Enroll Now!
True Food Taste Tests
In This Section

True Food Taste Tests

True Food Taste Tests
tftt-three-sisters-logo.png
 
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.

Fall True Food Taste Test: November 13-15

Three Sisters Soup

For this fall’s taste test, students and staff will get to try 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. This taste test is a lead-up to MPS American Indian Awareness & Family Involvement Week, which begins November 18.

Volunteer for our Fall True Food Taste Test

MPS Culinary & Wellness Services is seeking volunteers to help at schools on November 13, 14, and/or 15 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 
 
Classroom Connections --Check out these themed lessons that connect to the taste test item
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
2019-2020 Taste Test Schools

Schools are still in the process of signing up for their taste test dates, please check back again soon to learn what day each school will be taste testing on!

Wednesday, November 13
Anthony, Armatage, Bancroft, Bryn Mawr, Davis Center, Field, Hall, Howe, Jefferson, Justice Page, Lake Harriet Lower, Loring, Marcy Open, Olson, Sanford, Whittier

Thursday, November 14
Andersen, Dowling, Emerson, Hale, Lucy Laney, Northrop, Pillsbury, Sheridan

Friday, November 15
Anishinabe, Anwatin, Cityview, Franklin, Hiawatha, Jenny Lind, Kenny, Kenwood, Lake Harriet Upper, Lyndale, Pratt, Riverbend, Seward, Sullivan, Webster, Wenonah

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