TASTING YOUR WAY TO GOOD HEALTH!

What's It All About?
        A tasting party is a creative way to interest students in healthier eating. This activity can be a simple classroom activity or involve the entire school. Here are several ways to make your tasting party interactive and fun for everyone!

How do we start?
        Make Food Pyramids - Choose a colored paper plate for each category of the Food Guide Pyramid. For example, blue for grains, red for dairy, orange for fruits, etc. Make sure that a variety of foods is available from each food group so students can choose among several options. Place the foods on the correct colored plate, forming a pyramid with the foods they have chosen. Make sure a color-coded “key” is posted somewhere in the room so that students can check the order of plates in their own pyramid.

Throw a "Potluck" Tasting Party - This activity is especially fun for older students who may be learning to prepare their own meals. Ask students to prepare one of their own favorite nutritious foods to bring in and share with their classmates. Ask them to write down the recipe and then compile the recipes to make a classroom cookbook to take home. The recipe can be entered into a nutrient analysis software program so the students can learn about nutrient content. Remember that eating healthy is about balance over time.

Conduct A Taste "Test" - Prepare sheets listing all of the food items offered at the tasting party. In columns to the right of the listed food, list the letters D, M, F, V and G (for Dairy, Meat, Fruit, Vegetable and Grain groups), with a space after each letter (e.g., D___M___F___). Before sampling each food, have the students identify the food on the list by putting a check by the correct food group letter. Allow students to sample a variety of foods after they have matched the food with the food group.

What else?
        Conduct a "blind taste test." Buddy students up to take turns guiding each other through the variety of food options. Ask the blindfolded partner to identify foods using the senses: touch, smell, and finally, taste.

Play the "Wheel of Nutrition" game: Create a "Wheel of Nutrition" which lists all of the food groups, as well as extra items, such as "free spin" or "lose a turn." Give students two spins. When a student lands on a food group, ask them an age-appropriate, food-group-related question. For example, first graders may be asked to match a particular food with its food group. Older students may be asked questions like, "Name a fruit which has a lot of vitamin C." (Answer: orange or strawberry.) Another question from the grain group might be, "Name a food from the grain group which tastes especially good with milk poured over it."

And more...
        Winners can receive a coupon for a free item from the dining room or a local grocery store.

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