Spinach Lane

Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Preschool Fun With Fruits and Vegetables

Booklet 3
Welcome to...

Spinach Lane at Tasty Acres Farm!

Cool, crispy leaves of spinach flutter in the gentle breeze at Spinach Lane. It almost looks as if the leaves 

are waving a welcome hello an invitation to stop and learn more about spinach. In this unit, the children 

learn that spinach is a vegetable. They experience the look, feel, smell, and taste of spinach leaves. Spinach 

grows quickly and hands-on planting activities help children see how seeds produce these flavorful plants. 

Grow some spinach and have a harvest. See how bunches of spinach go from the farm to the store and 

farmers’ market. Leave time to tempt the taste buds with spinach dips, salads, and more tasty options. 

Growing at Home materials encourage families to include spinach often in cooking, conversations, and 

fun and games. 

What’s Inside

Spinach Lane Lessons

Planning Chart for Spinach Lane Activities......................................................................................................................................1

A: An Adventure Stems from Learning About Spinach Hands-On Activities................................................................ 2

1. One Touch, One Guess...................................................................................................................................................................2

2. Spinach Leaf Print...............................................................................................................................................................................4

3. Spinach Flowers...................................................................................................................................................................................6

B: Spinach...Where Do You Come From? Planting Activities..................................................................................................8

1. Spinach Starts as Seeds!..................................................................................................................................................................8

2. Plant a Spinach Seed......................................................................................................................................................................10 

3. Plant Seeds or a Seed Tape Outdoors................................................................................................................................12

C: Spinach Stories and Songs..........................................................................................................................................................14

1. Cool Puppy Pup’s Spinach Lunch Party Video................................................................................................................14

2. Reading Activity ................................................................................................................................................................................16 

3. Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Spinach Style.....................................................................................................................17

D: Introducing MyPlate Nutrition Education Activities........................................................................................................20

1. Let Us Try More Leafy Greens.................................................................................................................................................20

2. Say Hip, Hip Hurray for Spinach.............................................................................................................................................26

 a. Spinach-Strawberry-Cantaloupe Salad Recipe ..........................................................................................................28

Growing at Home Materials

Spinach Growing at Home #1

1. Letter to Home #1........................................................................................................................................................................30

2. Dilly Spinach Dip Recipe.............................................................................................................................................................31

3. Spinach Dot-to-Dot Activity .....................................................................................................................................................32

Spinach Growing at Home #2

1. Letter to Home #2........................................................................................................................................................................33

2. Easy Cheesy Spinach Pie Recipe.............................................................................................................................................34

3. Where Does Spinach Grow? Activity ..................................................................................................................................35

Spinach Growing at Home #3

1. Letter to Home #3........................................................................................................................................................................36

2. Spinach-Strawberry-Cantaloupe Salad Recipe ..............................................................................................................37

3. Spinach Puzzle Pieces Activity ..................................................................................................................................................38 
2

A Plan For Organizing Spinach Lane Activities

Check with local farms and farmers’ markets to find out when spinach 

is in peak season. Seeing spinach growing in the field makes a great 

farm field trip for preschoolers. If a farm is not nearby, visit a produce 

stand or farmers’ market to see fresh spinach.

The Spinach Lane lesson plans are designed to be used in their 

entirety but if your center does not have the time, space, or resources 

to do all the activities, select the activities from Section A: hands-on 

activities, Section B: planting activities, Section C: spinach stories and 

songs, and Section D: nutrition education activities. Be sure that the 

activities you choose help the children meet the objectives listed at 

the beginning of each lesson plan section. 

Here is one way to arrange the activities in Spinach Lane. Most 

activities require only 10-15 minutes; pick a few for each day. If 

possible, do the planting activities and harvest a crop of spinach. It is an 

easy vegetable to grow and is ready in about 40 days. In this example, 

all of the activities from the lesson plans are completed, but spaced 

out over a 5-day period. Additionally, two activities from the Garden 

Art and Crafts Section in Booklet 1, are added. These activities are 

fun and useful ways to help reinforce the objectives of each activity. 

On page 19, it gives tips for creating successful projects and ideas for 

harvesting fun month after month. The Garden Art and Crafts chart 

connects the art and crafts to the lesson activities.

Most activities 

require only 10-15 

minutes; pick a few 

for each day. In this 

example, all of the 

activities from the 

lesson plans are 

completed, but 

spaced out over a 

5-day period.
Spinach Lane 1

Planning Chart for Spinach Lane Activities

Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

A1

One Touch, One Guess

Hands-on Activity

B1 

Spinach Starts

as Seeds 

Planting Activity

C1 

Cool Puppy Pup Video

B3

Plant Seeds or a 

Seed Tape Outdoors

Planting Activity

D1

Let Us Try

More Leafy Greens

Nutrition Education

Activity

A2

Spinach

Leaf Print

Hands-on Activity

A3 

Spinach Flowers

Hands-on Activity

B2 

Plant a Spinach Seed 

Planting Activity

Finish Garden Craft 

project, if necessary D2

Say Hip, Hip, Hooray 

for Spinach

Nutrition Education

Activity

Garden Art 

Bookmarks

Finish Garden Art 

project, if necessary

Garden Craft or 

Make a Seed Tape C3

Old MacDonald

Had a Farm Song,

Spinach Style

C2 

Reading Activity

Send Home 

Growing at Home 

Materials #1

C3

Old MacDonald

Had a Farm Song,

Spinach Style

Send Home 

Growing at Home 

Materials #2

C2

Reading Activity

Send Home 

Growing at Home 

Materials #3

Revisit the Farm: Rainy Day Fun All Year Long 

When the weather changes your outdoor plans, the activities from Tasty Acres Farm provide a welcome 

opportunity to revisit and remember all the fun and flavor of Grow It, Try It, Like It! Sing the songs, watch 

the video segments, and use the Garden Art and Crafts Section in Booklet1for ideas. Make a rainy day 

one to reconnect with these fruits and vegetables. 

More Ways To Grow – The Spinach Lane unit can be included in other areas of the curriculum. 

Complementary themes include:

Foods – Vegetables Colors – Green Seasons Spring Body – Senses

Dinosaurs – Plant Eaters Plants – Leaves, Stems Alphabet – S words
2 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Growing at Home Introduction Letter and Hand Washing and Polite 

Tasting Guidelines: Send a copy of these resources home before 

starting the first unit from Grow It, Try It, Like It! (See Booklet 1, 

Tool Shed Resources, pages 42-44.)

Spinach Growing at Home #1: Send a copy of this resource home 

with each child at the start of the Section A activities. If you have 

already sent these resources home you may omit this step.

A1: One Touch, One Guess

Use the Mystery Box/Bag to create interest by having the children 

feel spinach leaves before revealing the “mystery” item to them. 

Objectives

The children will be able to: 

< Identify spinach as a lightweight, green leaf vegetable;

< Describe the appearance, smell, and taste of spinach.

