Encourage healthy eating with a challenge that anyone can get on board with. By setting a few guidelines and leaving the end choice to your participants, this activity is aiming to get young people more engaged in caring and knowing about what they eat.
Materials
- Frozen fruits and veggies
- Base (milk, juice, etc.)
- Thickener (yogurt, ice cream, etc.)
- Flavour (honey, cinnamon, vanilla, etc.)
- Power (protein powder, flax seeds, etc.)
- Blender
- Measuring spoons/cups
Framing
Challenge the participants to create the best tasting and most healthy smoothie ever by including at least: 2 types of fruit, 1 type of veggie, a base, a thickener, flavour, and a power boost. Visit https://colombod2.wordpress.com/2013/09/04/how-to-make-the-perfect-smoothie/ for how to put together a great smoothie.
Instructions
- Arrange for groups of 3 or 4 participants.
- Either lay out previously purchased ingredients and have the groups spontaneously choose their smoothie components or have the groups draft up a list of ingredients ahead of the actual challenge day.
- Combining the intended ingredients, beginning with a bit of frozen fruit and a liquid and slowly adding in from there, each group will create their smoothie with the completed products taste-tested by staff for the “best one”.
Modify
- If possible, have the groups keep track of the amounts of each ingredient they used in their smoothies so they can calculate the nutrition levels (vitamins, proteins, calcium, calories, etc.).
- Have each group create a recipe card to include into regular program snack time for another day.
Safety
- Ensure adult supervision of the participants when they use the blender.
Wrap-up
After the groups have completed their smoothies, the facilitators then get to judge them through a taste test by assessing the following items:
- Did they use the required ingredients?
- How healthy is it?
- Does it taste good?
Reward the group with the best recipe.
Submitted by Osgoode Youth Association.