Hands-on experiments that help kids discover energy, growth, and the magic of living foods

Introduction

Children are natural scientists — they love to observe, experiment, and see cause and effect.
That’s what makes Life Needs Living Food such a powerful story for teaching about nutrition.

In the book, Luna learns how food from the Earth — fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds — makes her feel alive and full of energy.
Processed snacks, on the other hand, leave her tired and sluggish.

You can bring that same discovery to life at home or in the classroom with simple, fun science activities that teach kids what “living food” really means — and why it matters.

Why Food Science is Perfect for Kids

Food science is one of the best ways to combine:

• STEM learning (observation, data, and experimentation)
• Health education (nutrition, biology, and body awareness)
• Environmental appreciation (understanding how food connects to nature)

When kids experiment with living foods, they don’t just learn what’s healthy — they see why it’s healthy.
They can literally watch life, energy, and transformation happen before their eyes.

Activity #1: The Sprouting Seed Experiment 🌱

Objective: Show how living foods grow and create energy.

Materials:

• Dried beans, lentils, or peas
• Two small jars or clear cups
• Paper towels
• Water

Instructions:

1️⃣ Soak a few beans overnight.
2️⃣ Line one jar with a damp paper towel and place the beans between it and the glass.
3️⃣ Keep the paper towel moist and watch the beans sprout over several days.
4️⃣ Label a second jar “No Water” and leave it dry as a control group.

Discussion Prompt:

“What happened to the beans that had water and air? What does that tell us about what living foods need to grow?”

Kids will see that seeds are full of potential life — they just need the right conditions to come alive.

Activity #2: The Fresh vs. Processed Food Test 🍏

Objective: Help children visually understand the difference between living and processed foods.

Materials:

• One fresh apple slice
• One packaged snack (cookie or chip)
• Two clear jars or plastic bags
• Labels and observation chart

Instructions:

1️⃣ Place the apple slice in one jar and the packaged snack in the other.
2️⃣ Observe each day for a week.
3️⃣ Record which one changes — grows mold, darkens, or breaks down.

Discussion Prompt:

“Why do you think the fresh food changed faster? What does that tell us about what’s living or not?”

This simple activity shows that living foods decompose because they’re full of natural energy — while processed foods resist decay because they’re stripped of life.

Activity #3: Color Power Juice Experiment 🥕

Objective: Teach kids how colorful foods contain different nutrients that support the body.

Materials:

• Red (beets or strawberries), orange (carrots), and green (spinach or kale)
• Blender or juicer
• Three clear cups
• Optional: food coloring for control group

Instructions:

1️⃣ Blend or juice each color separately.
2️⃣ Talk about what each color means:

• Red = heart and blood health
• Orange = eyes and skin
• Green = energy and focus
  3️⃣ Taste each one and discuss how they feel after drinking.

Discussion Prompt:

“Which color made you feel the most awake? Why do you think nature made food in so many colors?”

This makes the “eat the rainbow” concept both sensory and scientific.

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Activity #4: Plant Power Circuit (For Older Kids) ⚡

Objective: Demonstrate that living foods can conduct energy.

Materials:

• A lemon or potato
• Small LED light or low-voltage bulb
• Copper and zinc nails (or wires)

Instructions:

1️⃣ Insert one copper and one zinc nail into the lemon.
2️⃣ Attach wires to each nail and connect to the LED bulb.
3️⃣ Watch it light up!

Discussion Prompt:

“How did this lemon make electricity? What does that tell us about the energy inside living food?”

This experiment bridges biology and physics — showing that plants contain real stored energy.

Activity #5: Compost Observation Experiment 🌿

Objective: Teach kids how living foods return nutrients to the Earth.

Materials:

• Jar with lid or small compost bin
• Food scraps (fruit peels, veggie stems)
• Small notebook for observations

Instructions:

1️⃣ Place scraps in the jar and watch them break down over time.
2️⃣ Keep notes on changes in color, smell, and texture.
3️⃣ Explain that decomposing food becomes soil — feeding new plants.

Discussion Prompt:

“Where do you think the nutrients from the food go? How do they help new plants grow?”

This experiment shows the full circle of life — from seed to soil, back to seed again.

Linking the Science Back to Luna’s Story

In Life Needs Living Food, Luna learns that every food we eat comes from something living — a tree, a vine, a field, or a seed.
Through these experiments, kids see that same truth for themselves.

You can end each activity asking reflection questions like:

• “How do you feel when you eat living food?”
• “What foods give you the most energy?”
• “Why do you think nature made living food for us?”

These moments turn science into self-awareness.

Why These Activities Matter

Hands-on learning about food helps kids:

• Make healthier choices.
• Develop gratitude for nature’s gifts.
• Build curiosity about how life works.
• Strengthen their connection to the Earth.

When children see the difference between living and processed food, they start to feel it — and that’s where lasting change begins.

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Bring the magic of nutrition and nature to life for your kids or students with
👉 Life Needs Living Food — an uplifting, educational story from Dream Tree Publishing that makes healthy eating joyful and easy to understand.

Pair it with these fun science activities to show that when we eat food from nature, we feed both our bodies and our hearts. 🌿💚

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Relevant Articles :

“Teaching Kids About Healthy Eating Through Nature”

“How to Help Children Build a Positive Relationship with Food”

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