What am I?If you smell me, you'll want to sniff again. My scent is delightful and tropical. I am a small, round fruit that is filled with juicy pulp and seeds. When you cut me open, you'll see that my inside is a bright yellow-orange color. I have a unique flavor that is both sweet and tangy, and I'm often used in desserts and drinks. Where I growI grow on a vine on the ground in tropical climates. I need plenty of sunshine, water, and warmth to thrive. Some people even grow me in their own backyards! My flower is colorful and complex. After my flower blooms, I rely on bees to share pollen so I can grow. After my flower is pollinated, my berry starts to grow. It's easy to know when I'm ripe, because I will fall from the vine. There are many different species, from green to purple. After I'm pickedAfter I am carefully harvested by hand, I am washed and sorted to make sure that only the best fruits make it to the market. Some people like to eat me fresh, scooping out my pulp and seeds with a spoon. Others like to use me in recipes, like pies, sorbets, and cocktails. No matter how you enjoy me, I'm sure to add a burst of flavor to your day! Did you guess... Passion FruitEspañol: maracuyá It might look like it's from an alien planet, but passion fruit is a tart and delightful food! Have you tried it? Watch the video to learn more about Passion Fruit. Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
What am I?You might think I'm a bean, but I'm actually a seed, or a legume. Not long ago, I wasn't found in as many dishes as I am now, well in the US that is. I've been an important food across the world for thousands of years. I started growing in the Middle East. Now, India grows the most crops. Where I growI grow on a plant on the ground in warm and dry climates. I can pull nutrients and water from the ground all summer long. But before harvest, farmers actually want me to dry out, so I am not watered! I also keep bugs away with a natural acid on my pod. When I am dried, the acid goes away. After I'm pickedI grow in a green pod all summer, and I'm ready for harvest (picking) in September. Farmers are looking for a unified (one) color, because most of me will be canned and blended into hummus. Did you guess... ChickpeasEspañol: garbanzo Do you like chickpeas? What about hummus? By the way, you may hear "garbanzo" for chickpeas. Garbanzo is the Spanish name! Go to the next slide to learn more about chickpeas! Chickpea FactsChickpeas (also called Garbanzo beans) are seeds, not a bean! It's a plant from the pea family. It's an important plant used in main dishes across the world and can grow without a lot of water. HOW IT GROWS Chickpeas grow on a bushy plant. It grows small white or reddish flowers. The seed then grows in a pod, just like a pea. The pods release acid (chemicals) through tiny hairs on the pod and stems of the plant. This protects it from insects, but it can also put holes in your clothing! A fresh chickpea is green, but this isn't a common way to eat it. Instead, the plant is naturally dried out from the heat of summer. By September, the plant is ready to harvest. DID YOU KNOW
HOW TO EAT IT At the grocery store, you will find canned or dried chickpeas. You can blend it (like hummus), add it to salads, roast it, and bake it. It can even be used to make desserts! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
What am I?Don't call me nuts! Ok, maybe you can. My wild trees are native to the USA. Most people would say I come in one shape, size, and flavor, but... think again! There are thousands of varieties of me. Where I growI grow on trees in warm, sunny climates. My tree grows to be over 100 feet tall and can live for hundreds of years! I have male and female flowers on one tree! The small flowers that grow in the spring share pollen so I can grow. After I'm pickedI grow in a green husk that protects me all summer. In the fall when it's time for harvest, the husk turns brown and peels back, revealing my mature nut. Farmers shake my tree where I fall to the ground. I lay there for 3-4 days to dry out. Some nuts are sent to the cracker where I'm brought to the store. Did you guess... PecanEspañol: pecán Do you like pecans? Did you know you can light a pecan like a candle? Watch the video to learn more about pecans! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
