Making Hummus

Activity Overview

For young children, there is often a disconnect between what they consume and understanding what is in it and how it is made. This activity presents an opportunity for the student to find out more about a common snack and helps to bring awareness around how much time and energy it takes to make the food we consume. Making hummus will open up their senses with each step and give them a chance to smell, taste, and touch ingredients throughout a cooking experience. This is also a great activity for students who do not enjoy a vast array of different foods, as you can control the texture of the hummus and they can be a part of the making process.

Please note that this is a cooking activity and we ask you to be aware of food allergies.

What You Need

• Hummus recipe

• Vegetable dippers: carrots, celery, and anything else your student enjoys

• Naan bread recipe

Steps

1. As you make the hummus, take a moment before adding each ingredient and notice how the mixture looks and how it changes as you add other ingredients. Guide your student through the measurement of each of the ingredients, allowing them to do as much of the work on their own as they can.

2. Have the student taste all of the ingredients so they can have a better understanding of how the ingredients come together, and if they like or dislike any ingredients on their own.

3. In the extensions section there is an opportunity to make naan bread, or cut up vegetables to have with your hummus. We encourage you to take that extra step in the vein of becoming more mindful of the time and care it takes to prepare nutritious food.

Guiding Questions

• How does the mixture change as we add more ingredients?

• What do you think goes into hummus?

• What does it taste like? Look like? Feel like? Smell like?

Extensions

• Make naan bread to eat with your hummus.

• Cut up vegetables to try with your hummus.