Ollie's Rainbow Produce Treasure Hunt

What you need

• Paper, 1 sheet for the checklist
• Crayons or markers, 1 or 2
• Soft veggies (peppers, cucumber), one per color, as found
• Berries, 1 container, if they match a color (optional)
• Plate or tray, 1
• Water, for washing produce
• Yogurt, a few spoonfuls for dipping (optional)
• Paper bag, 1, for the produce
• Towel, 1 clean towel
• Knife, 1, for the grown-up
• Cutting board, 1
• Blender or bowl, 1, for a dip or blend (optional)

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Pick a store trip when you have about 30 minutes and no one is too hungry. Check for any food allergies before trying an unfamiliar item.

1. Draw your rainbow checklist before you go.
   Ask: Which color do you think will be the hardest to find?
2. Stick together like otters in the store.
3. Hunt for one fruit or veggie in each color.
4. Choose one brand-new treasure to try.
   Ask: Which food looks the most surprising or mysterious to you?
5. Bring your rainbow home and wash it.
6. Decide how to try the new food.
7. Grown-up prepares the new food. A grown-up does this
8. Taste it and be a food detective.
   Ask: Is it crunchy, soft, sweet, sour, or something else? What does it remind you of?
9. Finish the rainbow snack.
10. Now invite a friend to hunt, or go again! What new treasure will you find?
    Ask: Who would you like to take on the next rainbow hunt with you?

Play it again

• Color swap: pick a new color order and find the rainbow backwards, purple first.
• Mystery bag: a grown-up hides one washed fruit or veggie in a bag, and you guess it by feel.
• Two-treasure hunt: find two different foods for every color and compare them.