MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Camp Adventure children visited JD’s Grille here to prepare and cook pizzas during an educational class hosted by JD’s Grille executive chef Aug. 19.
The class focused teaching the children, ages 5-10, the value of healthy eating habits by using the food pyramid.
Ginnna Benke, JD’s Grille executive chef, said she used pizza as the teaching tool because it involves almost every food group in the food pyramid and made it easier to discuss the value of nutrition with the children.
Benke replaced some of the ingredients in the pizza to make it healthful for the children.
The children used whole wheat flour for the dough and also used skim-mozzarella to replace regular whole milk mozzarella.
Although Benke prepared the dough, the children were the ones kneading the dough and adding the ingredients.
The children were questioned on each ingredient as they added them to their personalized pizzas.
Benke said, considering their age, they were a lot more knowledgeable than she expected them to be.
“(They knew) that tomatoes were fruits instead of vegetables,” said Benke. “That’s something that throws most grown-ups.”
After the children finished topping off their pizzas with their favorite ingredients, Benke ended the lesson and took the pizzas to the oven.
By the end of the lesson, it was apparent that the children not only had fun but also learned a few things.
“I had fun coming over here to cook,” said Yoselin Johnson, a 7-year-old Camp Adventurer.
Johnson said she learned she should always wash her hands before she cooks and if you don’t eat right you can get sick.
The Camp Adventure personnel who took the children to JD’s Grille believed the experience they got there benefited the children in more ways than one.
Ashanti Jones, School Age Care office automation clerk said she believed although the children learning about the food pyramid was great, having them cook their own pizza also taught them a little of what a cook does.
“(Visiting different places around the air station) gives them a chance to see what everybody does,” said Jones. “It’s also good because they just have fun.”
Anyone wanting more information on Camp Adventure or the School Age Care program can call 253-4769 or 253-3400.