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True Food Taste Tests

True Food Taste Tests
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Three times each school year, MPS Culinary & Wellness Services hosts True Food Taste Tests during lunch in elementary and middle schools to expose students to new flavors and food, and to encourage adventurous eating habits. True Food Taste Tests for the 2019-20 school year will take place in November 2019, February 2020, and April 2020.

Winter Taste Test: February 5-7

French Herb Potato Salad 

Our upcoming winter True Food Taste Test will feature our new French Herb Potato Salad made with Farm to School Huckleberry gold potatoes and a homemade vinaigrette. This True Food Taste Test will be part of MPS Winter Wellness Week, happening February 3-7.

Become a Taste Test Volunteer

MPS Culinary & Wellness Services is seeking volunteers to help at schools on February 5, 6, and/or 7 during lunch, typically between 10:00am and 1:30pm. Volunteers help to prepare samples, distribute them to students, and generate excitement for the dish that students are sampling. Please email Farm2School@mpls.k12.mn.us if you would like to learn more and/or sign up to be a taste test volunteer. 

Resources 

Recipe Try making our taste test items at home! 
Poster You might see these hanging up at taste test schools! 
Outreach Language Copy and paste a sample newsletter blurb, PA announcement, and more! 
Student Engagement Strategies Ideas for how to engage with students during the taste taste 
Everything You Need to Know  A cheat-sheet for schools and volunteers about the taste test 
 

Previous Taste Tests

In November 2019, students and staff tried Three Sisters Soup—made with butternut squash, corn, and beans. These vegetables are often known as the “three sisters” in Indigenous cultures because of how they help one another grow when planted together.
 
Recipe Card - Try making Three Sisters Soup at home! 
Growing Native American Heritage: Three Sisters - Explore the foods,customs, and stories that have evolved from the plant of corns, beans, and squash
Three Sisters Garden - Investiage the "three sisters" crops and explore the benefits to planting these crops together 
 
Testimonials
“I love that it introduces real foods to the kids-it's a fun way to engage with the kids about healthy eating and creative thinking."
 
"I appreciate the opportunity for kids to try things they may not have a chance to at home. One of the students tried it, and told me he was thinking of going to a culinary school to be a chef, so he wants to try all different foods."
 
"It was a fun, simple way to introduce new flavors to the kids, and it was very low-stakes, so the kids felt comfortable accepting or declining the new food item."

Archive

With support from The Wedge and Linden Hills Co-op, MPS Culinary & Wellness Services began our True Food Taste Tests in 2013. Since then, we've taste tested a variety of recipes featuring local ingredients, Farm to School produce, and unique textures and flavors! Curious what recipes we've taste tested in the past? Check out the recipes HERE. 
 

 
More Information
Winter 2020 Taste Test Schedule

Schools are still in the process of selecting their taste test day. Check back soon for more updated information! 

Wednesday, February 5
Andersen, Armatage, Dowling, Field, Hall, Howe, Jefferson, Justice Page, Northgate Cafe, Sanford, Seward, Wenonah, Whittier

Thursday, February 6
Hmong International, Kenwood, Loring, Lucy Laney, Marcy Open, Pillsbury

Friday, February 7
Anthony, Anwatin, Bancroft, Bryn Mawr, Cityview, Franklin, Hale, Hiawatha, Jenny Lind, Kenny, Lake Harriet Lower, Lake Harriet Upper, Lyndale, Nellie Stone Johnson, Northeast, Northrop, Pratt, Rivebend, Waite Park, Webster, Windom
2019-2020 Taste Test Schools

Andersen, Anthony, Anwatin, Armarage, Bancroft, Cityview, Dowling, Emerson, Field, Franklin, Green Central, Hale, Hall, Hiawatha, Hmong International, Howe, Jefferson, Jenny Lind, Keewaydin, Kenwood, Lake Harriet Lower, Lake Harriet Upper, Loring, Lucy Laney, Lyndale, Marcy Open, Metro St Joe's, Nellie Stone Johnson, Northeast, Northrop, Olson, Pillsbury, Pratt, Riverbend, Sanford, Seward, Sheridan, Webster, Wenonah, Waite Park, Whittier, Windom

Taste tests are open to all interested MPS elementary and middle schools. Interested in bringing the taste test to your school? Email Kate.Seybold@mpls.k12.mn.us.
Sponsored by
Wedge & Linden Hills Co-op