About

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce a new food to the children in your classroom. The more times children are exposed to new foods, the more likely they are to eat and enjoy these foods in the future.

Overview

In this lesson, children will help prepare a healthy snack.

Learning Objectives

  1. Children will complete the fourth of four bell pepper tasting experiences.
  2. Children will prepare a healthy snack.

Teaching Objectives

  1. Teachers will model healthy eating behavior for children.

Teaching Tips

  • Encourage each child to take one bite of a bell pepper quesadilla.
  • Remember that the more times children are exposed to a new food the more likely they are to develop a taste preference for that food.
  • Children are more likely to try a new food if an adult models the behavior!

Prep Info

knife and cutting board

Equipment Required

materials illustration

Materials/Supplies

* Optional

handwashing illustration

Before the Lesson

  • Earlier in the day, sauté the bell peppers in olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Refrigerate cooked bell pepper until lesson time.
  • Immediately before the lesson, ask the children to put on their chef aprons, chef hats, and wash their hands.

Activity

Introduction

Making the quesadillas will work in one large group.

Remind children that anytime chefs make food, they wash their hands; and great chefs always taste the food that they make.

Words to Use

Activity Description

Prepare the following recipe with the children in your classroom. Ask the children to assist when possible.

  1. Place three whole wheat tortillas in a baking pan.
  2. Spoon a thin layer of sautéed bell pepper on the tortillas.
  3. Add a thin layer of cheese.
  4. Cover with remaining tortillas.
  5. At a later time and without the assistance of your classroom, bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
  6. Slice each quesadilla into eight pieces.
  7. Encourage each child to take one bite of the bell pepper quesadilla.

Summary

Enrichment

Discuss pedestrian and traffic safety with the children in your classroom. Use a red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and green bell pepper to represent the three colors on a traffic light.

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.

Weekly Log

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.