Before the Activity–Hand Washing and Polite Tasting

< Explain that we should always wash our hands before 

preparing and eating food. Have the children wash their 

hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43, for 

directions).

< If this is the first activity involving food tasting, talk with the 

children about polite food tasting habits (see Booklet 1, Tool 

Shed Resources, page 44 for details).

A. An Adventure Stems From 

Learning About Spinach

Hands-on Activities

Materials Needed

< Fresh spinach leaves 

< Mystery Box/Bag 

< Paper and pencil 

< Feather

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Wash spinach leaves, at least 

three leaves per student. 

Reserve at least one prewashed leaf per child for 

tasting.

< Place a handful of spinach 

leaves in the Mystery Box/

Bag. Keep the remainder 

out of the sight of children, 

but have available in case 

‘enthusiastic feelers’ damage 

the leaves in the box and 

more are needed.

< Make copies of Spinach 

Growing at Home #1–one 

set per child.

< Review Make a Mystery

Box or Bag, as needed 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 45).
Spinach Lane 3

Words To Grow

Leaf or leaves Stem

Vegetable Light (weight)

Green Smooth

Bumpy

The Activity

< Introduce or reintroduce the Mystery Box/Bag, if you have 

used it before.

< One at a time, ask each child to come and feel inside the box 

or bag without looking. If a child seems afraid, feel inside the 

box/bag with the child. 

< Ask each child to describe quietly to you what he/she feels. 

< After everyone has guessed, reveal the spinach. Show the 

spinach to the children. 

< Note the children’s guesses that were close (leaves, a plant, 

food) or correct (spinach).

< Offer each child a clean leaf of spinach to look at, touch, 

and smell. 

< Talk about spinach. Ask the questions below and any other 

questions you like. 

▶ Is spinach a fruit or a vegetable? (Vegetable) 

▶ What color is it? (Green)

▶ Do the leaves feel thick or thin? (Thin) 

▶ How does the outside of it feel? (Smooth and bumpy) 

▶ Is the spinach leaf light or heavy? (Very light like a feather 

–let children feel the feather) 

▶ Is it soft or hard? (Soft like the leaf from a tree) 

▶ Is the stem on the spinach leaf thick or thin? (Thin)

▶ Has anyone ever tasted a spinach leaf? (Yes or no)

▶ When you bite or tear the spinach leaf, what color do 

you see inside? (Green)

< If the children are fond of dinosaurs, ask what kind of 

dinosaurs might eat spinach (Plant Eaters).

Activity Conclusion–Tasting

< Conclude the lesson by inviting the children to taste the 

spinach leaf.

< Ask the children

▶ Is the leaf soft or chewy? (Chewy)

▶ How does the spinach taste? (Mild)

< As necessary, remind the children how the group follows 

polite tasting manners.

Connection to Garden 

Art and Crafts 

Garden Bookmark: Have the 

children make spinach decorated Garden Bookmarks. Trace 

around a baby spinach leaf on a 

bookmark. Then, hold the leaf 

over the image with a piece of 

plastic wrap and rub the plastic 

over the leaf with the round 

end of wooden craft stick (see 

Booklet 1, Garden Art and Crafts 

Section, page 28).

Activity Length: 

15 minutes
4 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

A2: Spinach Leaf Print

The children make a print of a spinach leaf and learn the parts of 

the plant.

Objective

The children will be able to identify spinach as a lightweight, 

green leaf vegetable.

Materials Needed

< Plain white paper, one sheet 

per child

< Spinach leaves

< Crayons or colored pencils 

(shades of green)

< Drawing of spinach (see 

Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 63)

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Organize materials. 

< Plan to serve Dilly Spinach 

Dip and vegetables at snack 

or mealtime (see Spinach 

Lane Growing at Home #1 

Recipe, page 31).
Spinach Lane 5

Activity Length: 

15 minutes

The Activity

< Have each child seated at the table(s) with supplies.

< Show a drawing of a spinach leaf to the children. Talk with 

the children about what spinach looks like. Review the shape 

(round at one end, coming to a point) and color (green) of 

spinach.

< Have each child take a piece of paper. Have each child fold 

the paper in half; assist any children needing help.

< Ask the children to put one leaf of spinach inside the fold of 

the paper. Instruct the children to rub the crayon or pencil 

gently on the top of the paper covering the leaf. As the leaf 

is rubbed, the details of the leaf will appear. Assist those 

children who need help. After the leaf print is made, remove 

the spinach leaf from the paper. Have the children look at the 

leaf print and notice the stem, outline, and any veins of the 

spinach leaf that are visible.

< Ask the children to wash their hands for meal or snack time 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43, for directions).

Activity Connection to Snack or Mealtime

While eating the Dilly Spinach Dip and vegetables at snack or 

mealtime, talk with the children about how spinach leaves look 

and taste.

Connection to Garden 

Art and Crafts

Stamped Wrapping Paper: 

(Variation of Stamped Wrapping 

Paper): Coat spinach leaves with 

different colors of green paint 

and press the leaves to the paper. 

Create interesting designs. If 

desired, press leaves on smaller 

sheets of art paper to create a 

spinach art piece to frame and 

display (see Booklet 1, Garden 

Art and Crafts, Stamped Wrapping Paper, page 32).

Tip: Depending on the 

variety of spinach used, rubbing 

to reveal a leaf image produces 

different results. Test the 

spinach available; if rubbing 

is not successful substitute 

one of the Garden Art and 

Crafts Activities.
6 Grow It, Try It, Like It

A3: Spinach Flowers

The children create flower shaped snacks from spinach leaves. 

They explore the feel, smell, and taste of spinach. 

Objectives

The children will be able to:

< Tell that the entire spinach stem and leaf can be eaten;

< Make a simple snack with spinach. 

Before the Activity–Hand Washing 

< Explain that we should always wash our hands before 

preparing and eating food. Have the children wash their 

hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43, 

for directions).

< Explain that we should always wash fresh spinach leaves 

under running water before they are cooked or eaten. Let 

the children know you have already washed the spinach.

Materials Needed

< Spinach leaves, 6 to 8 

leaves per child

< Ranch salad dressing in a 

squeeze bottle or bowl 

with spoon 

< Paper plates and napkins

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Thoroughly wash spinach 

leaves with a salad spinner or 

colander; dry leaves between 

sheets of paper towel.

< Prepare a plate for each child 

with 6 to 8 spinach leaves on 

the plate.
Spinach Lane 7

Words To Grow

Leaves Spinach

Dip Petals

Flower

Activity Length: 

10 minutes

The Activity 

< Have each child seated at the table(s). 

< Explain we always wash spinach before we eat it. Let the 

children know you have already washed the spinach.

< Tell the children that they are going to make a snack with 

spinach leaves. Give each child a paper plate with 6 to 8 

spinach leaves.

< Let each child put a circle of dressing in the center of their 

paper plate, about the size of a quarter. Help those who 

need assistance.

< Show the children how to arrange the spinach leaves around 

the dressing to create the petals of a flower.

