Learning about healthy habits is always a blast, but it’s even better when you can turn it into a game! Recently, Pender County EFNEP Educator Cindy Rivenbark brought the energy and the flavor to a local Early Learning Center, teaching the Camp, Cook, Play curriculum. The day was packed with laughter, learning, and delicious treats.

Cindy started the class with an interactive game to get the kids thinking about health. Tossing a ball around the circle, she challenged each child to name a healthy food or a fun activity that started with the same letter as their first name. To begin, she introduced herself: "I’m Cindy, and I like carrots and canoeing!" The kids had a great time thinking of creative foods and activities that matched their names.

The focus of this lesson was food safety and the importance of following safety rules when working in the kitchen. To help teach these messages, Cindy used kitchen safety cards to show the kids how to spot hazards. They placed photos of unsafe kitchen activities on a red circle and safe kitchen activities on a green circle. The hands-on sorting game kept the kids engaged while teaching them crucial, real-world skills about how to help out safely in the kitchen. To reinforce these important habits, Cindy also shared a book she checked out from the local library titled, "Clean and Healthy." She read the story to the class to show the kids exactly why washing their hands with warm water and soap is so important before touching food.

The highlight of the day was the grand finale! Cindy and the kids prepared a batch of Sunshine Smoothies made with baby carrots, orange juice, pineapple chunks, yogurt, mango chunks, and a little bit of honey. This vibrant, nutrient-packed recipe was a massive hit! Thanks to Cindy’s creativity, the kids had a great day filled with fun, learning, and a tasty treat!