Whole Grain Tasting Guidelines –- Youth Grades 2 -5
FY15
Situation/Outcomes:
This evaluation tool can be used following either a single lesson or a series of lessons where whole grain food
samples are provided. Remember that food samples are provided to learners to reinforce WNEP lessons. This
whole grain sampling activity has the following short- and long-term objectives:
Short-term:
 Children will taste whole grain foods that are new to them
 Children will improve knowledge and attitudes about whole grain foods
 Parents or caregivers will review educational materials describing benefits and identification of whole
grain foods
 Parents will taste a whole grain food with their child at home
Long-term:
 Parents/adults will increase whole grain availability at home
 Whole grain intake will increase
Instructions:
Step 1. Select the whole grain that you will offer from the Whole Grain Sample List. When choosing whole
grains to include as samples, consider the following guidelines:
1. Choose a food that is directly related to the lesson being taught.
2. Plan and buy only enough of the whole grain to give each participant a sample or taste of the food.
3. Follow the instructions on the attached Whole Grain Sample List. Avoid introducing grain foods with lots
of “extras” like sugars, fats, salt, dressing, or spread. Specifically:
a. The whole grain item should be the primary item in the food sample. It should not be part of a
complex recipe where the flavor of the grain itself is difficult to identify (e.g. casserole, parfait,
etc.)
b. Ready-to-eat items such as whole grain ready-to-eat cereal or whole grain crackers should be
tasted without the addition of other foods. If serving trail mix or crackers with cheese, ask
children to taste the cereal or cracker by itself during the taste test.
c. A small amount of oil, sauce, or dressing may be used when serving brown rice or whole grain
pasta.
d. Breads may be served with a small amount of spread.
e. Hot whole grain cereal may have small amount of sugar added.
Step 2. If you will be doing the accompanying take-home activity for parents, select your parent education
handout and prepare the “Attention Parents and Caregivers” sheet. If a parent handout about whole grains is
included with the curriculum you’re using, distribute that handout. If a suitable parent handout is not
included, MyPlate handout “10 tips to help you eat whole grains” is recommended:
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/downloads/tentips/dgtipsheet4makehalfyourgrainswhole.pdf
Follow directions on next page for distributing and collecting the parent education/evaluation.
Step 3. Prepare the evaluation tally form:
1. Write the name of the selected whole grain in the appropriate places on the WHOLE GRAIN TASTING
EVALUATION form.
2. Note date(s) of the sampling activity and number of students participating on the correct sections of the
form.
3. Complete the top portion of the form—Location, Agreement number, WNEP educator name.
Step 4. Conduct the Evaluation:
1. Teach the lesson and offer the selected sample to the participants. As you offer the sample, encourage
each participant to taste, but remind them that tasting is voluntary.
2. After each participant has had the opportunity to taste the offered whole grain sample, observe how
many of the participants tried each food, count them, and mark that number on the evaluation form in
the OBSERVE box.
3. Important: Before asking the following questions, inform learners that their participation is voluntary by
saying, “I am going to ask you a couple of questions that will help us see what you have learned today.
You do not have to answer the questions if you don’t want to. All of your answers will be private.”
4. Ask for a show of hands in response to the following questions, noting results on the evaluation form.
“Raise your hand if your answer is “yes.”



Is this the first time you have ever tried (name of whole grain food)?
Will you eat it again?
Will you ask to eat it at home?
Instructions for Distributing and Collecting Parent Education/Evaluation:
Parent Handout and “Attention Parents and Caregivers” Activity
1. Praise students for trying a new whole grain food in class today. Encourage children to tell a parent,
grandparent, or other family member about what they tried.
2. Show children the parent handout and “Attention Parents and Caregivers” Activity. Encourage children to
try a whole grain food at home with their families and to have a parent, grandparent, or other adult
complete the activity.
3. Instruct teachers to distribute them to each student, encouraging the return of the “Attention Parents and
Caregivers” activity form to receive a small prize (a sticker). Provide an envelope to each teacher for
collecting forms.
4. Teachers may give the collected forms to the nutrition educator during their next classroom visit.
Note: parent education handouts should be provided in English and Spanish if there are Spanish speaking
families in your area. Consider copying English and Spanish on either side of a page to simplify distribution.
Whole Grain Sample List
When conducting the Whole Grain Tasting Evaluation, please select foods from the following list.
Remember that the purpose of the tasting activity is to increase youths’ knowledge of whole grains.
Given this goal, keep the following guidelines in mind:



