids to eat what they sow. NY1's Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report.

There is snow on the ground outside, but at PS 7 in Cypress Hills, students are already gardening.

"What we're going to do is to try to trick the plants into thinking it's summer so then they could grow," says Amber Lanfranco, a PS 7 student.

The students call themselves the Great Green Gardeners, and during their February break, they were in school to put grow lights together and start sowing seeds.

"What I want to grow in the grow light is round zucchini squash and it takes 45 days to grow completely," says Deneliz Espinal, a PS 7 student.

"What I want to introduce today was the summer savory. Summer savory germinate 8 to 12 days," says Jayden Acevedo, a PS 7 student.

The program was created three years ago by the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation.

The young urban gardeners meet after school, during holiday breaks and over the summer to learn about natural foods and where they come from.

"A lot of these young people have no idea that a tomato comes out of the ground and comes in many different shapes and sizes and colors," says Youth Food Justice Director Julia Middleton.

After the students are done harvesting the fruits and vegetables they grow indoors, it will be spring and they'll begin to use their green thumbs in the school's outdoor garden.

"After we harvest it, we wash it and clean it off," says one student.

"Everytime we harvest we have to take a thank you bite," notes another student.

So what have they tasted?

"We ate cucumbers, carrots and pickles," recalls Paul Lalvay, a PS 7 student.

"I never tasted tomatoes but I like them now," says Chrissy Fernandez, a PS 7 student.

The Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation has expanded the program to four schools in the neighhborhood.

It serves about 175 kids in grades three through eight throughout the school year,  and more than 200 children over the summer.

The kids say they go home and share their knowledge with their families.

"We could try different things. Eat different things," says one student.

"You can learn not to be picky and eat in a very healthy way," says another student.

Students also say they've learned how to maintain healthy eating habits for life.  

During the month of February, Time Warner Cable News is committed to informing our viewers of the sometimes alarming trends facing our kids' health as well as provide helpful tips for busy parents.  Get more information on Fit Kids February, including the Fit Kids Challenge, healthy shopping suggestions and ways you can get involved to help make you and your children healthier!