Food $ense Kids
Edamame
Written by Marie Stosich RD
Brought to you by the Utah Food $ense program
Part 2 of the Preschool Obesity Prevention: Introduction to New Foods
Objectives
Participant will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Participate in a cooking/food sensory experience and sample food.
Participate in a physical activity or game that reinforces the food concept.
Identify food name through reading, writing or activity.
Participate in a food exposure experience by doing an art, craft or other activity.
Teacher Instructions:
*Background facts and information for the teacher is included on page 6.
This curriculum is to be used in a variety of ways. If time is limited, pick one food experience and
one activity to supplement. Each activity is to be approximately 10-15 minutes. Additional activities
are included in the back of this lesson that can be substituted or included in the lesson.
Required Materials:
 Introduction materials - (page 2).
 Ingredients for recipes and materials for food demonstration (pages 4- 5).
 Physical activity materials (page 2-3).
 Reading/writing activity materials (page 3).
 Art, craft and other activity materials (page 3).
 Take Home message (page 17).

Utah Food $ense – required paperwork for program.
Optional Supplemental Materials:

Extra edamame picture included on page 16.
Preparation Required:



Review lesson plan.
Review teacher background information (see page 6).
Gather ingredients and materials needed to demonstrate the recipes (see pages 4-5).
1









Gather paper ingredients needed to serve samples of recipes.
Print copy of edamame picture to use during introduction (see page 7).
Print/copy pictures of other fruits and vegetables to use for objective two (see page 7-13).
Make copies of edamame coloring page for each child (see page 14).
Obtain green yarn to use to make edamame coloring page necklaces (see page 3 and 14).
Make copies of edamame word tracing handout for each child (see page 15)
Assemble baggies with seven small yarn pieces for each child (see page 3, objective 3)
Make copies of take home handout with recipes you wish to distribute (see page 17) – enough
for all class participants to take home to families.
Utah Food $ense - Make copies of all required paperwork for lesson.
LESSON PLAN
Introduction
Time: 5 minutes
Write the word “edamame” on the board.
Ask the class: Have you ever seen this word before? Does anyone know how to say it? (English
pronunciation: ed-a-MAH-may)
Explain: Today we are going to talk about a bean called edamame. This bean is also known as a
soybean. Soybeans or edamame are bright green and yummy and look like this (show picture of
edamame).
Objective 1: Participate in a cooking/ food sensory experience and sample food.
Time: 15 minutes
 Choose a recipe that will work for your lesson:
o Wheat Berry Salad – If you use this recipe cook the wheat berries in advance, chill and
combine the rest of the ingredients with the children. You can have them help stir in
ingredients. Make sure they wash their hands thoroughly before touching any food.
o Steamed Edamame – If you use this recipe steam the edamame, let it cool slightly and
give each child a bean to try. Show the children how to squeeze the bean out of the pod
with their mouth to eat. Explain that the pod of the edamame is not eaten, just the bean.
Objective 2: Participate in a physical activity or game that reinforces the food
concept.
Time: 5-10 minutes
Play “Yeah For Edamame” game.
To play the game:
 Print the various pictures (see pages 7-13)
 Hold the pictures in front of the class.
 Tell the students that you will show them one picture at a time and when they see the picture
of the edamame (you may want to remind them what it looks like before you start) then they
will have to stand up and do an action. Show the kids how to do the action before the round
starts. Change the action that needs to be done each round. Chose from the actions below or
come up with your own ideas.
2
o
o
o
o
o
Spin around and sit down
Do five jumping jacks and sit down
Jump up five times
Do five squats and sit down
Dance around for five seconds then sit down
Objective 3: Identify food name through reading, writing or other activity.
Time: 5-10 minutes
Explain: Edamame is a fun word to spell. We are going to practice making the letters used to spell the
word.
Word Tracing:
 Handout the edamame word sheet to the children (see page 15).
 Let them trace the letters using yarn or crayons.
 To use yarn, give each child a small plastic bag full of small yarn pieces. Have the children make
the shape on top of the printed letter with the yarn.
Objective 4: Participate in a food exposure experience by doing and art, craft, or
other activity.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Explain: Edamame is healthy for our hearts. To help us remember this we are going to make heart
healthy necklaces.
 Handout the edamame coloring page to the children.
 Let them color the edamame, then cut out.
 Punch a hole or two at the top and string a piece of yarn to make a necklace. The necklace is to
remind them that edamame is healthy for their hearts.
Conclusion:
Time: 5 minutes
Ask the class:
 What things did you learn about edamame today?
 What do our edamame necklaces remind us about edamame? Answer: It is healthy for our
hearts.
 What is another name for a soy bean? Answer: Edamame
 What color is edamame?
 Did you like the taste and texture of edamame?
 How will you eat edamame at home?
Resources :
1. www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org
2. http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/preschool_activities.htm
TThis material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better
diet. To find out more, contact 1-800-221-5689 or visit online at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/. In
accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from
discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs or disability. To
3
file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call
(800)795-3572.
RECIPES
Topic: Edamame
Wheat Berry Salad
Ingredients:
2 cups water
½ cup dry wheat berries*
1 cup black beans or chick peas, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen edamame, thawed (with pod removed)
1 cup chopped tomato
¼ cup finely chopped red onion
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Combine water and wheat berries in medium saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer,
covered, 1 hour or until berries are tender. Place berries in strainer and rinse under cold water.
Combine drained wheat berries and remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Serve
immediately or refrigerate up to one day in advance.
*Wheat berries are simply the whole kernel of wheat (without the hull) before it is ground. You
can find this at a health food store, bulk section of a grocery store or a local LDS dry pack
cannery. You can also order online at Bob’s Red Mill (www.bobsredmill.com). Save some time
by cooking and freezing wheat berries in advance! One-half cup raw wheat berries is equivalent
to 1-1/2 cups cooked. To thaw, run wheat berries under warm water for a minute or two.
Steamed Edamame
Ingredients:
16 ounces edamame, frozen in pods
2 cups water
Dash of salt (optional)
Directions:
Bring water to boil over high heat. Add frozen edamame and salt and return to boil. Reduce
heat, cover and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes or to desired tenderness. Drain, season to taste and
serve. Do not eat the pod of the edamame, simply squeeze pod with teeth to release bean into
your mouth. Discard pod.
4
Garlic Teriyaki Edamame
Ingredients:
¼ cup water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 package frozen edamame in pod
2 tbl. Brown sugar
2 tbl. Rice vinegar
2 tbl. Sesame seeds
2 tsp. olive oil
¼ cup teriyaki sauce
Directions:
In a sauce pan bring water to boil. Add the edamame and cook until the water has nearly
evaporated. This takes about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium heat and stir in the teriyaki
sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and olive oil. Stir constantly until sauce thickens. Sprinkle with
sesame seeds. Squeeze pod with teeth to release bean into your mouth and discard the pod.
Did you know? Edamame (ed-a-MAH-may) is another name for whole soybeans.
This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact 1-800-221-5689
or visit online at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/. In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited
from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs or
disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800)795-3572.
5
Preschool Curriculum
Edamame/Soybeans
Background Teaching Information
History: Soybeans are a vegetable that was first eaten in Japan. Over the years knowledge and popularity grew
until the plant was brought to the U.S. for investigation. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
planted many varieties and found specific varieties that tasted the best and grew well in the U.S. The USDA
also evaluated the nutrition of the plant.
Nutrition: Edamame has been found to be one of the few plant foods that are a complete protein. When a
food is a complete protein this means that it contains all of the essential amino acids that our body needs.
Often plant foods will be missing some of the essential amino acids and therefore cannot be considered a
complete protein. Most complete protein foods are foods that come from animal sources such as meat, eggs,
poultry or fish. Edamame is a special complete protein food because it contains no saturated fat and
cholesterol making it a heart healthy option for quality protein in the diet.
Eating: Edamame is traditionally served after being boiled in the pod in slightly salted water. It is often eaten
as a snack similar to eating shelled peanuts or seeds. When eating edamame the consumer will take the pod
and squeeze the bean out of it with their mouth, discarding the pod.
In the U.S. edamame is usually only found by the vegetables in the freezer section of the grocery store. You
will most likely never see them sold fresh here. Edamame is sold with and without the surrounding pod
attached. Edamame can be eaten cooked or straight from the freezer (thawed). It is a great satisfying on the
go snack and tastes great added to stir fry, soups or stews, salads, served with rice, made into veggie dip or
just eaten plain as a side dish. Try substituting edamame wherever peas or lima beans are called for in a
recipe.
Edamame has grown in popularity as more Americans become concerned about health and are finding
edamame to be flavorful, versatile, and a highly nutritious option to add as a part of a balanced healthy diet.
For more information see: www.soyinfocenter.com and
http://www.nsrl.illinois.edu/general/multimedia/Edamame%20and%20Gardensoy.pdf
Resources:
1. www.soyinfocenter.com
2. http://www.nsrl.illinois.edu/general/multimedia/Edamame%20and%20Gardensoy.pdf
3. www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org
This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better
diet. To find out more, contact 1-800-221-5689 or visit online at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/. In
accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from
discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs or disability. To
6
file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call
(800)795-3572.
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Coloring page to make heart healthy edamame necklace. Punch one or two holes and attach
yarn to make a necklace.
Edamame
14
edamame
Trace the letters to learn how to spell edamame.
15
16