This is a program that works for children ages 18 months and up. This is fun and very simple program to run! It integrates healthy food in a fun way that encourages children to try new things. I will explain what I used but ingredients should be altered if there are known allergies.

Materials for Craft

This list is per child

• 2 Green apples (or 10 green grapes) pre-sliced like seen in the picture unless you want adults to do it with plastic knives
• 1 Babybel Cheese
• White cheese slice
• Fruit leather or orange sliced cheese
• 10 spinach leaves
• plastic knife

Books

• “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
• Display of other books about caterpillars

1. Start with your favorite Hello Song!
2. Read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”.
3. Song time
4. Show the children the food they will be “playing with” today.
5. Ask them if they know what each food is.
6. Craft time. Have the children arrange the apples (grapes) and Babybell cheese to form the caterpillar body
7. Using the plastic knife the children or adults will cut the eyes out with white cheese. Small pieces of apple peel can be used for center of eyes and nose.
8. Using the knife the children or adults will then cut the feet and antennas for the fruit leather (orange cheese)
9. Add spinach for ground
10. Now they can eat their craft!
11. Remember to talk about the taste and textures of the foods!