My name is Connie Sheets, aka Mrs. Sheets to my students. I am a certified Health and Physical Educator PreK-12th Grade. I currently teach Elementary School Physical Education and Health I have been teaching for just over 11 years. Mrs. Sheets cafe was a lesson that I developed while student teaching and have been doing it every year because of the responses I saw from my students. My first class was a 9th grade class and the only thing I served them was Brownies made with applesauce instead of oil and they wrote me letters thanking me and telling me I would be a great teacher some day.
When I got my first job at Kings Ridge Christian School in the beginning of 2002, I decided that I would try the cafe. I quickly learned through trial and error that 17-20 items were the most I could sample. The cost was around $5 per person. It provided a way for me to sample to foods and still have some left over items for a random drawing at the end of the cafe. I believe in using positive peer pressure and not forcing kids to try something. It usually works when their best friend encourages them. The monies also cover plates, cups, napkins and plastic ware. My Food Service Manager, Jordan has embraced this class and helped me when I go shopping as well as cooking many of the food items in our kitchen. Most public schools have full kitchens that they do not utilize, this may be a way to do it. Not sure about liability or other things that may be an obstacle...but maybe Jamie Oliver could help us with that. They get this cafe in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. I started it in 2nd grade but found kids sample more foods by 3rd grade and less chance of an allergy happening on my watch. I have a sample letter I use that I send out to the students and would be happy to send you a copy if you send me an email. For a class size of 41 you will need at least 6 parent volunteers and decide if you want to cook the food yourself or have just prepackaged healthy foods to try. Whatever is easiest for you. You can also include a powerpoint and have it playing as you teach. The first one I did was called What Would Jesus Eat? I gave biblical examples of what the bible says about food and how it affects our bodies. I also come out wearing a chefs hat and apron the kids just eat it up. See pictures of the cafe on the next page to see how it is set up. The students enter and find a seat and immediately fill out their sheet that contains menu items and they must check off if the smelled it, licked it or tasted it. They also can give me comments but they cannot use the words YUCKY OR GROSS. They must critique with words like too salty, did not like the smell. Too spicy. As each set of 4 items is brought out, you talk about it as the kids are tasting it. It is fun to give crazy facts about the foods...They love this and so do the parents...they can't believe I got their child to eat kale.
When I got my first job at Kings Ridge Christian School in the beginning of 2002, I decided that I would try the cafe. I quickly learned through trial and error that 17-20 items were the most I could sample. The cost was around $5 per person. It provided a way for me to sample to foods and still have some left over items for a random drawing at the end of the cafe. I believe in using positive peer pressure and not forcing kids to try something. It usually works when their best friend encourages them. The monies also cover plates, cups, napkins and plastic ware. My Food Service Manager, Jordan has embraced this class and helped me when I go shopping as well as cooking many of the food items in our kitchen. Most public schools have full kitchens that they do not utilize, this may be a way to do it. Not sure about liability or other things that may be an obstacle...but maybe Jamie Oliver could help us with that. They get this cafe in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. I started it in 2nd grade but found kids sample more foods by 3rd grade and less chance of an allergy happening on my watch. I have a sample letter I use that I send out to the students and would be happy to send you a copy if you send me an email. For a class size of 41 you will need at least 6 parent volunteers and decide if you want to cook the food yourself or have just prepackaged healthy foods to try. Whatever is easiest for you. You can also include a powerpoint and have it playing as you teach. The first one I did was called What Would Jesus Eat? I gave biblical examples of what the bible says about food and how it affects our bodies. I also come out wearing a chefs hat and apron the kids just eat it up. See pictures of the cafe on the next page to see how it is set up. The students enter and find a seat and immediately fill out their sheet that contains menu items and they must check off if the smelled it, licked it or tasted it. They also can give me comments but they cannot use the words YUCKY OR GROSS. They must critique with words like too salty, did not like the smell. Too spicy. As each set of 4 items is brought out, you talk about it as the kids are tasting it. It is fun to give crazy facts about the foods...They love this and so do the parents...they can't believe I got their child to eat kale.