PICTURE BOOK TEXT SAMPLE
Title: Snackamander Explores Spinach
By Ann E. McNeel, PhD
Snackamander loves snacks! He loves all kinds of snacks.
Snackamader loves circle snacks, square snacks, and ones that make a smile [Snackamander holds a banana sideways in front of his face to create a smile].
He loves snacks that smell of toasted bread, snacks that smell so fresh and fruity, and snacks that smell like cinnamon.
Snackamander loves snacks that pop, snacks that squish, and snacks that make a snapping sound.
He loves snacks that feel cold, snacks that feel warm, and snacks that feel so soft and mushy.
Snackamander likes salty snacks, sweet snacks, and snacks somewhere in between. Snackamander loves all those and so much more!
One day, Snackmander came upon something new at the farmer’s market. It was called spinach. He wondered if spinach would make a good snack. Snackmander wasn’t sure.
Spinach was not a perfect circle. It was definitely not a square, and it didn’t make a smile.
Spinach did not smell like toasted bread. It did not smell fruity, and it definitely did not smell like cinnamon.
Spinach did not pop. It did not squish, and it did not seem to snap.
Spinach was not very cold. It was not very hot, and it did not feel so soft and mushy.
Spinach was not salty. It was not sweet, and it was not really in between.
“Could spinach make a yummy snack?” Snackamander wondered. He still wasn’t sure.
Snackamander noticed with his eyes that spinach was a beautiful bright green.
And he noticed with his nose that spinach smelled a bit earthy.
Snackamander noticed with his ears that spinach wasn’t very noisy.
And he noticed with his hands that it felt quite smooth.
Snackamander noticed with his tongue that spinach tasted like a crisp spring day.
“I like spinach!” Snackamader thought. He wondered what kind of snack he could make with this new food.
Flip the page to find out what Snackamander made!
Snackamander’s (Super Simple!) Spinach Recipe Ideas:
Snackamander’s Rainbow Smoothie
This delicious and refreshing smoothie packs a nutritional punch while also satisfying even the pickiest of palates. All of the colors of the rainbow are represented in the simple ingredients list, and when mixed all together make a fruity masterpiece.
Ingredients:
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 cup fresh carrot (chopped or grated)
1 medium to large banana (fresh or frozen)
1 cup fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup blackberries (fresh or frozen)
Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender.
Blend until smooth.
Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Makes 2-3 servings
Snackamander’s Spinach and Cheese Roll-ups
Looking for a super healthy and also super yummy snack that takes almost no time at all? Kids will love rolling up this tasty treat all on their own and then admiring their handiwork as they munch away!
Ingredients:
1 package store bought soft tortillas
1 container baby spinach
1 package sliced cheese
Instructions:
Place a tortilla on a flat surface.
Lay baby spinach leaves on top of the tortilla.
Place slices of cheese on top of the baby spinach covering as much of the tortilla as possible.
Choose one side of the tortilla and begin to slowly roll while tucking the spinach and cheese inside as needed.
Once fully rolled, bite into one end to enjoy!
Snackamander’s Citrus Salad
Shake up some fun with this fresh and easy take on a spinach salad. Salty and delicious pumpkin seeds add the perfect crunch to the tangy and beautifully- colored side dish.
Ingredients:
1 cup sliced and cubed citrus of choice (orange, grapefruit)
1 cup baby spinach chopped
1 tbsp pumpkin seeds (roasted and salted)
2 tbsp citrus juice of choice (orange, grapefruit)
Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a medium bowl with a lid (securely placed on top).
Shake the bowl until all ingredients are fully mixed.
Enjoy immediately!
Author’s Note For Parents
As a parent, a nutritionist, and a consumer psychologist with a focus on food consumption behavior, I know firsthand the challenges some families experience around food. Sharing beautiful and nourishing foods together should be a source of joy and happy memories. Unfortunately for many families, meal time can be a battle when children are reluctant to eat the nutritious food served. Thankfully, consumer psychology research (and real life experience) give us some positive and promising hints on how to help our whole family (even the pickiest among us) try and enjoy new foods.
Research suggests that young children are more likely to taste an unfamiliar food when they are given choice (Nekitsing et al., 2019). This is precisely why there are
three recipes from which to choose listed at the end of each Snackamander story. Allowing your child to choose which recipe to try may encourage them to be more open when it comes time to taste. Additionally, research suggests that a child is more likely to meet dietary guidelines of fruit and vegetable intake if they observe their parents consuming fruits and vegetables (Draxten et al., 2014), which means the experience of eating the dish you make together is one way you may be able to help your child meet their nutritional needs. Best wishes for a happy snack time!
Author’s Note For K-2 Science Educators
While the primary goal of Snackamander’s story is to help children who may be reluctant to try new foods, the narrative also has a strong tie to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Namely, Snackmander’s exploration of the new food through his five senses corresponds to NGSS’s Life Science Progression LS1.D “Information Processing” (NGSS Lead States 2013). In the real world, animals sense information in their environment through a variety of sensory modalities. Additionally, as seen in Snackamander’s story, animals can use different body parts for each sensory input. Educators can present students with a food item, such as spinach, and students can be encouraged to use their five senses to explore. Students can be asked to identify which body parts correspond to each sensory input. Merely being exposed to an unfamiliar food may be a big step for some children, but exploring with no pressure to actually consume can be a fun way to learn about the five senses and familiarize students with new, nutritious options.
Works Cited
Draxten, M., Fulkerson, J. A., Friend, S., Flattum, C. F., & Schow, R. (2014). Parental role modeling of fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks is associated with children's adequate consumption. Appetite, 78, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.appet.2014.02.017
Nekitsing, C., Blundell-Birtill, P., Cockroft, J. E., Fildes, A., & Hetherington, M. M. (2019). Increasing Intake of an Unfamiliar Vegetable in Preschool Children Through Learning Using Storybooks and Sensory Play: A Cluster Randomized Trial. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 119(12), 2014–2027. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jand.2019.05.017
NGSS Lead States. (2013). Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States. https://www.nextgenscience.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/ AppendixE-Progressionswithin NGSS-061617.pdf.