Overview

Taste tests are a fun and engaging way to explore new foods and get a little creative in the kitchen. Using all five senses, children can learn more about the health benefits of their favorite foods or discover their taste for something new. Play with combinations of sweet and savory, and test out alternative ways to prepare foods.

Take Action

Consider some foods that are ripe (no pun intended) for creativity. For example, salsa is a quick and delicious snack, packed full of vitamins and minerals, that can easily be made with a twist.

What You Need:

• 1/3 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1/3 onion, diced
• 1 cup bell peppers, chopped
• 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced (optional)
• 1 avocado, chopped
• Salt, pepper, red pepper flakes to taste

What You Do:

• Wash and prepare ingredients then mix together in a large mixing bowl. Add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.

Now, let’s make it with a twist!

• Pineapple – 3 cups, diced
  • Pineapples are a fruit that taste delicious both sweet and savory! An excellent source of Vitamin C, which helps to build a healthy immune system, they can be a sweet addition to a salsa or chicken stir-fry.

• Mango – 1 fresh mango, diced
  • Another fruit packed with Vitamin C, mango also brings the organ-supporting benefits of Vitamin A! Like pineapple, mango goes great in salsa and with chicken, as well as on top of a warm bowl of oatmeal.

Hungry for another twist? Check out these recipes from Dole, or create one of your own.

• Strawberry Salsa with Homemade Chips
• Plantain Chips
• Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples
• Broccoli and Fruit Slaw

This activity was created as part of the Healthy Eating Toolkit, sponsored by Dole.