What am I?I might be called a vegetable, but I'm not a fruit or even a plant. Sometimes I act like an animal, but I'm not that either. I'm not a fish, but I do have gills. I don't have any seeds either, instead I have spores to grow. I am a type of fungus that is eaten all over the world. I come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors, and I can be found in a variety of dishes all around the world. Where I growI don't need light to grow. I grow in many different environments, from forests to grasslands to your very own backyard. I typically thrive in moist, cool and dark environments, and I can be found growing on dead or decaying (dying) plants. Some types of me are also grown in farms, usually in dark, underground rooms. After I'm pickedAfter I am harvested by hand or machine, I am cleaned, sorted, and packaged and then sent to the grocery store. Some people like to eat me sautéed or grilled, while others like to use me in recipes like soups, stews, and pizzas. I'm a versatile ingredient that can add depth and richness to all sorts of dishes. Remember, ONLY eat me if you bought me from the grocery store. Did you guess... MushroomEspañol: champiñón Do you like mushrooms? How can you not like a fungi?! Get it? 😉 Watch the video to learn more! Hey, Snacksters! Mushrooms don't need sunlight to grow! Learn how it grows below! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
Cauliflower is a vegetable that can be used in a variety of ways, but did you know it's actually a flower? HOW IT GROWS Cauliflower plants grow about 1.5 feet tall. The plant has large rounded leaves. In the center of the plant grows a firm group of flowers, which is the cauliflower. When the cauliflower is about the size of a tennis ball, the leaves surrounding it are tied together to shade the cauliflower. Growers could skip this step, but the cauliflower would turn yellow and buyers prefer white cauliflower. Watch to learn more about How it Grows! DID YOU KNOW
HOW TO EAT IT You can eat cauliflower fresh. It is also enjoyed roasted (baked). It is not recommended to boil it, because it will turn to mush - it's a flower after all! What am I?I'm tough on the outside, but that's to hold in my juicy inside. I'm known as America's favorite fruit, because I'm eaten more than any other fruit when I'm juiced. You probably think of me as being one color, but I can have a hint of green and yellow, too. Where I growI grow on trees. Bees love the flowers on my trees. I like the sun and need a warm climate to grow. In fact, if I face the sun I'll taste sweeter after I'm picked. From when I'm a flower to a fruit, I grow for up to 15 months until I'm ready to pick. After I'm pickedOnce I'm picked, I'm cleaned and sorted. I'm then coated with beeswax or other material to protect my skin. When you're ready to eat it, just peel the skin and enjoy! Did you guess... OrangeEspañol: Naranja You're right! Oranges are pretty sweet! Watch the video to learn more about oranges! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
What am I?I'm a fruit that looks like a cute, brown and fuzzy bird from New Zealand. But did you know that I actually come from China and used to be called the Chinese Gooseberry? I can be round and green with black seeds inside, or sometimes I can be yellow or even red/purple inside! And sometimes, I'm long and skinny, while other times I'm small and chubby. Can you guess what fruit I am? Where I growI'm a unique fruit that grows on a vine with pretty flowers. These plants have boy and girl versions, just like people! Bees and the wind help make sure the girl flowers are pollinated so the fruit can grow. I've been around in the United States and Europe for about 120 years, but I only became really popular in the last 50 years. People grow me in many countries like New Zealand, Italy, California, France, Greece, and Chile. I love lots of sunshine and rain to grow big and sweet! After I'm pickedYou can find me in the grocery store from May-October. But guess what? It's actually better to pick me before I'm fully ripe! I soften on my way to the grocery store. When you bring me home, put me in the refrigerator. On the counter, I'll get soft and then should be eaten right away. Even though I'm a bit fuzzy on the outside, did you know that you can eat every part of me? I'm a tasty treat that's fun to enjoy! Did you guess... KiwiEspañol: kiwi You're right! Did you know kiwis can be cooked? They can also be frozen and added to smoothies! Watch the video to learn more about this snack! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store.
