Cooking Up Good Speech....

with "SpeechSnacks" that Inspire Children to Speak Well and Eat Well!

  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the SLP
    • What are Speech Snacks?
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • TPT Store
    • Speech Snacks on Amazon
  • Free Resources
  • Guest Posts
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • The Kidz Kitchen

SpeechSnacks Blogiversary Celebration Guest Post and GIVEAWAY: DAY 6 {“Using Food to Learn About Five Senses” from Communication Station Speech Therapy}

gp6

Today is the final day of my blogiversary  celebration!   Thank you for following all the posts and participating in the giveaways! I  hope you have enjoyed all the amazing food-themed therapy ideas from my SLP blogger friends.  14 SLP’s took part in this week’s “food-for-all!!”  Not only are SLP’s a very bright and creative group of professionals, they are also very, very generous.  So before Maria, from Communication Station talks about using food to learn about your five senses, I just want to recognize and give one more shout out to the following SLP’s for partying with me this week—and don’t forget the GIVEAWAYS are all open and running until midnight on September 8th!!!  (see bottom of this post)

GUEST POSTS:      

  • Home Sweet Speech Room
  • Smart Speech Therapy
  • Twin Sister’s Speech and Language
  • Speech Language Pirates
  • Speech 2U
  • Communication Station Speech Therapy

GIVEAWAYS:

  • Carrie’s Speech Corner
  • Megan Moyer
  • Speech Time Fun
  • Busy Bee Speech
  • Teach Speech 365
  • Rock Chalk Speech Talk
  • Figuratively Speeching
  • Just Wright Speech

 

 

Who doesn’t love using food in speech therapy?  I know this girl does!!!


Note:  Please be sure to check for allergies before using any foods in therapy!!!!

Each year in the fall my little PK clients go back to school and the first month of school is all about learning about themselves, their bodies, their senses, and their families.  I like to use food the week they are learning about their 5 senses so I can introduce concepts they may not have heard of before. 

In therapy, we talk about what foods look like, how it feels in our hands and mouths, what the food sounds like when we are eating it, and of course the best part, what each food tastes like.  This is where I focus most of the therapy session(s).  I like to focus on introducing a variety of taste attributes such as:  sweet, sour/tart, juicy, salty, crunchy, mushy, soft, and any other attributes you can think of.  These are great vocabulary words that can be introduced at a young age but also can be used for our language delayed kiddos in early elementary school as well.

I like to begin with a little taste testing game!  Blind folds are a MUST for this as I want my kiddos to “taste” that attribute (not “see” it).  I use this activity for small groups (3-5 kiddos at a time) all sitting around a table blind folded with a small paper plate in front of them.  However this can be done as a whole class lesson or a classroom station activity as well.


I take turns presenting them with the SAME food on each trial (initially).  Keep in mind your younger kiddos will just want to guess what it is they are eating.  That’s fine, I answer their curiosity by labeling the object after they tasted it and move on the concept I want them to learn.  “Yes, that is a pretzel.  How does a pretzel taste?  Sweet or salty?  Crunchy or soft?”

The process:  1.) place blindfold, 2.) place food on plate, 3.) tell all students to take a taste, 4.) let students shout out what they are “tasting”(with blindfolds still in place), 5.) have students remove their blindfolds (I just have them pull up to forehead but keep on head…saves time) to see the food and talk about the attributes you want them to learn, 6.) replace blindfolds and start again with next food item.

Ok so what are my go to foods that I use?  Well I try to keep it fairly healthy with a little fun at the end.  I separate foods into three main categories but as you read through you can see how multiple taste attributes can be added to each food item. 

Salty/Crunchy/Crispy: 
For my salty and/or crunchy/crispy concepts like to use foods such as mini/stick pretzels, baby carrots (or carrots cut up like chips…that’s a GREAT way to trick their little minds into thinking they are eating chips and it’s amazing when my kiddos say, “I don’t like carrots but I like these!”), and goldfish.  Animal crackers are great for a crunchy but sweet taste! 

Sweet:
For my sweet taste I will use various types of raw fruits (apple slices, bananas, pears in fruit cups, etc.) and dried fruits (trail mix is great for some crispy dried fruit…just be careful with the nuts and allergies).  I can add concepts such as crunchy/crispy, mushy, and even juicy for these various fruits.

Sour/Tart:
For my sour/tart taste I like to use dill pickles (hamburger slices are the perfect size), pineapples, cranberry raisins, and yogurt (I was surprised when I first started to do this to find there are some younger kiddos that find different yogurt tastes to be less sweet and more tart…so I find that interesting and our taste buds are all different and there are no right/wrong answers here!).  Soft/mushy concept is great with bananas a previously stated as well as cheese sticks (NOT directly from the fridge) or a dollop of cream cheese.

 A few fun items: 
Fruit snacks are fun b/c you can buy sweet ones AND tart ones (the tropical ones are more tart) so that is a fun way to compare the tastes of a same textured food.  Also I like to add just a few fun candies at the end if I can…one skittle, a sweet tart, maybe a sour patch candy, and of course a Hershey kiss and the fun is complete!!!!

