Back-to-school season is upon us, which means busy days of juggling homework, after school snacks, and trying to sneak in some quality family time. So why not combine a few of those things together with educational snack ideas that let your kids learn while fueling their bodies?<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is so much for kids to learn about food, from where it comes from to how it impacts the environment and our bodies,\u201d explains family dietitian Nicole Stefanow, MS, RDN. \u201cPlaying with food is an engaging and interactive way for kids to learn about science, math, history, and art.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regardless, if your child is a toddler or headed off to high school, taking learning into the kitchen can provide a variety of benefits. Here\u2019s how top dietitian moms combine snacking and education in a fun way that provides both food exposures and critical thinking skills:<\/p>\n
Spot the Difference Activity<\/h2>\n
Children of any age can enjoy this educational snack while fine-tuning their observation skills. The goal of this activity is to take similar foods, such as two varieties of pears, and compare and contrast them. \u201cConsidering how two items can be similar and different at the same time improves grayscale thinking versus black and white thinking,\u201d explains Dani Lebovitz, MS, RDN, CSSD, CDCES, and creator of Kid Food Explorers.<\/p>\n
To set up this educational snack activity, gather two types of crackers, pears, and cheeses. \u201cAllow each child to make observations while placing the snack on a plate and taste testing,\u201d shares Lebovitz.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She recommends asking children questions such as, \u201cWhat is the same about these two pears?\u201d and \u201cWhat is the difference?\u201d Have your child note similarities and differences using all of their senses including taste, smell, texture, and appearance. This activity is a perfect way to expose your child to a new food in a pressure-free way as well.<\/p>\n
Smoothie Math<\/h2>\n
\u201cUsing math in everyday activities like cooking can help reinforce the lessons they are learning in the classroom,\u201d shares Stefanow, who loves to use smoothies as a way to teach math principles while offering nutrition benefits at the same time. \u201cSmoothies are a fun way to make sure picky eaters are getting the fruit and vegetable servings they need, while using a yogurt or milk base can provide added protein and calcium.\u201d<\/p>\n
To get started, set up your smoothie station with only a one quarter measuring cup instead of taking out all your measuring tools. Then have your child read the recipe instructions, helping as needed, and let them determine how many quarter measuring cups they need to fill with each ingredient. \u201cWorking with measuring cups during this activity can help introduce your child to fractions,\u201d adds Stefanow. And for younger children who are not quite yet ready for fractions, you can incorporate math in other ways, such as by counting ingredients.<\/p>\n
Decoding Patterns<\/h2>\n
What can be more fun than using some of your favorite foods to create edible patterns for your children to replicate and eat? \u201cCreating and identifying patterns is an important early math skill. In addition, you can \u2018debug\u2019 patterns by finding an error and fixing it,\u201d explains Lebovitz.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To set up this activity, Lebovitz suggests using berries, graham crackers, and nut butter (allergy-conscious options include sunflower butter or hummus). \u201cCover the graham cracker with a thin layer of nut butter and place the berries in a pattern on top of the graham cracker,\u201d she adds. You can then ask your child to replicate the pattern on their own graham cracker canvas or \u2018solve\u2019 a pattern by filling in a missing section. You can even create a series of patterns, some correct and some with errors, and ask your child to debug the incorrect patterns.<\/p>\n
Tangrams<\/h2>\n
If you want to challenge your school-aged child, try setting up an edible tangram. This puzzle, which is made up of seven shapes that can be arranged to form various designs, can be a great way to strengthen problem solving skills and teach spatial awareness. \u201cUse firm raw fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, apples, carrots, and peppers and cut them into triangles, squares, and rhombus shapes. Then, let your child arrange the shapes to make fun pictures like houses, rockets, fish, airplanes, or birds,\u201d shares Stefanow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not only can this activity help to build critical thinking skills, but it can also be an excellent way to increase your child\u2019s exposure to a variety of fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n
The Leaning Tower of Vegetables<\/h2>\n
This STEM activity is perfect for little learners and older kids alike. Simply provide your child with edible \u2018building materials\u2019 and let them work at creating the tallest tower possible. To get started, gather a variety of firm vegetables cut into \u2018sticks\u2019, such as carrots and celery, along with an edible \u2018glue\u2019 which can be anything from nut butter to hummus or cream cheese.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ask your child to build a tower that can stand on its own. As he builds, your child will be testing his engineering skills to determine what combination of building materials will achieve the best outcome. And after the tower has been created, you can dig in and enjoy the edible art.<\/p>\n
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\tErin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, LDN, CPT\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n
\t\t\t\t![\"erin-palinski-wade\"](\"https:\/\/43nnuk1fz4a72826eo14gwfb-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ErinPalinskiWade-headshot-kitchen-1-e1605633483210.png\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\tErin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, CPT is a nationally recognized nutrition, diabetes, and fitness expert who shows busy individuals how to make time for health. She is the founder and owner of the New Jersey-based Vernon Nutrition Center, a nutrition counseling group specializing in weight management, diabetes, and family nutrition. She is the author of multiple publications including the \u201c2 Day Diabetes Diet\u201d (Reader\u2019s Digest), \u201cLove Your Age\u201d (Prevention\/Rodale), and the \u201cBelly Fat Diet For Dummies\u201d (Wiley). As a frequent media expert, Erin has appeared on broadcast media such as the \u201cThe Dr. Oz Show,\u201d \u201cThe Doctors,\u201d \u201cThe Early Show,\u201d and MSNBC, and regularly speaks at conferences and events across the country. Erin was also named one of the \u2018Top Health Influencers of 2018\u2019 by Women Fitness Magazine.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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