Artichokes (Español: alcachofa) are a type of vegetable that grows on a large, leafy plant. The artichoke plant has long, spiky leaves and tall, sturdy stems. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region and is grown in many parts of the world. Artichokes grow best in warm, sunny climates with well-draining soil. To plant artichokes, you will need to start with small artichoke plants or seeds. Plant the seeds or plants in a sunny spot in your garden and water them regularly. As the plants grow, they will produce large, spiky leaves and tall stems. After several months, the artichoke plant will produce large, purple flowers. The flowers are beautiful and make a great addition to any garden. However, the flowers are not edible – only the artichoke hearts are eaten. To harvest the artichokes, you will need to carefully cut the artichoke heads off the plant. The artichoke heads are the part of the plant that is edible, and they are usually boiled or steamed before being eaten. Artichokes are a delicious and healthy vegetable that is fun to grow in your own backyard. If you want to try growing your own artichokes, make sure to plant them in a sunny spot with well-draining soil and water them regularly. With a little bit of care and attention, you can enjoy fresh, delicious artichokes from your own garden! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
What am I?I'm an important root vegetable known for my vibrant color and sweet, earthy taste. I'm usually a bright red color makes me look pretty on your plate, but I can also be gold, white, and even striped varieties. My color is so strong, it is used to dye or color a variety of things, including other foods. Where I growI grow under the ground, just like carrots or radishes. I grow up easily and quickly. I like the cooler weather, so I'm planted in the spring and in the fall. I can be found in many parts of the world. I am one of the oldest farmed crops in the world. After I'm pickedAfter I'm picked, cut off my leaves and place me in the refrigerator. Every part of me can be eaten. My leaves can be added to salads and my root can be roasted, baked, added to soups, and even pickled. Others like to shred me raw into salads or juice me. Did you guess... BeetEspañol: remolacha I am a beet! Beets have a yummy taste and a pretty color. Do you like beets? Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
What am I?You eat this more than any other vegetable, but not how you think. I'm most often used as an ingredient in other dishes or fried and served with a burger. Where I growI grow under the ground, and I'm actually a tuber, which means I hold nutrients that the root collects. If I get sunlight while I'm underground, I'll turn green and poisonous. After I'm pickedAfter I'm picked, I should be put in a dark, cool place. More than half of my harvest is sent to factories to make other food, like chips. However, I'm also delicious cooked and eaten plain or added to soups. Did you guess... PotatoEspañol: papa Potatoes have been an important food for 7,000 years. Watch the video to learn more about potatos! Potato FactsA potato is a root vegetable, the Solanum tuberosum. It is a small plant with large leaves. The part of the potato that people eat is a tuber that grows under the ground.
A potato contains a lot of starch and other carbohydrates. Potato usually has a light-brown or yellowish skin and is white or yellow inside. If the potato gets light on it, the tuber turns green and will be poisonous (only if you eat a lot). History The potato is originally from the high and cool areas of the Andes of Peru. It was grown as a food crop more than 7,000 years ago. When Spanish conquistadores came to South America in the 1500s they took potatoes back to Europe. It took nearly 200 years for the potato to become a widely grown crop. In the 1780s the farmers in Ireland began growing potatoes because they grew well in the poor soils. They also have most of the vitamins that people need to survive. The Irish became so dependent on the potato that when the crop failed in 1845 there was a famine and many people starved to death. The potato plant is now grown in many different parts of the world. Captain William Bligh planted potatoes on Bruny Island, Tasmania in 1792. In Australia they are now the largest vegetable crop. Cooking Potatoes are almost always eaten cooked. People cook potatoes by boiling, baking, roasting, or frying them. French fries are potatoes cut into long pieces and fried until they are soft. Potato chips are potatoes cut into very thin round pieces and fried. Source: Potato Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia. Thank you to KGHS for interviewing the author and creator of Snackster Sam on "Never on a Sunday."