 Activity Conclusion–Tasting

< After making the spinach flower, enjoy eating this snack. Tell 

the children to dip their spinach leaves in the dressing and 

eat them.

< As the children are eating, ask them to describe how 

the spinach:

▶ smells (no smell or aroma similar to leaves or grass);

▶ feels in the mouth (chewy); and

▶ tastes (mild).
8 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Spinach Growing at Home #2: Send a copy of this resource home 

with each child at the start of the Section B activities.

B1: Spinach Starts as Seeds!

The children see and touch spinach seeds and learn how far 

apart to plant seeds. 

Objectives 

The children will be able to: 

< Describe how spinach grows from a seed into a plant that 

produces spinach;

< Describe the resources needed to grow spinach.

B. Spinach...

Where Do You Come From? 

Planting Activities

Materials Needed

< Spinach seed packets

< Drawings of spinach 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, pages 63-64)

< Spinach leaves and light 

cream cheese for tasting

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Make copies of Spinach 

Growing at Home #2–one 

set per child.

< Assemble materials in 

central area.

< Spread 1⁄2 teaspoon of 

cream cheese on a clean, dry 

spinach leaf and roll, at least 

one per child.
Spinach Lane 9

Activity Length: 

10 minutes

Words To Grow

Seeds Soil

Sun Water

Space Plants

The Activity

< Tell the children that today they will learn about how spinach 

grows. Show the children the spinach seeds. Tell the children 

people can buy packages of seeds to grow spinach in gardens. 

< Pass the seeds around in a clear cup (spinach seeds are 

small). Let the children touch and count the seeds. Explain 

that when spinach isn’t picked for food, the plants grow 

flowers. The spinach seeds come from the tops of these 

flowers. 

< Explain that the spinach seeds are planted 6 inches apart 

in the soil, depending on the instructions given on the seed 

envelope. The spinach plants need room to spread out when 

they grow so the rows are planted 12 to 18 inches apart.

< Explain that the spinach seeds are planted in the soil in the 

spring. The sun and rain help them grow into seedlings above 

the ground. The seedlings grow into bunches of spinach. 

Explain that while spinach plants need sun to grow they also 

need to be in the shade when it gets really hot. 

< Show drawing of spinach growing in a field. 

< Spinach grows fast. The leaves are ready to be picked about 

40 days after the seeds are planted (e.g., the time from 

Thanksgiving to Christmas, Chanukah, or Kwanzaa). Explain 

that the entire spinach plant may be cut off just above the 

ground, or leaves can be picked individually. 

< Explain that spinach is picked and taken to a grocery store 

or a farmers’ market. That is where people buy it and take it 

home to eat. Show drawing of spinach at the grocery store.

< Have the children wash their hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 43, for directions).

< Offer spinach leaves rolled around cream cheese for tasting. 
10 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

B2: Plant a Spinach Seed 

The children start spinach seeds in a cup and learn what the 

seeds need to grow. (See Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, Grow 

Seedlings Indoors, page 53, for additional information.) 

Objectives 

The children will be able to: 

< Describe the resources needed to grow spinach;

< Experience planting a spinach seed.

Optional Activity: Grow a Seedling in a Bag (see Booklet 1, Tool 

Shed Resources, page 52). Display this visual in the classroom. 

Check daily for progress and compare to what is happening to 

the children’s plants.

Materials Needed

< Spinach seed packets (can be 

packets from activity B1)

< Paper cups, 5 to 6 ounces in 

size, one per child 

< Potting mix or soil 

< Water in a small spray bottle

< Plastic spoons, one per child

< Unsharpened pencils, with a 

line marking 1⁄2 inch 

< Waterproof pens or markers 

< Wooden craft sticks for plant 

markers, one per child

< Table covers and smocks for 

the children

< Sunny location and/or 

fluorescent lights

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Prepare potting mix or soil 

with water, according to 

package directions; divide 

into containers, one for every 

three children; place on 

covered table(s). 

< Write spinach on each of the 

small cups. 

< At the table(s), place a small 

paper cup, three seeds, and a 

plastic spoon per child. 

< Plan to serve Easy, Cheesy 

Spinach Pie (see Spinach 

Growing at Home #2 recipe, 

page 34) at snack 

or mealtime.
Spinach Lane 11

Activity Length: 

15 minutes

Green Thumb Guide 

Spinach grows easily in containers. 

Consider making Painted Pots, 

Garden Stones, and Garden Art 

Row Markers to send home with 

the spinach plants.

The Activity

< Help each child write his/her name on a cup. 

< During the activity, help the children:

▶ Fill their cups about 3⁄4 full with moist potting soil. 

▶ Gently tap the sides and bottom of their container with 

their index finger to settle but not pack the soil. 

▶ Poke 3 holes in the soil spaced around the cup. Use the 

marked unsharpened pencil to make holes 1⁄2 inch deep.

▶ Place a seed in each hole and gently cover the seeds 

with soil. 

▶ Lightly spray water over the top of the soil; help any 

children needing assistance.

▶ If using wooden plant markers, stick one in the soil close 

to the inside curve of the cup.

< During the activity, tell the children:

▶ The seeds will grow in the potting soil as plants grow in 

the soil outside.

▶ The seeds need soil, water, light, and warmth to grow 

into plants.

▶ Inside, we can use lights to give plants warmth and light, 

just as the sun helps outside plants grow.

▶ The seeds will grow first into very small plants (seedlings), 

then into larger plants. These larger plants, if planted 

outside in a garden, will continue to grow with sunlight 

and water. The plants will grow larger and become 

bunches of spinach.

▶ Have the children set their cups in a sunny spot or 

under lights. 

▶ Have the children check their cups weekly to see the 

progress of the seeds growing into plants.

Activity Connection to Snack or Mealtime

While eating Easy, Cheesy Spinach Pie at snack or mealtime, talk 

about how seeds planted in the soil will grow into plants. The 

plants will grow into bunches of spinach after a summer of water, 

sun, and warmth.

Connection to Garden 

Art and Crafts

Garden Stones: See Booklet 

1, Garden Art and Crafts Section, 

page 36, for directions on how to 

make Garden Stones for a creative connection to this activity.
12 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

B3: Plant Seeds or a Seed Tape Outdoors 

The children plant spinach seeds or a seed tape outdoors. They 

learn what spinach seeds need to grow into plants.

Objectives 

The children will be able to: 

< Describe the resources needed to grow spinach;

< Experience planting a spinach seed or seed tape.

Planting Options:

< Follow the directions on the back of the spinach seed packet 

to plant seeds directly into the ground. 

< If you have grown spinach seedlings from seeds inside and 

hardened the plants for outdoor planting, you can substitute 

the plants for the seed tape. 

Materials Needed

< Spinach seeds or a seed tape, 

or see planting options 

< Garden or flowerbed, 12 feet 

or longer

< Hoe or trowel to make space 

to plant seed tape

< Garden hose with sprinkler 

nozzle or watering can 

What To Do Ahead of Time

< If using a seed tape, prepare 

the seed tape (see Booklet 1, 

Tool Shed Resources, Make a 

Seed Tape, page 54).

