January 9-13, 2017
Meet Your Beet Farmer
Nutrition Expedition was back in action this week, and Farmer Kelli stopped by for a visit! She brought different types of beets with her, as we will be discussing beets for the month of January. We even got to try pickled beets and beet juice! It was quite a tasting experience 😊
We checked out a basket full of beets: baby purple beets, baby candy-striped beets, and golden beets. Farmer Kelli cut them into slices, so the children could observe what they looked like on the inside. We discussed how they are grown (from seed), when to plant the seeds (late spring when it is still cool outside), and approximately how long they take to mature before being harvested/picked (around 50-70 days). Beets, and, especially their greens, are a good source of vitamin C (helps to keep you from getting sick), vitamin A (vital for your eyes and skin), and potassium (helps w/heart and muscle function, and lowers blood pressure). To learn more about beets, follow these links: Benefits of Beets and Growing Beets.
Then, it was on to the tasting portion of our lesson. This required some bravery, of course, as many of the children had never tasted a beet before. They are quite earthy, and have a sweeter quality. Pickled beets are a good way to acclimate to the taste 😉. We also got to sample some beet juice from Trader Joe's. Stay tuned for next week, when we make chocolate beet cake!
Super Sleuth Questions
1. What did Farmer Kelli share with you this week? (answer: beets)
2. Where do beets grow? (answer: under the ground)
3. What color were the different kinds of beets that you saw? (answer: golden or yellow, purple, and white/pink striped)
