Welcome to Change is Simple’s Online Learning Platform!
Overview: Today we are going to learn all about reducing waste in our lives when we are in the kitchen! Today we will learn how we can make an impact by making our own food from scratch.
Grade Level: K-6
Theme: Waste Reduction
Supervision needed? Yes
Essential Questions:
What are some ways we can create less waste?
What can we do with food waste that is more sustainable than putting it in the trash?
Why do we want to make food from scratch at home?
Materials Needed:
2 Garbanzo Beans / Chick Peas
1 Lemon / Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp Oil (Olive Oil)
1 Tsp Salt/Pepper
1 Tsp Garlic
1 Tsp Cumin
a Splash Water (Only if it’s too thick)
Food Processor / Blender / Or a Fork!
**add anything to this recipe that sounds yummy to you!
Standards:
Introduction video
activity one - hummus
Supplies Needed:
2 Garbanzo Beans / Chick Peas
1 Lemon / Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp Oil (Olive Oil)
1 Tsp Salt/Pepper
1 Tsp Garlic
1 Tsp Cumin
a Splash Water (Only if it’s too thick)
Food Processor / Blender / Or a Fork!
**add anything to this recipe that sounds yummy to you!
**ALL OF THE AMOUNTS OF INGREDIENTS ARE SUGGESTED, ADD HOWEVER MUCH OF EACH TASTES GOOD TO YOU!
Step One:
Use a Can Opener to open and drain the chick peas. Don’t drain all of the water. It can be helpful to use later if the hummus is too dry.
Cut the lemon in half and squeeze out the juice
I typically use one whole lemon per 2 cans of chick peas.
Step Two:
Toss in the chick peas into the food processor!
Pour in the lemon juice!
My food processor is small so I had to use half the amount of chick peas and lemons for each round.
Pour in the olive oil. Use about 2 Tbps per can of chick peas
Toss in the spices!
Step Three:
Blend it up!!
If it doesn’t mix all the way through… you may need to add more oil and possibly a splash of water!
**Once it’s blended up, do a taste test and add more of what you think will make it taste better!**
**If you don’t have a blender / food processor - check out Step Six for suggestions**
Step Four:
Make sure to compost any food scraps!
When food scraps are composted, the nutrients in them are broken down into healthy soil to be used to grow new fruits and vegetables.
**If food scraps are placed into the trash can, the nutrients in them will not be turned into new soil.
Landfill: There isn’t any oxygen, so the food cannot decompose properly into soil SO it breaks down anaerobically which means it will release a lot of methane gas (greenhouse gas)!
Step Five:
Voila! Hummus is made and can be stored in a reusable container that can be washed out when your hummus is all eaten up. Then cleaned out and reused for the next batch of hummus!
Step Six: Alternatives
No Blender? No Problem!
Use a fork or some other tool to mash the ingredients together. Don’t worry! It will still come out just as good! It just may be a bit chunky, but hey, it’s still hummus :)
Want to add different herbs or spices? GO FOR IT! Anything goes. Just try stuff out.
Want to add some flavor? Saute some chopped onions in olive oil in a pan for 5-10 minutes, then add to the mix to blend together!
activity two - alternative
If you don’t have the supplies to make hummus or want to make something different, we encourage you to:
Think of one item you buy in the store that comes in a lot of plastic packaging
Search Google for a good recipe to make it from scratch (you may have to try a few different things - some things are harder to make than others!)
Make the recipe with an adult! Have fun with it!
What you will need:
Adult Supervision / Assistance
Some food and spices
Creativity!
Examples:
Bread - this comes in SO much plastic film and we can easily make it from scratch and create less plastic waste!
Granola / Granola Bars - Individually wrapped items have a huge carbon footprint and plastic waste generation - try making it from scratch with healthier ingredients and with less waste!
Oatmeal - Many times this is individually wrapped in plastic. This can easily be made at home from rolled oats and whatever else you want to add to make it delicious!
reflection
Question 1: Did you have fun making food from scratch?
Question 2: Why do we want to make food from scratch at home instead of buying the packaged items in the grocery store?