A series of taste tests took place recently at Benjamin Logan High School as a way to reinforce what the younger students are learning about heart-healthy foods and smart snacking.
The high school students in Christa Knight’s Principles of Foods and Global Foods classes spent time preparing and serving samples of healthy snacks to encourage second-, third- and fourth-grade students to expand their pallets.
The activity also coincided with the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge at Benjamin Logan Elementary.
The elementary students had the opportunity to walk over to the high school each day during their physical education class.
Having students taste healthy food items is at the heart of nutrition education because if students have the opportunity to try and like healthier foods, they’ll be more likely to become healthier eaters, the presenters noted.
To help the younger students identify the fruit or vegetable in the grocery store when shopping with parents, the high schoolers made a point to show the fruit, vegetable and other ingredients in its whole and cut up forms during the taste testing.
In addition, several recipes were shared so parents can extend the tasting at home.
“A taste test encourages children to step out of their comfort zones and learn more about themselves by being brave and trying something new,” Mrs. Harner said.
Community Markets of Bellefontaine was a sponsor of this project through a donation of many ingredients for the recipes created by the high school foods classes.