< Prepare garden or flowerbed 

for planting by tilling (breaking 

up) and fertilizing the soil 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, Green ThumbGuide–Gardening Outdoors, 

page 58).

< Plan to serve spinach in 

some form at snack or 

mealtime (see Booklet 1, Tool 

Shed Resources, Ten Terrific 

Ways..., page 48). 
Spinach Lane 13

Activity Length: 

15 minutes

The Activity

< Take the children and the spinach seeds or tape seed outside. 

Explain that today they will be planting spinach seeds and 

learning what seeds need to grow into plants.

< Point to the sun. Ask the children how the sunlight feels on 

their skin. (Warm) 

< Explain that the light and warmth of the sun helps spinach 

seeds grow into plants that will produce more spinach.

< Show the children the soil in a garden or flowerbed. Let 

them touch the soil. Ask them how the soil feels. (Wet or dry, 

hard or soft) Explain that spinach seeds need soil to grow 

into plants. 

< Run some water from a hose or pour some from a container 

and let the children touch it. Ask how it feels. (Wet) Explain 

that water helps plants grow. Explain that water for plants 

usually comes as rain. Spinach needs lots of water; farmers 

and gardeners will use sprinklers in addition to rain to make 

sure plants have plenty of water.

< Have the children help you lay the seeds or the prepared 

seed tapes in the soil at the preferred planting depth of 

1⁄2 inch. Cover with soil and water. Remind the children how 

far apart spinach plants are planted (at least 6 inches apart). 

Activity Connection to Snack or Mealtime

Talk about planting the spinach seeds or seed tape while eating 

spinach at snack or mealtime.

Connection to Garden 

Art and Crafts

Make a Seed Circle: (see 

Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, 

Make a Seed Tape, page 54) with 

spinach seeds; paint a pot with 

spinach leaves and the word 

spinach; add a bag of potting soil; 

and give as a Mother’s or Father’s 

Day gift (see Booklet 1, Garden 

Art and Crafts Section).

Green Thumb Guide

Is space limited? Spinach grows 

well in a container (see Booklet 

1, Tool Shed Resources, Green 

Thumb Guides Container 

Gardens, page 55). To adapt this 

activity to plant in a container, 

see Plant a Strawberry Jar, 

Strawberry Patch B3 for the 

8-to10-inch container option.
14 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

C1: Cool Puppy Pup’s Spinach Lunch Party Video

View Cool Puppy Pup’s Spinach Lunch Party segment with the 

children. Discuss the spinach facts covered in this delightful video 

with the children and have them try Cool Puppy Pup’s favorite 

way to eat spinach.

Objective

The children will be able to describe how spinach is grown, Materials Needed harvested, and eaten.

< Cool Puppy Pup DVD

< TV and DVD Player

< Spinach leaves and dressing

< Plates, forks, and napkins

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Cue the DVD to start at the 

Spinach segment. 

< Prepare spinach salad, a small 

portion per child.

C. Spinach 

Stories and Songs
Spinach Lane 15

Activity Length: 

15 minutes

The Activity

< Gather the children and watch the Spinach segment of 

the video.

< After viewing the segment, ask the children to name their 

favorite parts of the video. Use their responses to lead into 

a discussion about the video. During the discussion, include 

the questions below to review Cool Puppy Pup’s main points 

from the video segment.

< In the video, did Cool Puppy Pup say:

▶ Spinach was a fruit or a vegetable? (Vegetable)

▶ What color is spinach? (Green)

▶ What do the leaves have? (Thin stems) 

▶ How do spinach leaves feel? (Smooth and bumpy)

< At Tasty Acres Farm, the farmer talked about how 

spinach grows.

▶ Where does spinach grow? (On a farm) 

▶ Does spinach grow in bunches above or below the 

ground? (Above the ground)

▶ Are the plants close or far from the ground? (Close)

▶ Where can our families buy spinach after it is picked 

and shipped from the farm? (Grocery stores and 

farmers’ markets)

< Have the children name some of the ways that spinach can 

be eaten. (Steamed with a little bit of olive oil, in spinach dip, 

in muffins, on a pizza, or as salad with a little bit of dressing)

< Have the children wash their hands (see Booklet1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 43, for directions).

< Conclude the activity by telling the children they are going to 

eat spinach salad, the way that Cool Puppy Pup likes spinach 

best of all.

< Serve the spinach salad.
16 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

C2: Reading Activity

Read story books to the children that are about or include 

the activities of growing and/or eating fruits and vegetables. 

Listening to such stories can encourage children to adopt 

positive behaviors that can last a lifetime, like trying new fruits 

and vegetables. 

Objective

Children will describe the fun and interesting stories about fruits 

and/or vegetables that were read to them.

Materials Needed

< Books from a library or 

purchased books

< Space for the children to sit

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Clear a space for the children 

to sit around you.

< Choose a book from 

the Harvest of Books list 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 50).

< Select a book you would like 

to read and either borrow it 

from a library or purchase it.

< Use books relevant to fruits 

and vegetables that may 

already be available to you.
Spinach Lane 17

Activity Length: 

10 to 20 minutes 

depending on the 

length of the book

The Activity

< Have the children sit around you as you read them the book. 

< Ask the children to listen for the names of fruits and 

vegetables as the story is read. 

Discussion Questions: 

< After reading the story, ask the children which fruits and 

vegetables were named in the story and what happened to 

them. For example, 

▶ Where were the fruits and vegetables grown? 

▶ What happened to the fruits and vegetables after they 

were picked? 

▶ Who ate the fruits and vegetables? 

Add other questions that relate to the story.
18 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Activity Length: 

10 minutes 

C3: Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Spinach Style

The children sing about growing and eating spinach and act out 

motions to this familiar tune. 

Objectives

The children will be able to:

< Sing and act out motions to a familiar tune; 

< Say that being physically active helps us feel good.

The Activity

< Lead the children in singing these new words to the tune 

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and demonstrate the 

suggested motions or make up new ones. 

< Encourage the children to move about as they are singing. 

< Explain that skipping, wiggling, stretching, running, jumping, and 

playing actively every day helps us to feel good and 

stay healthy. 

Materials Needed

< Spinach lyrics to tune “Old 

MacDonald Had a Farm” 

< Large space for the children 

to move about 

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Become familiar with the 

words and motions of 

the song.
Spinach Lane 19

Old MacDonald Had a Farm, 

Spinach Style

The children sing about growing and eating spinach and act out 

motions to this familiar tune. 

