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"BREADS FROM AROUND
THE WORLD"
Presented by Michelle Figlar
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Bread and
grains are a part of every culture… and a commonality we can all
share! Breads come in all shapes, sizes and flavors… and they are
an easy "foundation" to use when creating healthy snacks and
meals for children! A great way to introduce these cooking activities
is to ask families to bring in breads they use at home. Some families
may enjoy pita or tortillas or matzo crackers. Other families may enjoy
wheat breads or white breads or Ritz crackers. Whatever the bread, you
are sure to find a way to create a fun and healthy snack for the day while
sharing in multi-cultural traditions.
As always with cooking, be sure activities are safe; some will be more
teacher-directed. Also, ALWAYS know status of food allergies and cultural
preferences.
Here are just a few recipes to share:
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Eggs in the
Basket
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Ingredients:
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- 1 slice bread
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. Margarine
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Procedure:
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- Heat a non-stick pan over high temperature, then turn down to medium.
- Add the margarine.
- Cut a circle out of the center of a slice of bread (or fold it gently
in half, and ask each child to bite a neat hole in the center).
- When the margarine is sizzling, put the bread in the pan, then break
the egg into the hole.
- When the toast is brown on the bottom, flip it over (the egg should
flip inside the toast).
- When both sides are cooked, transfer to a plate and serve. (Makes
one serving).
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Bread Painting
Snack
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Ingredients:
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- White bread
- New paint brush
- Food colorings
- Milk
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Procedure:
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- Decide how many colors you want to use and gather that many small
cups.
- Put about ¼ cup of milk in each cup.
- Using the food coloring, add a different color to each cup.
- Use the paint brush to paint a picture on a piece of bread. Make sure
the bread does not get too wet.
- When your picture is done, toast the bread. Now you have a "master
piece" to eat!
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Geometry Chips
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Ingredients:
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- 2 large pitas
- 1 tsp. Corn oil
- 2 tbs. Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp. Garlic powder
- 8 to 10 round and square whole grain crackers
- Non-stick cooking spray
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Procedure:
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- Cut the pitas in half and then slice them into triangles.
- Grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray, and place the pitas on
the sheet.
- Brush the corn oil on the pitas and then sprinkle with the cheese
and garlic.
- Broil for 3 minutes.
- Let cool on baking sheet, and store in an airtight container.
- Serve with other shaped crackers and dips or ranch dressing.
- For variations, sprinkle with a little sugar and cinnamon instead!
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| Variations: |
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Infants:
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Use frozen bagels for the
child to teeth on when you are cooking with the younger children. When the
child is able to eat, use grains like cheerios or toddler crackers. As children
are able to eat more table food, cooking with them allows them to try new
foods and new textures. This expands their knowledge of food, and allows
them to begin to make food choices! |
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Toddlers:
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Again, this will allow toddlers
to try new textures in a safe and fun environment. When cooking with toddlers,
use ingredients that they can tear with their hands (like soft breads).
Toddlers love to stir and mix, and giving them items they can mix easily
isa wonderful way to encourage these skills. Be careful to only use foods
that toddlers can chew and that are not a choking hazard. |
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Preschoolers:
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Children ages 3-5 love the
fine motor activities involved with cooking! Baking breads and mixing bread
dough are wonderful ways to learn about science and math! Let children explore
with different types of utensils like hand beaters, safety peelers and safety
knives. Use items like plastic pizza cutters and cookie cutters to cut interesting
shapes when making sandwiches . Remember to write the recipes… this
encourages Literacy skills! |
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School Age:
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School-age children can help
to plan menus, and read instructions, and create their own recipes…
this encourages independence! You can also introduce different cooking utensils
and equipment like mixers and blenders. Have fun! |
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Developmental
Emphasis:
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Cognitive:
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Concepts like math and science
are encouraged throughout cooking experiences. Cutting items into shapes
and counting pieces are wonderful math concepts to introduce. The process
of watching foods rise and bake are science skills, and be sure to describe
them as such when telling parents about the project. Measuring and using
measuring cups encourages number recognition, and the concepts of volume
and matter! |
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Motor Skills:
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Motor skills are encouraged
throughout these activities by cutting, pouring, mixing, kneading, scooping
and all the other fine motor skills we do when cooking. When kneading bread,
children move their whole bodies, and this enhances upper body strength
and encourages coordination! |
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Language Skills:
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Vocabulary, vocabulary, and
vocabulary! So many new word and concepts are introduced when cooking including
math and science words! Remember to talk to the children about what is happening
when you are mixing items, and don't forget to talk about the recipe! |
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Social Skills:
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Turn-taking, sharing, and
discussing cultures are encouraged throughout the cooking activity! Children
learn about each other's preferences, and children learn to try new items!
Cooking also encourages… EATING, which is a wonderful social experience…
passing items, and talking with friends during the meal! |
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Sensory:
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Cooking encourages us to try
new textures and increase our experiences. We can touch, taste and smell
new recipes… what a wonderful way to learn about the senses! We can
hear the crack of eggs, and see the bread rise… all senses being used…
through cooking…what a learning experience! |
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