The Johnson County Senior Snap-Ed Assistant conducted a 6-part series of lessons with the Johnson County High School’s Family Consumer Science class. The curriculum used was the Teen Cuisine which featured various recipes selected by the class. A total of 80 students from 3 classes attended the 6 lessons. Seventy-five percent of the total class admitted to being picky eaters and had reservations about eating onions and peppers. In particular, many in this group said that they didn’t like the taste and textures of these vegetables and would not eat any other foods if the onions and peppers were added or cooked in them.

After a lesson that focused on vegetables and the importance of adding a wide verity of them to your diet every day. The class made the Colorful Quesadillas recipe from the “Healthy Choices for Everybody” adult Curriculum. Each group learned how to properly cut onions and peppers, mixing the ingredients and cooking the quesadillas. In each group, the students that didn’t like onions and peppers, hesitated eating their recipe with only a few being excited to try the new food.

As each class prepared the recipe we had everyone in all 3 classes eat at least two bites of the quesadillas. After each class, all 80 students had tried and eaten the Colorful Quesadillas; every single student asked for more! They also asked for the recipe to take home so they could make them for their families. One student said he was glad he gave the onions and peppers a try and would now start adding them in other foods. As a result of this delicious recipe, another student who refused to taste the food initially, has asked to make the quesadillas every time the SNAP-Ed Senior Assistant visited the classroom since that day.