Author: Brad Stone
Planning Unit: Lewis County CES
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Outcome: Initial Outcome
Children often present themselves as highly selective eaters, but after having participated in the Professor Popcorn curriculum, several first and third grade students in Lewis County have developed a taste for foods they once refused to eat - even requesting them for dinner! One parent stated their child requested pasta salad for dinner one evening after having sampled some in their classroom. Another parent, who also happens to be a teacher, said "My daughter would never eat things like this at home but she is excited when the 'nutrition guy' comes to bring something new to taste. She has started eating veggies she never would before after these taste tests". During each lesson, while preparing the snack they will be eating, many students are still resistant but have learned that Professor Popcorn only requests they give it a sample before determining they dislike the food and to always be polite. They are also given the opportunity to help in preparation of the snack which tends to get them more excited about tasting their creation. After giving the snack a little nibble, most students react in complete shock at how well they enjoy the food and have even requested more to eat. All showing that with just a little creativity and child involvement, children tend to be far less selective eaters than presumed.
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