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 third of four spinach tasting experiences.
  2. Children will prepare a healthy snack.

Teaching Objectives

  1. Teachers will model healthy eating behavior for children.

Teaching Tips

  • Please do not add dressing to the salad.
  • Children can eat the salad from the ziplock bags with their fingers.
  • Encourage each child to take one bite of spinach salad.
  • 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

Materials/Supplies

* Optional

handwashing illustration

Before the Lesson

  • Prior to the lesson, rinse spinach leaves and let dry. Immediately before the lesson, ask the children to put on their chef aprons, chef hats, and wash their hands.

Activity

Introduction

Making the spinach salad will work well 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 spinach salad with the children in your classroom.

  1. Wash the spinach well and let dry.
  2. Open can(s) of mandarin oranges. Pour the mandarin oranges into a colander and drain juice or syrup..
  3. Provide each child with 1 zip top plastic bag.
  4. Each child should add a bunch of spinach leaves, a spoonful of mandarin oranges and a few slices of almond (optional) to his/her zip top plastic bag.
  5. Instruct each child to “lock” his/her bag and shake his/her spinach salad for 2 minutes.
  6. Encourage each child to take at least one bite of spinach salad.

Summary

Enrichment

Play music while the children are shaking their bags and encourage children to dance.

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.