Different Kinds of Food

When eating out, eat at an unusual place; serve, along with normal stuff, some unusual things; use unusual foods as an object lesson.

Why do this surprise:

Teens, especially older teens, are actually very conservative despite any verbal protests to the contrary. Above all, most are very conservative about diet. Changing what is available for them to eat can be very disruptive and disturbing. At summer camps and conferences, some of the youth will go days without eating or with eating just the minimum, living off of any candy they brought or can buy. Challenging this attitude in a gentle and fun loving fashion can benefit the youth. Discussion built around food and the difference between those who, out of necessity, will eat anything and ourselves who can afford to be so picky can also be useful as long as it is not overdone.

What to avoid:

• If going out to eat, be careful to go somewhere that will serve something somewhat traditional, there is no value in deliberately starving someone just because they are stubborn.
• If bringing in food, bring in some normal snacks also.
• Do not buy large quantities of something they are not likely to eat. If, perchance they like it, then bring in more next time.
• Avoid foods so gross they are likely to get sick.

Variations:

• Odd toppings for ice cream (One group discovered that wheat germ was good on ice cream)
• Go to a health food place for snack foods
• On trips, especially an unknown destination trip, go to a restaurant they wouldn't choose for themselves. Because of the nature of a trip, they may be more open to experimentation than at other times.