1st Verse

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

On this farm, he grew some spinach, EIEIO! (Pretend to carry a basket of spinach)

Plant seeds here and plant seeds there, (Pretend to dig ground and plant 

Here seeds, there seeds, everywhere spinach seeds! using large, vigorous motions)

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

2nd Verse

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

On this farm, he grew some spinach, EIEIO! (Pretend to carry a basket of spinach)

Water spinach here and water spinach there, (Pretend to hold a watering can 

Here water, there water, everywhere water, water! and water plants-walking along the rows)

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

3rd Verse

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

On this farm, he grew some spinach, EIEIO! (Pretend to carry a basket of spinach)

Pick spinach here and pick spinach there, (Pretend to kneel and pick spinach)

Here a pick, there a pick, everywhere pick spinach. (Pretend to kneel and pick spinach)

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

4th Verse

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

On this farm, he grew some spinach, EIEIO! (Pretend to carry a basket of spinach)

With a bite, bite here, and a bite, bite there, (Pretend to eat spinach)

Here a bite, there a bite, everywhere a spinach bite. (Pretend to eat spinach)

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)
20 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

D. Introducing MyPlate

Nutrition Education Activities

Materials Needed

< Eat Smart To Play Hard 

With MyPlate poster (see 

Booklet 1)

< Spinach, romaine, and green 

leaf lettuce leaves

< Plates and napkins

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Review the foods and 

activities depicted on 

the poster.

< Display the poster.

< Wash and dry several leaves 

each of spinach, romaine, and 

green leaf lettuce; reserve a 

large leaf of each for display.

< Tear romaine and green leaf 

lettuce leaves in pieces the 

size of a spinach leaf, one 

each per child.

< Make copies of MyPlate 

coloring page (new or use 

copies from a previous D1 

activity)–one 

per child.

< Copy Spinach Growing at 

Home #3–one set per child.

Spinach Growing at Home #3: Send a copy of this resource home 

with each child at the start of the Section D activities. 

D1: Let Us Try More Leafy Greens

Introduce the children to the Eat Smart To Play Hard With 

MyPlate poster. The children find spinach and other leafy 

greens in the Vegetables group. They taste the difference 

between romaine and green leaf lettuce and spinach leaves.

Objectives

The children will be able to: 

< Say that spinach is found in the Vegetables group.

< Say that eating vegetables like spinach help keep us healthy; 

< Compare spinach to other leafy green vegetables;

< Say that being physically active every day helps us feel good 

and is fun;

< Say that eating foods from the different food groups each 

day helps us grow and be healthy; 

< Identify a food from each of the five food groups.

Before the Activity-Hand Washing and Polite Tasting

< Explain that we should always wash our hands before 

preparing and eating food. Have the children wash their 

hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43 for 

directions).

< If necessary, remind the children about polite food tasting 

habits (see, Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 44 

for details).
Spinach Lane 21

Activity Length: 

25 minutes; 

30 minutes if 

optional coloring 

activity conducted

The Activity

Learning the Food Groups

< Seat the children in a semicircle on the floor in view of the 

Eat Smart To Play Hard With MyPlate poster.

< Tell the children today they are going to learn about ways to 

be healthy and have fun every day. Tell the children that the 

best part is they like to do what helps them be healthy: they 

like to eat a variety of foods and they like to play.

< Point out the Eat Smart To Play Hard With MyPlate poster to 

the children. Ask the children to tell you what they see on 

the poster. Accept all correct answers, such as food, specific 

foods by name, children playing, and specific activities by 

name, etc.

< Explain that MyPlate shows the five food groups a person 

should eat from each day. Each food group has its own color. 

The Fruit Group is red, the Vegetable Group is green, the 

Grains Group is orange, the Dairy Group is blue, and the 

Protein Foods Group is purple. Eating foods from each food 

group helps us to be healthy and grow

This activity continues on the following pages.
22 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

< Point to the orange band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (orange). Tell the children that 

foods made from grains are in the Grains group represented 

by the orange color band. Point to the bread and the cereal 

in the Grains group on the orange band of the poster and 

state that bread and cereal give us energy to play. Ask two 

children to come to the poster, point to a food in the orange 

section, and name the food. After each child names a food, 

repeat the name of the food, and state that __________ 

(the food named) and other foods from the Grains group 

also give us energy to play. 

< Children this age may not know what a grain is. Tell them 

grains come from plants such as wheat, oats, and corn. Grains 

are used to make foods like cereal, bread, and pasta. 

< Point to the green band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (green). Tell the children that 

foods from plants called vegetables are in the Vegetables 

group represented by the green color band. Point out the 

broccoli in the Vegetables group on the green band of the 

poster. Ask the children to name this vegetable (broccoli). 

Ask the children to name spinach’s color (green). Explain that 

eating a green-colored vegetable, like spinach, often is a way 

to be healthy. Ask two children to come to the poster, point 

to a vegetable on the green section, and name the vegetable. 

After each child names a vegetable, repeat the name of the 

vegetable and state that __________ (the vegetable named) 

and other foods from the Vegetables group also help keep 

us healthy.

< Point to the red band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (red). Tell the children that foods 

from plants called fruits are in the Fruits group represented 

by the red color band. Point to the peach and strawberry 

shown in the Fruits group on the red band of the poster and 

state that peaches and strawberries help keep us healthy. Ask 

two children to come to the poster, point to a fruit in the 

red section, and name the fruit. After each child names a fruit, 

repeat the name of the fruit, and state that __________ (the 

fruit named) and other foods from the Fruits group also help 

keep us healthy.

Grains

Vegetables

Fruits
Spinach Lane 23

< Point to the blue band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (blue). Tell the children that 

milk and foods made from milk are in the Dairy group 

represented by the blue color band. Point to the milk and 

yogurt in the Dairy group on the blue band and state that 

milk and yogurt help us builds strong bones. Tell the children 

that it is good to choose low-fat and fat-free milk, yogurt, and 

cheese when given a choice. Ask two children to come to 

the poster, point out a food in the blue section, and name the 

food. After each child names a food, repeat the name 

of the food, and state that __________ (the food named) 

and other foods from the Dairy group also help us build 

strong bones.

< Point to the purple band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (purple). Tell the children that 

foods from animals and some plants are in the Protein foods 

group represented by the purple color band. Point to the 

meat, fish, egg, beans and peanut butter in the Protein Foods 

group below the purple band and state that they help our 

muscles grow. Ask two children to come to the poster, point 

out a food in the purple section, and name the food. After 

each child names a food, repeat the name of the food, and 

state that __________ (the food named) and other foods 

from the Protein Foods group also help our muscles grow. 

(Note: if only foods that come from animals are selected, 

point out a food from plants and name it. If only foods from 

plants are selected, point out a food that comes from animals 

and name it.)

Dairy

Protein Foods
24 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Review Activity < While the children are still seated, point to each food group 

color band on the MyPlate for Preschoolers poster.

< Ask the children to name the food group each color 

represents and to name a food from that group.

Tasting Activity < Show the children the romaine and green leaf lettuce. Tell the 

children that these are leafy greens similar to spinach. 

< Give the children individual samples of each leafy green to 

feel, smell, taste, and compare to spinach. Note all three 

are chewy. 

< After the children have tasted their own samples of the 

vegetables, invite the children to feel and smell the larger 

leaves of romaine and green lettuce. Discard the leaves at 

end of lesson.

