As kids, a lot of us used to pick dandelions to give to our moms and grandmas (maybe even the girl next door). When the dandelions were yellow and hadn’t gone to seed yet, we split the stems to find that milky white substance. I know some kids we played with, including me, used the dandelions as makeup, rubbing the yellow pollen on our faces.

Kids today probably view dandelions as weeds too. But dandelions are so much more than just your average weed.

Dandelions as weeds
A weed is normally defined as a plant that grows somewhere you don’t want it to. Dandelions are the typical weed. They grow almost anywhere. They grow in places you don’t want, like your garden beds. They seem to take over in the lawn.

Kids can sometimes get the idea that dandelions as weeds are quite annoying. They are quite hard to be rid of completely because of their very strong taproot.

Dandelions as food
Most kids probably wouldn’t recognize dandelion greens on the menu list, but dandelion greens (as well as other parts) can be eaten. Wild dandelions can be eaten (if chemical-free), and there are also domestic dandelions specifically grown in the garden much like lettuce.

Wild and domestic dandelion greens are best picked before they flower, which is when they have the best taste. You can fry up the dandelions much like any green (think spinach) and they are excellent in a salad.

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