Danielle (D.R. Winter) explains how Snackster Sam started, why it matters, and how the Snackster Sam app can help families. What am I?I'm cousins with broccoli, but I'm very different in looks and taste. I'm grown across the world. You most likely think of me as red, but I can be black, purple, brown, white, and even resemble a watermelon. Where I growI grow IN the ground, and I grow quickly. After planting me, you can see a sprout in 3 days! That's really fast! You can wait for me to grow, or you can eat my leaves in a salad. Every part of me is edible (safe to eat). After I'm pickedI'm known for my spicy flavor and crunchy texture. After I'm picked, I should be eaten soon. I can be eaten raw and I'm commonly added to salads. I can be cooked though, too! Did you guess... RadishEspañol: rábano That's right! Radishes are spicy and crunchy vegetables that can be eaten raw or cooked! Let's try it!Radishes come in a variety of shapes from round or long. They also come in different colors, including white, brown, black, red, and even one that looks like a watermelon inside! No wonder it's called a Watermelon Radish. HOW IT GROWS Radishes grow in the ground and can sprout in 3 days! Radishes are the perfect vegetable to grow in a pot because it grows so quickly. DID YOU KNOW
HOW TO EAT IT Radishes are most often eaten raw and added to salads. Some radishes become sweeter and lose its spicy taste when cooked, like watermelon radishes. Did you know there were so many different types of radishes? Get more facts like this on the Snackster Sam app.
Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Get it where you get apps! These Colorful Bell Pepper Nachos are an easy, veggie-packed meal that the whole family can enjoy! Simply set out all your cut peppers and topping options and let your kids have at it. This recipe is extremely customizable and a quick option in a pinch. Colorful Bell Pepper NachosServes: 2 people Ingredients: 3-4 bell peppers of any color 10oz of cooked shredded or ground meat (sub for beans if vegetarian) 1/2 cup of shredded mexican-style cheese 1 tomato, diced 1/2 cup of shredded lettuce 2 green onions, sliced Other optional toppings: salsa, guacamole, pickled jalapenos, plain greek yogurt or sour cream, etc. Recipe:
Tips:
Don't forget to make it with your little ones so they are more interested to try it. Learn more about bell peppers here. This recipe was developed by Certified Health Coach, Anne Homkes for Snackster Sam. Get more of her recipes and follow her on Instagram, @annehomkes. Download the Free AppGet more facts like this on the Snackster Sam app.
Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Get it where you get apps! Kale is delicious, but it can be intimidating for littles to try. A great way to introduce new vegetables is to mix it with something kids do like, like a smoothie! A smoothie bowl has a consistency like ice cream, so you can enjoy this as a sweet treat! Don't forget to make it with your little ones so they are more interested to try it. Learn more about kale here. Kale "Monster" Smoothie BowlsMakes 1 large bowl or 2 small bowls INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
*To make the chocolate version, add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder to the blender with the other ingredients. This recipe was developed by Heather Staller in collaboration with Veggie Buds. Heather is a mom of two boys, ages 7 and 5, and cooking instructor specializing in bringing cooking into preschool classrooms. After college, Heather knew she wanted to be a teacher, but first followed her lifelong dream of going to culinary school. Teaching cooking combines both of her passions, and she truly enjoys introducing young children to the joys of cooking with fresh ingredients. Find Heather on Instagram (@heather.happykidskitchen), where she shares inventive kid-friendly recipes and ideas for cooking with kids at home. Veggie Buds is a subscription box for kids that is filled with recipes, crafts, games, growing projects, activity sheets, and more! Each month features a new veggie! Learn more at veggiebudsclub.com Download the Free AppGet more facts like this on the Snackster Sam app.
Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Get it where you get apps! Test your knowledgeClick on the arrows for the next clue! Sunflower FactsYou most likely think of a sunflower as a beautiful yellow flower, but did you know you can eat it too? You can even make it into paper! Sunflower has a lot of uses and is more than a pretty face. HOW IT GROWS Sunflower starts as a small seed, like the one you're familiar with eating. Planted in the spring, the flower grows over the summer. The stalk grows to be very tall. Some sunflowers only grow 12 inches and some grow to be 16 feet tall! Most flowers grow about 6 feet tall, that's taller than most people! Like its name, the sunflower seeks the sun, which is called heliotropism. After the flower blooms, the flower faces the sun until the stalk is fully grown, and then the flower faces east. DID YOU KNOW
Get more facts like this on the Snackster Sam app.
Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Get it where you get apps! |
Categories
All
|