< Ask the children to name different ways to eat vegetables like 

spinach and lettuce at different meals and snacks. Accept all 

answers such as on sandwiches, in vegetable salads, in dips, etc.

Be Active–Spinach Stretch

Note to Caregiver: Active play and movement are important for 

every child’s growth and development. Although they may seem 

to be active and energetic, most children do not get the amount 

of physical activity they need for good health. Child care programs 

should provide opportunities for young children (2 to 6 years of age) 

to engage in 90 to 120 minutes (1 1⁄2 to 2 hours) of moderate to 

vigorous physical activity each day. 

Several short periods of activity (10-20 minutes each) work well 

for young children and are easy to plan into the day. Examples of 

moderate to vigorous physical activity that kids this age enjoy include: 

playing on outdoor play equipment, dancing to music, taking a nature 

(or garden) walk, relay races, movement games, hopping, skipping, 

galloping, and riding a tricycle or bicycle. For additional information on 

physical activity for young children, refer to the Nutrition and Wellness 

Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult 

Care Food Program at http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/

nutritionandwellness.html." < Orange – Grains group < Green – Vegetables group < Red – Fruits group < Blue – Dairy group < Purple – Protein Foods group
Spinach Lane 25 < Point to the various activities depicted on the Eat Smart To 

Play Hard With MyPlate poster. Ask the children to tell you 

why it is important to be physically active and play every 

day, i.e., it helps you be strong and healthy, and is fun. Tell the 

children that today they will learn to be active in a way that 

reminds them of the leafy greens they just tasted.

< Ask the children to extend their arms out to the side and 

spread apart from each other so that no one is able to 

touch easily another child’s fingers. When children are spaced 

around the room, ask them to lower their arms and listen 

carefully. Tell the children that stretching is an important way 

to be active. Ask the children to watch you show them a 

special stretch that celebrates spinach.

< Squat to the ground and wrap the arms around the knees, 

with the heels slightly raised, creating a ball shape with your 

body. Tell the children the stretch starts the way a spinach 

plant starts, with a little round seed. Slowly drop the heels 

and straighten the legs and extend the arms to touch the 

toes or reach as far toward the toes as is comfortable, 

ending in a forward bend from the waist with the arms 

and head down. Tell the children the spinach plant starts to 

grow and stretch out. Next, gradually roll the spine up to a 

standing position and raise the arms above the head. Now 

fan the arms out to the side, pretending the arms are the 

edges of the spinach leaf. Sway gently from side to side in the 

slight breeze that blows through Spinach Lane.

< Ask the children to do the Spinach Stretch with you several 

times. During each stretch, remind the children of the stages 

of how spinach grows.

< Conclude the activity by telling the children it is fun to eat 

spinach and other leafy greens and be physically active by 

doing a Spinach Stretch. 

Optional Concluding Activity: Have the children sit at tables with 

coloring supplies. Distribute a copy of the MyPlate coloring 

page (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 83) to each 

child. Ask the children to color the Vegetables group section of 

MyPlate green and draw and color a spinach leaf near it or use 

the Blackline master of a spinach leaf (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 75). With older children have them copy the 

dot-to-dot outline of the word “Vegetables”. Ask the children to 

draw a favorite way they like to be physically active on the page. 

If desired, collect the sheet for use in future fruit and vegetable 

units in Grow It, Try It, Like It!
26 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

D2: Say Hip, Hip, Hooray for Spinach

The children taste a new spinach recipe and talk about the 

different ways to eat spinach.

Objectives

The children will be able to: 

< Taste spinach in a combination food, Spinach-StrawberryCantaloupe Salad; 

< Describe many different ways to eat spinach.

Option: Make the recipe as part of the activity.

Before the Activity–Hand Washing and Polite Tasting

< Explain that we should always wash our hands before 

preparing and eating food. Have the children wash their 

hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43, 

for directions).

< If necessary, remind the children about polite food tasting 

habits (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 44, 

for details).

Materials Needed

< Spinach-StrawberryCantaloupe Salad Recipe

ingredients–see the Child

Care Center version of this 

recipe on page 28 

< Plates, forks, and napkins

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Prepare the recipe. 

< Prepare table(s).
Spinach Lane 27

Activity Length: 

10-15 minutes

Words To Grow

Spinach Salad

Cantaloupe Strawberries

Omelets Pizza topping

The Activity

< Seat the children at the table(s). 

< Ask the children to share what they remember learning 

about spinach. 

< Encourage responses such as how and where spinach grows; 

how it looks, feels, smells, and tastes; and other material 

covered in the unit.

< Tell the children that the unit on spinach ends with a 

celebration of a new way to eat spinach. Spinach can be part 

of a salad of other foods. 

< Show the children the Spinach-Strawberry-Cantaloupe Salad 

and talk about the other foods in the salad. If making recipe 

as part of the activity, make it at this point.

< Serve the children the Spinach-Strawberry-Cantaloupe Salad.

< As the children are eating, ask: 

▶ What spinach recipes have they made with their parents?

▶ What different ways have they eaten spinach? 

▶ What new ways do they think spinach could be eaten?

< Give suggestions such as spinach steamed with olive oil and 

lemon juice, in vegetable dip, in breads or muffins, in cheesy 

pie or omelets, in casseroles, as a topping on pizza, and 

in salads.
28 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 12 1⁄2-cup child-size servings 

1⁄2 cup provides 1⁄4 cup fruit/vegetable towards CACFP meal pattern 

 

•	4 cups fresh spinach leaves

•	1 cup bite-size pieces of fresh strawberries

•	1 cup bite-size pieces of fresh cantaloupe 

•	Poppy seed salad dressing or raspberry vinaigrette

1. Wash and prepare spinach, strawberries, and cantaloupe, see Tips below. 

2. Tear spinach and cut fruit into bite-size pieces.

3. Toss spinach and fruit pieces together in a large bowl.

4. Dress lightly with dressing of choice.

5. Serve immediately. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Strawberry Tips Cantaloupe Tips Spinach Tips

Wash strawberries in a 

colander just before use. 

Gently dry with paper towel. 

Remove green leaves and 

stem with knife.

Nutrients per 1 child-size serving of 1⁄2 cup: Calories 43, Protein 0.5 g, Carbohydrate 4 g, Total Fat 3.1 g, 

Saturated Fat 0.4 g, Cholesterol 2 mg, Vitamin A 1150 IU, Vitamin C 16.9 mg, Iron 0.4 mg, Calcium 14 mg, Sodium 18 mg, 

Dietary Fiber 0.7 g

Wash in salad spinner or in 

colander with lots of water. Press 

leaves between paper towel sheets 

to dry before tearing into bite-size 

pieces.

Scrub outside rind of the cantaloupe 

with vegetable brush. Cut in half, 

scoop out seeds, remove rind, and store 

any extra melon in an airtight container 

in refrigerator.

