Each month as I travel into classroom after classroom, and I always come away with learning something new. I bring a new book to read to the preschool, kindergarten and first grade students, teach them some new exercises to get them moving and then we would sample of new food item. I then turn it into a science lesson and have the children make observations about the fruit-its outside appearance, whether it is sweet or not, how big the seed is inside, how it grows, etc. We compare it to other foods in its class, talk about its texture and what food dishes we could make out of it.

We take polls each month as to whether or not they would try the food again and how well they liked it on a scale of 1-10.  Throughout the year the students have: compared golden delicious apples to red apples, tried kiwi and tangerines, hummus with carrots and snap peas, Very Berry Salsa, spinach salad, raw squash and zucchini, cauliflower and broccoli, salsa, jam & English muffins, pasta salad with veggies, string cheese, guacamole and fruit caterpillars (yogurt, bananas, strawberries, mandarin oranges and blueberries).

Out of all the students, 95% tried a new food item from the list and stated and would try it again. I have had several parents and grandparents come up to me in the stores to tell me how well their child/grandchild loved what new food item the tried and that they have to come to the grocery and pick up some so that the whole family can try it as well. The teachers even get in on the sampling and have opened up to new ideas for their food options.