On (Meatless) Monday, July 9, 2018, The Vegetarian Resource Group summer interns gave a presentation about vegetarianism and healthy eating at TuTTie’s Place, a culinary summer camp in West Baltimore. The other intern, Hannah Greene, and I talked to kids aged 5-17 about why people go vegan, the importance of the different food groups, and My Vegan Plate. We were also assisted by Health and Wellness Coach and VRG volunteer, Marcy Schveibinz.
First, we introduced ourselves and played a name game to start off the presentation. We then distributed My Vegan Plate and had the kids draw on the back of the paper what their normal dinner plate looks like. After comparing the two sides, we brainstormed ways to “veganize” their plates. We quickly went through why each food group is important. In order to reinforce what they had just learned, we laid out a giant My Vegan Plate (see photo above) made from a bed sheet and had the kids place empty food containers on the right section of the plate. We went over the plate and discussed how some items can fall into multiple categories, like how some soy milk has calcium and protein.
We then headed outside to play on the basketball court. On the four corners of the pavement, there were labels for “Vegetable,” “Fruit,” “Protein,” and “Grains.” We called out food items and had the kids run to whatever section they thought the food belonged in. This also introduced them to new foods. When we called out “Chickpeas,” some of the kids ran to “Vegetable” because they heard the word peas. We explained that chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are legumes and are a great source of protein.
Once we came inside, we washed our hands, got some water, and let the kids make faces out of fruits and veggies. This activity encouraged playing with your food and being creative. Marcy handed out orange segments and led the kids through a mindful eating exercise to help them slow down and appreciate their food more. We next talked about the health, environmental, and ethical reasons behind going vegan. After we cleaned up, we handed out some resources, including VRG’s I Love Animals and Broccoli coloring books and easy recipes for teens.
We ended the presentation by making vegan banana ice cream and talking about what they had learned. We discussed how veganism is a form of activism, and how every dollar we spend is supporting certain companies or ideals. Many students seemed interested in eating a healthier diet after we talked, and a few wanted to do this by limiting meat consumption.
It was amazing being able to work with kids and see them learning new things. Hopefully, The VRG will be able to continue presenting at TuTTie’s Place for years to come.
To intern for The Vegetarian Resource Group, see Intern at VRG
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