Avoid or use only small amounts of “extras” (sugar, fat, salt, sauce, dressing, or spread) in whole
grain samples. Avoid using “extras” that would mask the flavor of the whole grain food.
Do not select brands or varieties of whole grains that would be cost-prohibitive for our
audience.
Be sure to read the label and select only those items with a whole grain listed as a
first ingredient:
INGREDIENTS: WHOLE GRAIN OATS, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, FOOD
STARCH, SUGAR, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, OAT FIBER, TRIPOTASSIUM
PHOSPHATE, WHEAT STARCH, VITAMIN E (MIXED TOCOPHEROLS) ADDED
TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS
Breads:
 Whole grain breads
 Whole grain rolls
 Whole grain bagels
 Whole grain English Muffins
Crackers:
 100% Whole grain crackers
 Examples: Triscuits, Ry Crisps
Cereal:
 Oatmeal (steel cut, rolled, or instant oats—
no sweetened instant oatmeal packets)
 Whole grain cereals low in added sugar (5
grams or less per serving)
 Examples: Cheerios, Shredded
Wheat, Unfrosted Mini Wheats,
Wheat Chex
Rice:
 Brown rice, regular or instant
 Wild rice
Pasta:
 Whole wheat pasta
Tortillas:
 Whole wheat tortillas
 Whole corn tortillas
Other:
 Quinoa
 Whole grain couscous
 Whole Barley
 Bulgur
Not allowed:*
Granola bars, cookies, muffins, pancake mixes,
frozen waffles, instant rice mixes, instant pasta
or macaroni and cheese mixes, popcorn
*Excluded items are based on child familiarity
with the items and/or nutritional value.
WHOLE GRAIN TASTING Evaluation—Youth Learners (FY15)
Instructions: Complete one column for each whole grain sample offered.
1. Write in the date and total number of students in the group.
2. Write in the name of food and how presented (use Whole Grain Sample List).
3. Offer the food.
4. Observe and record how many tasted the food.
5. Ask the questions using the name of the food sampled (example: Is this the first time
you have ever tried whole wheat pasta?) Record number who raised hands
answering, “yes.”
County:
Location:
WNEP Educator Name:
_
Agreement #:
EXAMPLE
Date: _____________
Date: ___________
Date: ___________
Date: ___________
Date: ___________
Date: ___________
Total Number of
Students: ___22____
Total Number of
students:________
Total Number of
students:________
Total Number of
students:________
Total Number of
students:________
Total Number of
students:________
Name of food
sampled:
Whole wheat pasta
Name of food
sampled:
Name of food
sampled:
Name of food
sampled:
Name of food
sampled:
Name of food
sampled:
How presented?
How presented?
How presented?
How presented?
How presented?
OBSERVE:
How many tried it?
______
SHOW OF HANDS:
Is this the first time
you have ever tried
_________________?
_____ said “yes”
OBSERVE:
How many tried it?
______
SHOW OF HANDS:
Is this the first time
you have ever tried
_________________?
_____said “yes”
OBSERVE:
How many tried it?
______
SHOW OF HANDS:
Is this the first time
you have ever tried
_________________?
_____ said “yes”
OBSERVE:
How many tried it?
______
SHOW OF HANDS:
Is this the first time
you have ever tried
_________________?
_____said “yes”
OBSERVE:
How many tried it?
______
SHOW OF HANDS:
Is this the first time
you have ever tried
_________________?
_____ said “yes”
Will you eat it again?
__14__ said “yes”
Will you eat it again?
_____ said “yes”
Will you eat it again?
_____ said “yes”
Will you eat it again?
_____ said “yes”
Will you eat it again?
_____ said “yes”
Will you eat it again?
_____ said “yes”
Will you ask to eat it
at home?
___10__ said “yes”
Will you ask to eat it
at home?
_____ said “yes”
Will you ask to eat it
at home?
_____ said “yes”
Will you ask to eat it
at home?
_____ said “yes”
Will you ask to eat it
at home?
_____ said “yes”
Will you ask to eat it
at home?
_____ said “yes”
How presented?
Tossed in small amt
of marinara sauce
OBSERVE:
How many tried it?
__20__
SHOW OF HANDS:
Is this the first time
you have ever tried
whole wheat pasta?
__12__said “yes”
Attention Parents
and Caregivers:
UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in
employment and programming including Title IX and ADA
requirements. WNEP education is supported by the USDA
Food Stamp Program, UW-Extension, FoodShare
Wisconsin, and local partners. In Wisconsin, FoodShare can
help provide a healthy diet. To find out more about
FoodShare, families with minor children can call 262/6957971 or if you are elderly or disabled, call 262/548-7708.
Children learn how to eat healthy foods from their role models—you! Try
a new whole grain food from the list below at home. Return the survey to
show that you and your child tried a whole grain together.
Detach the survey below and return it to your teacher.
Date:______________
My child and I tried a whole grain together! We tried:







Whole grain bread
Brown rice
Whole Wheat Pasta
Whole Wheat Tortilla
Whole Grain Corn Tortilla
Oatmeal
Other: ______________________
Will you buy this food again? (Circle One)
Yes 
No  Maybe
Return this survey to your teacher—your child will
receive a colorful nutrition sticker!
Atención Padres
y Cuidadores:
UW-Extensión proporciona igualdad de oportunidades en
empleo y programas incluyendo Title IX y los requisitos de ADA.
La educación de WNEP es apoyada por USDA Food Stamp
Program, UW-Extensión, FoodShare Wisconsin y
organizaciones participantes locales. En Wisconsin, FoodShare
puede ayudar a proporcionar una dieta saludable. Para saber
más sobre FoodShare, las familias con niños menores pueden
llamar al 262/695-7971 o si usted es de edad avanzada o
discapacitada, llame al 262/548-7708.
Los niños aprenden a comer alimentos saludables con el ejemplo que
¡usted les da! Pruebe en su casa un alimento de grano integral nuevo de la
lista que aparece abajo. Devuélvanos la encuesta para indicar que usted y
su hijo probaron un grano integral juntos.
Desprenda la encuesta abajo y devuélvala al maestro de su hijo.
Fecha:______________
¡Mi hijo y yo probamos un grano integral juntos!
Probamos:






Pan de grano integral
Arroz integral
Pasta de trigo integral
Tortilla de trigo integral
Tortilla de maíz integral
Avena

Otro: ______________________
¿Comprará usted este alimento otra vez? (Marque uno con un círculo)
Sí  No  Quizás
Devuelva esta encuesta al maestro de su hijo—¡su hijo
recibirá una pegatina colorida sobre nutrición!