My students are ferociously hungry teenagers in a city school in Connecticut. They are very diverse in the way they learn, but one thing they have in common is their appetite for hands on experiences.
Students are learning about nutrition and food production in my Family & Consumer Sciences classes.
They surprise me when they struggle to identify a zucchini or a parsnip. They knit their brows and are amazed that pumpkins can come in more than one color! Like many teenagers their diets are low in calcium and high in fat, sugar and sodium.
The majority of my students qualify for free and reduced price lunch. Quick nutritious food is overlooked because of the price. Low cost fast food is the norm for my hungry teenage students. They are however inquisitive about what each other eats and love to snap a picture of something they’ve created.
Teenagers can be surprisingly reluctant to try new unfamiliar foods, and if that new food is a vegetable, a wrinkled up nose is a common response. But….if their friends say something is delicious their curiosity is peaked and they are willing to try something new, even if it's green or purple!
My Project
It's important for everyone especially growing teens to be "food aware".
Teens need to know what's in the foods they eat and how to make a favorite like smoothies both nutritious and delicious!
What about the mind body connection? Teens lead a stressful life. Creative expression helps to calm and energize which helps maximize learning. Before making their smoothies students will learn how to prepare food using proper personal hygiene, and mindfully color and create iron-on transfers to personalize an apron.
Food-borne illness sickens millions of Americans each year and the simple prevention of cross contamination by hand washing can help curtail the spread of pathogens when students prepare food.
Creating fruit and veggie smoothies along with some calming coloring, will energize students to positively impact their day and introduce a healthy habit!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Moskowitz and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
