Having a Rad(ish) Time at Griffith ES

Chefs for Kids’ latest Eat a Rainbow Farmers Market rolled into the Griffith Elementary School cafeteria, and lets just say… it was a rad(ish) time!

Much like the Magic School Bus, but without the bus… our nutrition educator Ms. Momii led the kids in a colorful, interactive, hands-on tasting adventure. The students didn’t just learn about fruits and vegetables, they explored the tastes and textures of a few samples too. 

More Than Nutrition – A Celebration of Diversity

At every Eat a Rainbow Farmers Market, students learn that eating colorful produce isn’t just healthy, it’s powerful. Each color fuels their bodies and brains in a different way.

Ms. Momii leads the charge, guiding students through the rainbow and inviting them to name a fruit or vegetable for each color. Hands shoot up with classics like bananas, mushrooms, and strawberries, but we also hear exciting surprises like yucca, jicama, and even blue raspberry.

Because 96% of the students we serve come from diverse cultural backgrounds, they often call out the fruits and vegetables they enjoy at home, many of which reflect rich culinary traditions from around the world. It turns the room into a shared learning experience, where students discover new produce from one another while also being introduced to fresh options they may not typically have access to.

It’s nutrition education, but it’s also cultural exchange, curiosity, and confidence, all wrapped into one colorful experience.

Ready, Set, Taste!

Next, Ms. Momii calls the room to order for the official taste test, and she means business.

Each student receives a bag filled with spinach, arugula, and orange slices and carefully sorts the items onto a napkin. First, they sample the greens with a squeeze of fresh orange juice on top. Then comes the orange itself, but not all at once. Students are instructed to taste both sides of the slice, discovering that the stem end is often less sweet and more fibrous than the blossom end due to how sugars and acids are distributed inside the fruit.

And this isn’t a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down exercise. In fact, “I like it” or “I don’t like it” isn’t the goal. Instead, students engage their senses, describing flavors like sweet or bitter, and textures like smooth or rough. They learn to think like true food critics.

The 10-Second Challenge

Then comes the moment they’ve all been waiting for – the 10-second challenge. Once the official tasting concludes, students get 10 seconds to eat as much as they want of whatever remains. The room instantly transforms from serious study to joyful, citrus-fueled excitement.

Students gobbled the leftovers up so fast that one teacher asked, “Did you even come up for air?”

One student’s response?

“What, I’m an eater!”

That’s the energy we love to see.

Another student summed up the day perfectly:

“This is the Best Day Ever.”

Off to the Market

With the tasting complete, it was time for the moment everyone waits for… shopping at the Farmers Market. 🛒🌈

But of course, Ms. Momii turns this into a lesson, too. Before students head to the tables, she explains how it works: each child receives red and green coins to “purchase” their produce. Then she reviews every item in the market, asking students to identify whether it’s a fruit or a vegetable to set them up for success before they shop on their own.

Then it’s time to explore the full rainbow:

• Red: Radishes
  
• Orange: Acorn Squash
  
• Yellow: Nectarines
  
• Green: Asparagus
  
• Blue: Blueberries
  
• White: Jicama
  
• Bonus burst of flavor: Blood Orange and Arugula (from the tasting!)
  

Armed with knowledge. Coin in hand. Students confidently select their produce, practicing decision-making, independence, and healthy habits all at once. It’s not just shopping. It’s empowerment.

More Than a Tasting – A Mindset Shift

Moments like these are why the Eat a Rainbow Farmers Market matters. When students get to touch, taste, and explore fresh produce in a fun, supportive environment, something shifts. Vegetables stop being “gross.” New flavors become exciting. Trying something different feels like an adventure instead of a risk.

At Griffith ES, we didn’t just hand out fruits and vegetables — we built confidence, curiosity, and healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

And judging by the speed at which that arugula disappeared? The future is looking bright and very colorful. Want to help us bring more Rad(ish) days to local schools? Support Chefs for Kids and help us continue inspiring the next generation of super tasters.