Hey there! Today, Squeaks and I are cooking a yummy vegetable pie for dinner. Cooking is a lot like science because we mix different ingredients, measure them carefully, and try out new recipes to see what happens. It’s super fun!
One of the ingredients we’re using is salt. Did you know that salt is actually a type of crystal? Crystals are hard and have special patterns. Salt is important for our health, but we shouldn’t eat too much of it.
You can find salt in the ocean or by crushing big salt crystals into tiny pieces. These tiny pieces are what we usually eat because they’re easier on our teeth.
When you eat salt, it dissolves in your mouth thanks to your saliva, which is mostly water. This means the salt melts away, and you can’t see it anymore. You can try this by licking a salty cracker. The salt disappears, leaving just the cracker!
Salt isn’t just tasty; it’s also full of nutrients. It’s made of two parts: sodium and chloride. Our bodies need both to stay healthy. Sodium helps us get energy from food and keeps our heart pumping. Chloride helps our muscles move and our brain send messages.
That’s why salt is so important for people all over the world. But remember, eating too much salt can make you feel thirsty and isn’t good for your heart. So, it’s best to enjoy it in small amounts.
Even though salt is tiny, it has a big job in making our food delicious. Just a little bit can make our vegetable pie taste even better!
Thanks for cooking with us today! If you want to keep learning and having fun with Squeaks and me, be sure to subscribe to our channel. See you next time at the Fort!
Salt Crystal Exploration: Let’s make our own salt crystals! Ask an adult to help you dissolve a few tablespoons of salt in a cup of warm water. Pour the salty water into a shallow dish and place it in a sunny spot. Check on it every day and see how the water evaporates, leaving behind salt crystals. Can you see the special patterns in the crystals? Draw what you observe in a notebook.
Taste Test Experiment: With the help of an adult, prepare two small bowls of popcorn. Sprinkle a little salt on one bowl and leave the other plain. Taste each one and talk about how the salt changes the flavor. Which one do you like better? Why do you think salt makes food taste different?
Salt in Everyday Life: Go on a “Salt Hunt” around your home. Look at the labels on different foods and see if you can find salt listed as an ingredient. Make a list of the foods that contain salt. Discuss with an adult why salt might be added to these foods and how it helps make them tasty or helps preserve them.
