Joyce van Weverwijk (Netherlands)
Merel Vermeeren (Netherlands)
Nicholas Minns (United Kingdom)
Rowan Verbraak (Netherlands)
Coached by Gabriela Bustame
A toolkit that transforms the kitchen into a lab for children
This Utforska toolkit empowers children to explore various aspects of food. The basic kit includes several tools that can be used to investigate, for example, the shape, texture, taste and smell of ingredients. By using the Utforska, children can also turn the kitchen into a mini lab by encouraging them to use other appliances (under supervision) to explore and experiment with the different tastes hidden in ingredients that can only be revealed by specific ways of preparing them. The toolkit’s logbook, meanwhile, lists fun experiments that help children to learn how to cook healthily. As well as teaching children about food ingredients in an exploratory way, the Utforska toolkit also educates them about weight, balance, waste and taste. The playful and active discovery of what food is all about helps to create a sustainable behaviour change towards food preparation and cooking from a young age.