There are, by my count, at least seven levels of fried chicken. The worst of them is good; the best, which I waited forty-four years to find, led to what can only be called an out-of-body experience. Let’s start at …
Grocery Activities for Kids
Taking kids on food-shopping trips can be educational for your children and fun for you all (yes, really), as long as you do some activity planning. Turning the grocery-store visit into a game gives you the opportunity to teach kids basic math and reading skills, introduce them to different foods and help them understand the value of a balanced diet. Add this to my Recipe Box.
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Weights and Numbers
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For younger children, merely counting the number of items on the grocery list or in a certain area of the basket occupies and amuses them. As they grow older, ask children for a count of items in groups, such as oat cereals, soups with vegetables, varieties of apples or types of cheese.
Many scales in supermarket produce departments are low enough for kids to use and provide an excellent opportunity for them to learn about ounces and pounds as well as how scales work. Teach multiplication and division by helping children figure out how much two or three pounds of potatoes cost based on the per-pound price.
Food Groups
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Before heading to the store, show your children the USDA's new nutritional guidelines (choosemyplate.gov) and explain the different food groups. Then, when you're at the store, ask your children to recite those food groups -- fruits, vegetables, protein, grains and dairy -- and point out a few foods from each group.
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Thought Development
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Develop a child’s reasoning processes by asking him what ingredients he thinks are in a favorite cake or casserole. As you explain how the components work together to develop different textures and flavors, find the items together on store shelves.
Ask children to put together a simple menu for lunch or dinner and develop their food-matching skills by pointing out the benefits and drawbacks of each choice and how they work together to create a balanced meal (or not).
Search and Find
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Make a photocopy of your shopping list and give one copy to each child. Have them read the signs above the grocery store aisles and pick where they think each list item will be located and why. To give children a sense of accomplishment, cross items off the lists together as they are placed into the shopping cart and ask for a countdown of how many items are left until the task is completed.
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References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