Spinach-StrawberryCantaloupe Salad

For the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Cooking with Children

Young children can:

•	Wash hands first

• 	Help use a salad spinner to wash spinach

• 	Dry spinach leaves washed in a colander between sheets of paper towel

• 	Tear spinach into pieces

• 	Help wash and dry strawberries

• 	Help cut some pieces of strawberries and soft,ripe cantaloupe using a small plastic

 knife and a cutting board (not the entire recipe amount)

Adults should hull strawberries (remove green leaves and stems), use a sharp knife to cut cantaloupe in 

half,remove seeds and rind, and cut into smaller chunks. If cantaloupe is firm, an adult should cut it into

bite-size pieces.
Growing at Home Materials...

for Spinach Lane Lessons
30 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Spinach Growing at Home #1 

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Today we started our unit focusing on the vegetable spinach. Activities focused on 

spinach are included throughout your child’s day.

Today your child learned about spinach and how this vegetable looks, feels, tastes, and 

smells. Your child has learned that spinach: 

•	 Has large, dark-green crinkled leaves; 

•	 Feels smooth, but bumpy; 

•	 Has thin stems; and

•	 Has leaves that are chewy.

Dilly Spinach Dip is an easy recipe you and your child can make together. The recipe 

is on the following page. Children love to dip foods. Every mouthful of this dip gives 

two bites of vegetables, spinach in the dip and the vegetable used for dipping. You can 

also try adding spinach to a favorite family dip recipe.

Enclosed with this note is a Dot-to-Dot activity; it features the shape of a spinach 

leaf. While your child does this activity at home with you, count the ways your family 

enjoys spinach. If you count only a few ways, talk with your child about new ideas for 

eating spinach. Try a simple change of pace-put a few fresh spinach leaves on a 

sandwich in place of lettuce. 

Please call if you have questions about this activity or want more information.

Sincerely,

Child Care Center Director Tip: 

Be persistent! Studies show 

children sometimes need to have a 

new food offered 8-12 times 

before they will voluntarily choose 

to eat it. Many parents stop after 

4 or 5 times. Go the distance! 

Keep trying!
Spinach Lane 31

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Serves: (2 cups) 64 child-size 1-Tablespoon portions

Serves: 32 adult-size 2-Tablespoon portions 

•	1 10-oz package frozen, chopped, spinach (thawed and squeezed dry)

•	1 cup low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese 

•	1 cup low-fat or fat-free sour cream 

•	2 tsp dried dill 

•	1⁄2 tsp garlic powder

•	1⁄2 tsp onion powder

•	Cut up vegetables for dipping (e.g., carrots, celery, broccoli, summer squash) 

1. Wash hands thoroughly and squeeze the water from thawed spinach over sink or bowl. Place squeezed 

spinach into medium-size bowl.

2. Puree cottage cheese and sour cream together in food processor or blender or mash cottage cheese with 

fork until most of lumps are smooth. 

3. Thoroughly mix squeezed spinach and blended mixture in medium size bowl using fork to break the 

spinach apart.

4. Add seasonings and mix thoroughly.

5. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to blend flavors.

6. Serve as a dip with cut-up vegetable pieces for dipping.

Variations: Substitute 1 package of Italian salad dressing mix, vegetable soup mix, or onion soup mix for 

the seasonings.

Safety Note–Defrost the frozen spinach in the microwave, if desired. Be sure to let microwave-thawed

spinach cool for 10 minutes before squeezing liquid out. Thawing in a microwave can create hot spots that might

burn hands. Breaking the spinach apart will help any hot spots cool.

Nutrients per 1 child-size serving of 1 tablespoon: Calories 8.5, Protein .7 g, Carbohydrate .6 g, Total Fat 0.4 g, 

Saturated Fat 0.3 g, Cholesterol 1.5 mg, Vitamin A 360 IU, Vitamin C 1.2 mg, Iron.1 mg, Calcium 12.5 mg, Sodium 20 mg, 

Dietary Fiber 0.2 g

Dilly Spinach Dip

Cooking with Children 

Young children can:

•	 Wash hands first

• 	Help squeeze liquid from spinach – wash hands thoroughly before starting

• 	Break squeezed spinach apart with a fork

• 	Sprinkle seasonings measured by adult into mixture

• 	Pour seasoning from packet opened by adults

Adults should do all steps involving a food processor or blender. 

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Spinach Growing at Home #1 
32 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Spinach Dot-to-Dot

Dear Parents and Guardians: 

Your child has been learning about spinach, how it 

looks and feels. Help your child complete this dotto-dot activity. The completed dot-to-dot reveals 

a spinach leaf. Talk with your child about different 

ways to eat spinach while he or she colors 

the spinach leaf. Have your child complete the 

activity below.

Connect the dots
Spinach Lane 33

Spinach Growing at Home #2

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Tip: 

Children love to dip chunks of fresh 

fruits and vegetables. Puree low-fat 

or fat-free cottage cheese and add 

mild salsa for an easy vegetable dip. 

Stir a sprinkle of ground cinnamon 

into low-fat or fat-free vanilla yogurt 

for a creamy dip for fresh fruit.

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Today we continued our series on the vegetable spinach. We’re learning about 

spinach in a variety of activities spaced throughout your child’s day.

Today your child learned about spinach and how this vegetable grows and is harvested. 

He/she learned that spinach:

•	 Grows from seeds; 

•	 Grows above the ground;

•	 Grows fast; 

•	 Is harvested by cutting the plants off just above the ground, or by picking

individual leaves; and

•	 Is ready to be picked just about 40 days after the seeds are planted. 

You can help your child continue learning at home by together making the easy Easy 

Cheesy Spinach Pie recipe shown on the following page. Or, you may wish to make 

a family recipe with your child that includes spinach. 

 We have attached an activity, Where Does Spinach Grow. While you do this 

activity together, ask your child to tell you everything he/she has learned about how 

spinach grows. Consider growing some spinach at home in a container in a sunny location or a garden, if you have one. Children love to eat foods they help grow. It’s one 

more way to encourage your child to try new and different foods at child care–and at

home!

Please call if you have questions about this activity or want more information.

Sincerely,

Child Care Center Director
34 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Easy, Cheesy Spinach Pie

Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 35-45 minutes

Serves: 12 child-size portions of 1/

12th of the pie

Serves: 6 adult-size portions of 1/

6th of the pie

 

•	1 10-oz package frozen chopped, spinach (thawed, and squeezed dry)

•	4 oz reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup shredded cheese)

•	3 Tbsp fresh onions, very finely chopped, or to taste

•	1 tsp minced garlic (fresh or from jar), or to taste 

•	1 cup reduced fat biscuit mix

•	2 cups low-fat or fat-free milk

•	4 large eggs, beaten

•	Nonstick cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, with oven rack in lower position.

2. Spray the bottom of 9-inch pie pan with nonstick spray.

3. Remove as much water as possible from thawed spinach. Wash hands thoroughly and squeeze handfuls of thawed 

spinach over sink or bowl. Place squeezed spinach into pie pan.

4. In pie pan, break apart clumps of squeezed spinach. Mix shredded cheese, onion, and spinach together with fork until 

evenly mixed.

