Nutrition Lesson at the Children's Museum

For National Nutrition Month, during the month on March, I have been trying to promote nutrition and health through my community, in part with efforts of other members of my local dietetic association. So far, we have gotten proclamations for National Nutrition Month and Registered Dietitian Day, an article written in a local magazine, displays in our local libraries, and lastly, the opportunity to teach about nutrition at our local Children's Museum.

It has been arranged for two classes at the Children's Museum for about 12 kiddos that will take place during their Spring Break Camp. Today's first lesson was on fruits and vegetables. Myself and a local colleague read two books to the kids, Eating the Alphabet and Growing Vegetable Soup, both by Lois Ehlert (and highly recommended!). Next, we had the kids reach their hands into brown grocery sacks with a front flap cut into them, to feel around and without looking, try to guess what the fruit or vegetable was. SO much fun! They were asked to keep their ideas to themselves until everyone had a chance to touch and feel, yet that was SO HARD!  Everyone was very excited to get their guess in. We had a range of different fruit and veggies, but my favorites for them was applesauce and canned pumpkin (both open and in Tupperware).