Winter Soups

Food for all seasons

by Janice Ross

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To consider the importance of appreciating the seasonal vegetables that sustain us in winter.

Preparation and materials

• You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Winter Soups) and the means to display them.

Assembly

1. Ask the children, ‘What is your favourite soup?’
   
   Listen to a range of responses and comment on the most popular choices.
   
   You may wish to pick two of the most popular suggestions and ask the children to vote for their favourite by raising their hand.
   
   
2. Explain that in 2011, a survey found that the most popular soups were tomato first, leek and potato second and chicken third.
   
   
3. Point out that this survey took place over ten years ago. Compare the children’s favourites with the survey results and establish whether they are the same, similar or different.
   
   Ask the children, ‘If this survey took place this winter, do you think that these soup flavours would still be the favourites? How could we find out?’
   
   Suggest to the children that they could carry out a survey in school or with their families.
   
   
4. Ask the children if they usually eat home-made soup or soup out of tins.
   
   
5. Explain that as the winter months set in, we may find that the fruit and vegetables that we eat, and what we eat for meals, is different from what we eat in the summer months.
   
   Tell the children that you are going to show them some pictures of different foods. Ask them to shout out ‘buzzy bees’ if they think that they would eat the food in summer, ‘brrr’ if they think that they would eat it in winter and ‘all year round’ if they think that the food is eaten throughout the year.
   
   Show Slides 1-11.
   
   
6. Explain that nowadays, we can eat lots of types of food all year round. We can even eat strawberries at Christmas!
   
   This is partly because we buy many fruits and vegetables from abroad, from countries where the weather is warmer, fruits such as oranges and grapes. We call this importing, and the food is brought to the UK on planes or boats.
   
   We can also enjoy tinned fruit and frozen vegetables throughout the year. However, buying seasonal vegetables from local farms is a very healthy choice.
   
   
7. During winter, we enjoy food that warms us up, like stews, soups and casseroles. These are full of the things that our bodies need to provide extra energy during winter.
   
   
8. Ask the children to imagine that they’ve been out playing in wintertime, and they’ve come indoors cold and hungry.
   
   Ask them what their choice of food would be. Would they choose a hot soup or a cold salad?
   
   
9. Explain that soup is an ideal way to help the whole family boost their health in winter. Vegetables contain vitamins and fibre, which help us to fight off colds and flu. Home-made soup is easy to make, and it can be less expensive than other foods. If we add some rice, lentils or beans, we have a bowl of soup that fills us up and can leave us feeling full for longer.
   
   
10. Show Slide 12.
    
    Point out that all sorts of vegetables can be used to make a healthy vegetable soup, including pumpkins.
    
    Show Slide 13.
    
    Pumpkins are rich in vitamins and minerals, and contain nutrients that boost our immune systems and even protect our eyesight.

Time for reflection

Ask the children to imagine home-made soup being prepared for their tea. They could think about:

- the bright colours of all the chopped winter vegetables that go into soup
- the smell when they arrive home
- how a warm bowl of soup and a crusty roll make them feel

Show Slide 14.

Prayer
Dear God,
We thank you for the variety of vegetables available for us.
Thank you for the different seasons and the variety that each season brings.
Thank you for the different smells, colours and tastes.
Thank you that together, they help to make our bodies healthy and strong.
Amen.