5. In medium bowl, gradually combine biscuit mix with low-fat or fat-free milk. Using whisk, mix 1⁄2 cup of low-fat or fat-free 

milk at a time into biscuit mix, so mixture blends evenly. 

6. Thoroughly mix beaten eggs into biscuit mixture.

7. Pour biscuit mixture evenly over spinach mixture in pan.

8. Place pie pan in oven on lower rack and bake 35-45 minutes until golden brown and a knife inserted in middle of pie 

comes out clean.

Remove pie from oven. Let pie set 5 minutes. Cut into slices and serve.

Variation: Use muffin tins to make individual pies. Spray 24 muffin tins with nonstick spray. Spoon a tablespoon of the spinach cheese 

mixture in each muffin tin, dividing the mixture evenly among the tins. Pour 11⁄2 tablespoons of biscuit mixture over the top of each muffin 

tin, dividing mixture evenly between tins. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Make mini pies by spooning a heaping teaspoon of the spinach-cheese 

mixture into a nonstick-sprayed mini muffin tin. Pour 1/2 tablespoon of biscuit mixture over top. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Recipe makes 24 

muffin-size or 48 mini-size muffin pies. 

Safety Note – Defrost the frozen spinach in the microwave, if desired. Be sure to let microwave-thawed spinach set for 10 minutes 

before squeezing liquid out. Thawing in a microwave can create hot spots that might burn hands. Breaking the spinach apart will help any 

hot spots cool.

Nutrients (using low-fat milk) per 1 child-size portion of pie, 1

/

12th of pie: Calories 113, Protein 7.5 g, Carbohydrate 10.3 g, Total Fat 4.5 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 78 mg, Vitamin A 2090 IU, Vitamin C 6.4 mg, Iron 1.1 mg, Calcium 185.9 mg, 

Sodium 253 mg, Dietary Fiber 1g

Cooking with Children 

Young children can:

•	Wash hands first

•	 Help squeeze liquid from spinach – wash hands thoroughly before starting

•	 Count eggs

•	 Help spoon spinach-cheese mixture into muffin or mini muffin tins

Adults should shred cheese, chop onion, mince garlic, mix spinach-cheese

mixture, combine biscuit/milk/egg mixture, and do all tasks involving the oven.

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Spinach Growing at Home 
Spinach Lane 35

Where Does Spinach Grow?

Dear Parents and Guardians: 

Help your child recall all we’ve learned about growing 

spinach. Have your child draw a line from the bowl 

of spinach to the picture showing where spinach 

grows. Talk with your child about how spinach gets 

to our homes–we buy it at the store or

farmers’ market. 

On a tree 

In a building

On a boat

On a snow-covered mountain In a field
36 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Spinach Growing at Home #3 

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Our unit on spinach is coming to a close. Today your child learned spinach is 

prepared and served in many different ways. He/she has learned that spinach: 

•	 Can be steamed with herbs and lemon juice;

•	 Is used in salads, breads, muffins, and dips; and

•	 Is served in casseroles, quiches, or as a pizza topping. 

Continue learning about spinach with your child. Together, make Spinach-StrawberryCantaloupe Salad. The recipe is on the following page and includes suggestions for 

how your child can help you prepare this salad. Or, you may wish to make another 

family salad recipe featuring spinach with your child.

Sometimes parents are puzzled as to how to encourage their children to eat a variety 

of foods. Enclosed with this note is a fun activity, Spinach Puzzle Pieces, for your 

child to do at home with you. Talking about different foods such as spinach is a way to 

make new foods more familiar to your child.The more times your child is exposed to

new foods, the more likely your child will be to eat these new foods at child care–and

at home!

Please call if you have questions about this activity or want more information.

Sincerely,

Child Care Center Director Tip: 

Help your children learn health 

habits to last a lifetime. Sing the 

ABCs or ‘Old MacDonald Had a 

Farm’ while washing hands. It takes 

at least 20 seconds of sudsy scrubbing to get rid of dirt and germs.
Spinach Lane 37

Spinach-StrawberryCantaloupe Salad

Preparation Time: 15 minutes 

Serves: 12 child-size 1⁄2-cup portions

Serves: 6 adult-size 1-cup portions

•	4 cups fresh spinach leaves

•	1 cup bite-size pieces of fresh strawberries

•	1 cup bite-size pieces of fresh cantaloupe 

•	Poppy seed salad dressing or raspberry vinaigrette

1. Wash and prepare spinach, strawberries, and cantaloupe, see Tips below. 

2. Tear spinach and cut fruit into bite-size pieces.

3. Toss spinach and fruit pieces together in large bowl.

4. Dress lightly with dressing of choice.

5. Serve immediately. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Strawberry Tips 

Wash strawberries in a 

colander just before use. 

Gently dry with paper towel. 

Remove green leaves and 

stem with knife.

Nutrients per 1 child-size serving of 1⁄2 cup: Calories 43, Protein 0.5 g, Carbohydrate 4 g, Total Fat 3.1 g, Saturated Fat 0.4 g, 

Cholesterol 2 mg, Vitamin A 1150 IU, Vitamin C 16.9 mg, Iron 0.4 mg, Calcium 14 mg, Sodium 18 mg, Dietary Fiber 0.7 g

Cantaloupe Tips 

Scrub outside rind of cantaloupe

with vegetable brush. Cut in half, 

scoop out seeds, remove rind, and 

store any extra melon in an airtight 

container in refrigerator.

Spinach Tips 

Wash in salad spinner or in 

colander with lots of water. 

Press leaves between paper 

towel sheets to dry before 

tearing into bite-size pieces.

Cooking with Children 

Young children can:

•	 Wash hands first

• 	Help use a salad spinner to wash spinach

• 	Dry spinach leaves washed in a colander between sheets of paper towel

• 	Tear spinach into pieces

• 	Help wash and dry strawberries

• 	Help cut some pieces of strawberries and soft, ripe cantaloupe using a small plastic

knife and a cutting board 

Adults should hull strawberries (remove green leaves and stems), use a sharp knife to cut 

cantaloupe in half,remove seeds and rind, and cut into smaller chunks. If cantaloupe is firm,

an adult should cut it into bite-size pieces.

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Spinach Growing at Home 
38 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Spinach Puzzle Pieces

Dear Parents and Guardians: 

Have your child color this drawing of spinach 

growing in a field. Glue the colored page to piece

of cardboard (a cereal box works great). Cut the

puzzle pieces out along the lines. Have your child 

put the puzzle pieces together. 

Keep the puzzle and encourage your child to put 

it together often. Each time the puzzle is used, talk 

about spinach. Ask your child how spinach grows. 

Talk about ways to eat it.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal and, where applicable, political 

beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or if all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public 

assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the 

Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 

found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the 

form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or 

letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).

Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly 

or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 

please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Revised June 2013

September 2009

FNS-406

United States Department of Agriculture • Food and Nutrition Service 

Find more fun resources at these Web sites:

teamnutrition.usda.gov

choosemyplate.gov