Using food exploration activities to teach kids about nutrition

Food exploration activities give kids hands-on experience with food in a fun and interactive way by letting them explore different foods using their five senses. Children are more likely to eat foods that they are familiar with and have been exposed to multiple times. Introducing unfamiliar foods to your child using food exploration allows them to explore in a low-pressure environment, which can increase their willingness to try it.

There are many ways for children to engage in food exploration, like helping with basic tasks in the kitchen or garden. As a student dietitian, I volunteered in schools where we would make food art with children as a food exploration activity. Food art is the act of making a small piece of art with food, like a face out of cut up veggies, or a caterpillar out of grapes (halved for young children). One of my favourite activities was making fox toast! Try out this activity at home to give your kids more hands-on exposure to new foods.

Ingredients (Prepared by caregivers):

• Whole wheat bread or bagel
• Nut butter or peach jam
• Cream cheese
• Strawberries, sliced
• Bananas, sliced
• Blueberries
• Chocolate chips or raisins

Instructions (Assemble together. Let kids take the lead on their own toast):

1. Spread nut butter or peach jam onto the top 1/3 of a slice of toast. Spread cream cheese onto the remaining 2/3 of the toast.
2. Use two strawberry slices to make ears, banana slices and chocolate chips or raisins to make eyes, and a blueberry to make a snout. Let kids get creative with this part!

1. Food art activities should not replace a meal or snack: Food exploration activities are most fun when children are not overly hungry. Allow kids to choose whether or not to eat, and how much to eat of what they create. This gives children the opportunity to explore new foods without the pressure of having to eat it.
2. Use neutral language: Avoid describing foods as “healthy” or “unhealthy” and “good” or “bad.” These words can cause children to feel guilt or shame when eating certain foods. Instead, focus on describing the texture, colour and smell of foods.
3. Participate with them: Caregivers are important role models for children. Doing the activities with them can encourage them to play and explore.

Teach Food First:  An Educator’s Toolkit for Exploring Canada's Food Guide (HealthySchools BC)

Hands on Food - Cook It

Dietitians at Interior Health work to improve access to healthy food, improve people’s food shopping and preparation skills, and promote the social and cultural aspects of eating.

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March is National Nutrition Month, and Dietitians of Canada is shining a spotlight on their profession. Learn more. 

This article was written by Jasmine Zhao, a UBC Dietetics student living in Vancouver. She completed her Population Health practicum with Interior Health.

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