The Seeds We Eat- Nature Science

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In the Spring it is always fun to do some seed explorations with kids. Today I have a fun project about the seeds we eat. This is a simple one to put together and do with your kids with things you will already have in your home. It is a wonderful nature science activity and also great for lessons on food and nutrition. It goes perfectly with the book The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle.  See ALL of our book activities for kids!

This was a really fun activity for my preschooler and kindergartner. They had no idea how many foods we ate that were seeds! We pulled out lots of nuts and seeds that they knew were seeds, then we started looking at our fruits and vegetables to decide which ones had seeds that we were eating.

Some Ideas to Use for the Seeds We Eat Activity:

Did you know we eat so many types of seeds?

Corn
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Walnuts
Chia Seeds
Hemp Seeds
Flax Seeds
Poppy Seeds
Rice, including wild rice
Sesame Seeds
Lentils
Almonds
Pecans
Peanuts
Cashews
Pistachios
Sugar Snap Peas
Cucumbers
Green Beans
Tomatoes
Grapes
Kiwi
Bananas
Berries
Zucchini
Pomegranate Seeds
Wheat
Oats (did you know that all grains are actually seeds?)
Beans

We investigated each of these foods and found the seeds in them. Some seeds are more obvious than others.

Of course we also had to taste them! It was a great snack!

After checking all of these out, we talked about the fruits and vegetables that had seeds we do not eat (fruits with pits, apples, oranges, peppers, etc). Ask why some are ok to eat while others are not!

Science and Nutrition Behind Eating Seeds:

Seeds, nuts and legumes are packed with vitamins, minerals, proteins, fiber, and antioxidants. Some of them are full of omega-3 fats, others provide calcium and fatty acids.  They can help reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) which will reduce your risk of heart disease. Basically,  these delicious foods are jam packed full of health nutrients that will only benefit you and your kids!  So go crazy and eat lots of seeds!

See Also:

Homemade Chia Squeeze Recipe!

Animals that Hibernate in Winter

Vegetarian Lunch Ideas for Kids

This is part of the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids series. Check out what the other participating bloggers have shared this week:

Alphabet Puzzle Cards – Sea of Knowledge
Flower Garden Name Puzzle – Still Playing School
Garden Flower Ten Frame – Rainy Day Mum
Number Activities with Printable Flowers and Worms – JDaniel4’s Mom
A Fun Way for Kids to Plan a Garden – Sunny Day Family
Seed & Plant Matching Game & {FREE} Cards – Preschool Powol Packets
Plant Biology for Kids – Mama Smiles
Rainbow Spin Art Flower Craft – Messy Little Monster
Garden Pretend Play and Fine Motor Activity – Views From a Step Stool
Build a Flower Creative Invitation – My Storytime Corner
Colorful Ribbon Flower Craft for Kids– Toddler Approved
Observing Seed Germination in a Plastic Bag – Inspiration Laboratories