Color Your Burger – 2019

By Evelyn Hootkins

Once again, our Travis County Master Gardeners hosted third graders from Title 1 Travis County Schools for the Science of Agriculture – Youth Event. This year the event occurred on Thursday, October 24, 2019. Our Master Gardeners coordinated with the Texas Farm Bureau, Master Wellness Volunteers, 4-H Capital AmeriCorp members, 4-H members and Travis Extension Agents to provide a fun way to learn about corn and cotton, dairy science, nutrition, horticulture and entomology.

Nutrition was the area that our Master Gardeners focused on with “Color Your Burger.” Our own Master Gardener, JaNet Booher, developed this program. The fifteen minute session is designed to promote healthy eating and to make children aware of new foods. We encourage them to taste different foods at home and in the school cafeteria. They can try new types of burgers, such as those made with hamburger meat, chicken, turkey and veggies. We want them to know that tasting new foods is fun.

In addition, we review how eating different foods helps their body grow and be healthy. Some of the different items that they can include in a burger – not just condiments like ketchup. We talk about lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, avocadoes, pickles, cheese. Not only do we discuss the burger and sides, but we sneak in some plant information. We refer to the parts of the plants, such as leaves (lettuce), fruit (tomatoes), bulbs (onions), roots (carrots), etc. They are introduced to the concept that fruits contain seeds, which surprises many of them. For example, they typically think of tomatoes as vegetables, but we refer to them as fruits, because of the seeds.

Our table is covered with fresh food that we ask the children to name and identify as a fruit, vegetable, root, bulb, etc. They love this game. Next, they are able to examine and touch the food. It’s wonderful to see the amazement on their faces as they examine an eggplant.

 

We wrap up by having a corn hole game. The board is a replica of “My Plate”, which is from the government nutrition program taught in school. The children try to have their bean bag land in the hole or on the plate. They absolutely love this game and try to participate several times before the end of the session. Working with children is certainly a rewarding experience!