Healthy Kids

The food service company at Wabash College has a corporate program called, "Healthy Kids."  Per the email I received about it: "Bon Appétit invites Wabash College faculty and staff’s children who are elementary school-aged to join us on campus for a special culinary workshop featuring activities in healthy eating and cooking. During this fun and interactive program, Bon Appetit’s children’s education specialist and our chefs will demonstrate how whole fruits and vegetables can be transformed into a healthy meal. By learning about the connection between what they eat and their ability to do what they enjoy, children will go home with a newfound power to make better choices for their health."

What a great thing!  Kevin took her and I joined them after work.  They started in an introductory session.  As part of this time, they sampled what was probably a new vegetable and new fruit to them.  They each got to select a piece which they could smell and observe.  After a few guesses, they all tasted and described.    

Fennel got mixed reviews...as did persimmon.  Camden has had persimmon in pudding, but not as a raw fruit.  She said both were ok.  Kevin liked the fennel, but not the persimmon; I liked both.  Love the animated discussion Camden is having with her new friend about it.

After washing hands, the kids moved into another room to do some hands-on learning.

They were preparing food to share with their parent in the last 20 minutes at a "picnic."  First up, was veggie tacos.  Several items were pre-prepared, but the kids all participated in making a huge bowl of salsa.  Chef showed them how to use a knife, hold their hand in a "claw," and cut something in a dice.

Then they assembled their own tacos.  Camden made one for Kevin and I with guacamole, roasted cauliflower, corn, black beans, cheese, and salsa.  She made hers with cheese and cauliflower only.

Next the kids moved to cut fruit to make fruit Kabobs for dessert.

Our picnic lunch!

We decided we will get one of the kid-safe knives and she will begin to help prep food at home.

Last night in bed she asked why the cooking class couldn't be all week (or two) like camp or swim lessons.  She truly enjoyed it!