Preschoolers in awe of Dining Service
From monster paws to cheese fingers, creativity was overflowing in Anderson Commons Dining Service as Great Beginnings preschool visited Oct. 14. Each of the 18 children filed anxiously into the dining hall to prepare colorful snacks and to learn where their daily lunches are prepared and delivered from.
The tour and experience was a great opportunitiy to satisfy the preschoolers’ curiosity, said Vanessa Berg, contract manager and dietetic internship director.
The children, split into multiple groups, began from various parts of Anderson. Each of them glanced at shelf after shelf of canned goods lined all along the dry storage area. They winded their way through the dish room and even the kitchen, pointing out the size of the ovens over their heads.
They stood in awe as machinery twice their size churned pounds and pounds of potatoes. Eyes widened as they passed the all-too-familiar Cheerios cereal while touring the all-you-can-eat stations.
Another activity for the children was to create “monster paws,” in the spirit of Halloween. Beginning with a clear plastic glove, the preschoolers were given a handful of Kix puff cereal, with candy corn to act as fingernails in the tips. The surrounding Cobbers eating lunch in Anderson couldn’t help but smile as they watched the preschoolers play.
The children were then to create “cheese fingers” by using a cup of cream cheese as adhesive to attach cheese sticks to pieces of green, red, yellow and orange peppers that acted as fingernails.
As part of their one year internship as dietetics majors, Jessica Weickert and Concordia graduate Tiffany Dexter supervised and led the group through Anderson.
“They have lots of good nutrients that will help you grow big and strong,” Weickert told the preschoolers about the vegetables.
She watched as most of the children ignored their multi-colored pepper fingernails and went straight for the cheese instead.
Overall, Weickert saw the event as both a great opportunity for her and for the children.At the end of the morning, she and Dexter helped as the children prepared for their departure with full stomachs and a taste of knowledge.
