Lesson Goal:

Curriculum Connections:

• Have students take 5 minutes to list on a sheet of paper the dinners theyve eaten at home for the past 2 weeks. Ask a few students to share their responses with the class.

• Many students may have listed take-out or frozen dinners as foods theyve eaten recently. Ask students to identify the benefits of convenience foods (such as frozen dinners) and convenient cooking methods.

• Ask students to think about the roles their family members play during mealtime. Who prepares dinner? When is the meal prepared? Whos responsible for clean-up? At what time do families eat dinner? Do they eat together or in shifts?

• Next, explain to students that if they help with some of the meal planning and preparation at home, theyll be able to spend more time with their families. They can help their families eat more healthy, home-cooked meals.

• Introduce the Reynolds Quick and Easy Packet Cooking with No Clean-Up method by demonstrating it for the class, following the steps listed. (See above right.)

• After your demonstration, ask students to brainstorm for a list of the benefits of packet cooking. Students answers might include: it allows families to eat in shifts; its healthy; it allows food to cook in its own juices and retain moisture; its quick, its easy and theres no clean-up. Divide students into groups and have them practice packet cooking.