Reggie Rainbow Update

As many of you know we have been participating in the Reggie Rainbow program.  The children have been eager to try many of the new fruits and vegetables we have shared with them during the six weeks.  Each week we record the reactions of the children on a chart hanging on our door.  We have been doing the tastings Thursday afternoons, but we have also been cooking with the children during other sessions so majority of the children experience the different foods.  We have found the children really enjoy cooking in the classroom.  They have been able to use many different utensils and have been learning about new ingredients.  This experience has been great for the children, especially those who like to explore with all of their senses.  The children were able to taste many of their creations, as well as experience new smells and textures while creating the dishes.  We are hoping to continue cooking with the children.  If you have any suggestions for interesting ingredients or new dishes we should try, or if you want to come in and cook with the children we would love to hear from you!

Here are all of the different fruits and vegetables we have tried so far (as well as some of the recipes):
Red pears
Beets (beet chips)
Apricots (honey apricot frozen yogurt)
Sweet Potatoes (sweet potato fries)
Star Fruit
Yellow Peppers
Spaghetti Squash (tried it with marinara sauce)
Lemons (squeezed and tasted lemons)
Zucchini (zucchini chips)
Avocado (avocado and banana smoothie)
Figs
Cauliflower (cauliflower pizza crust with mushrooms on the pizza)
Garlic (garlic sauce)
Blackberries
Eggplant (eggplant Parmesan)
Plums (banana plum smoothie)
Mangos
Papaya
Prickly Pear/cactus fruit
Spinach (spinach and artichoke dip)