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Taste Testing Guidelines
Taste testing/exposure to foods is an effective research-based
strategy. Students are more likely to choose and eat healthy foods
if they taste test foods and/or prepare them. There may be barriers
to providing taste testing in some locations such as schools,
therefore, there is some flexibility regarding providing taste
testing. It is up to the NPA in consultation with the FNEP
coordinator and teacher in each classroom to determine the optimum
number of food tastings. If some barriers exist, try to address some of the barriers before
abandoning this effective strategy. If schools only allow
prepackaged food, consider providing it. Prepackaged food is more
expensive but unit budgets can cover these expenses if costs are
added to their budget. Although taste testing is not required in
every lesson, consider minimal or no preparation options that would
allow food taste testing to be part of the lesson.
If cost is an issue and your budget does not allow extensive taste
testing and the school has funds and requests taste testing in each
lesson, then they could be asked to provide the food. The dollars
they spend on this food can be matched.
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