Remember, you can always revisit these taste attributes during various holidays as candy canes, and jelly beans are all made in different flavors. 
Graph it/Chart it:
The last piece of this activity is to add some pre or early math concepts of charting/graphing to the mix.  I will use butcher paper to create a huge graph and will graph out the number of students who label each food with various taste attributes.  Once our graph is complete we count them and visibly teach concepts such as “more than/less than/fewer/equal to/ greater than”, etc.


The above picture is a mock up of what my foods poster/graph looks like.  When I worked in the schools, I happened to do this activity before back to school night, so a poster like this was hanging on the wall, in the hallway in front of my speech room.  I had several parents come up to me and tell me how “neat” they thought that idea was to teach their children how foods taste.  It made me feel good and it was a nice way to visually show parents one way speech and language therapy can be very practical and functional.
Anyway, that is one of my very favorite ways to use food to introduce a number of vocabulary taste concepts while incorporating some math fun!
Happy Talking and Eating!!!

 Maria Del Duca, M.S. CCC-SLP, is a pediatric speech-language pathologist in southern, Arizona.  She owns a private practice, Communication Station: Speech Therapy, PLLC, and has a speech and language blog under the same name.  Maria received her master’s degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.  She has been practicing as an ASHA certified member since 2003 and is an affiliate of Special Interest Group 16, School-Based Issues.  She has experience in various settings such as private practice, hospital and school environments and has practiced speech pathology in NJ, MD, KS and now AZ.  Maria has a passion for early childhood, autism spectrum disorders, rare syndromes, and childhood Apraxia of speech.  For more information, visit her blog or find her on Facebook.

Click on each apple to go to the post and enter the giveaway:

gp1
gp2
gp3
gp4
signature

Leave a Comment

« SpeechSnacks Blogiversary Celebration Guest Post and GIVEAWAY: DAY 5 {Healthy Options for Feeding Therapy from Speech2U}
LEGO® Blocks {Linky Party}: Ways to Use LEGOS® to build language skills with your “big kids!” »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Categories

Archives

Best Blog Award

Kidmunicate Top Blog/Website Badge
Kidmunicate
Kidmunicate

Latest on Instagram

👋 Just stopping in to welcome some new follower 👋 Just stopping in to welcome some new followers and share a little bit about  my other account...The Kidz Kitchen @thekidzkitchenofnj , with you. 

The Kidz Kitchen is a unique, hands-on cooking program where kids come together to cook, create, communicate, and collaborate in every class. 🍎👩‍🍳✨

The Kidz Kitchen is more than just a place to learn how to make delicious recipes — it’s the heart and soul of my journey as both a speech-language pathologist and a passionate home cook and baker. 💬🥣 

For years, I created themed snack activities during my speech and language sessions to make learning fun and engaging. What began on my blog, Cooking Up Good Speech and Language (www.speechsnacks.com), has grown into a dynamic, in-person experience where those same ideas have come to life!

Each Kidz Kitchen class blends language development with culinary creativity. We focus on building essential communication skills — like following directions, using rich vocabulary, staying organized, and working as a team — all while making fun and tasty dishes together. It's learning that sticks… and tastes good too! 🌟
📢 We are loving how this SLP is using our Natio 📢 We are loving how this SLP is using our National Speech-Language-Hearing Month product! 💬🧠👂

Check out this creative display outside her speech room where students can cast their vote on whether statements are facts or opinions using our Fact/Opinion cards. 🎉 What an engaging and interactive way to boost awareness of speech, language, and hearing while also teaching a valuable critical thinking skill!

Looking for a fun and meaningful way to celebrate this month in your school? Head over to my TpT store to grab this resource—it’s packed with activities to promote National Speech-Language-Hearing Month in a way your students will love! 💙

Drop a 👍 and I'll share the link,  find it in the profile link.  or head to my TpT store: SpeechSnacks.

 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/National-Speech-Language-Hearing-Month-Activity-Packet-1230808
If you follow my other account @thekidzkitchenofnj If you follow my other account @thekidzkitchenofnj, then you know I'm not just an SLP, I'm also "Chef Rose," owner of The Kidz Kitchen--Where Cooking and Communication Go Hand in Hand. My cooking classes for kids teach a blend of culinary skills and communication concepts.

Have you seen the viral AI-generated action figures #aidoll taking over your feed?? — Meet Chef Rose—Collector’s Edition! 👩‍🍳✨ 

We’re jumping on the bandwagon and having some fun by creating our very own AI doll--- complete with our logo apron and some fun cooking accessories!

The real Chef Rose will be in action in @thekidzkitchenofnj this weekend with her amazing Junior Chefs, whipping up a delicious springtime treat featuring flaky puff pastry, fluffy whipped cream, and fresh sliced berries. 🍓🥐🍦
Flashback to Day One in The Kidz Kitchen! It’s Flashback to Day One in The Kidz Kitchen!

It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, we opened our doors for the very first time, welcoming young chefs into our kitchen. In just two weeks, we’ll kick off YEAR TWO with our Spring session, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Swipe through these photos from our very first day—featuring Chef Rose (owner),
our amazing assistant chefs Marie and Allie, and our very first morning and afternoon classes of junior chefs! We’ve come so far since that day, learning, growing, and teaching countless kids the joy of cooking.

We’ve learned SO MUCH, grown as a team, and taught so many amazing kids the joy of cooking. From mastering kitchen skills to building confidence and friendships, this journey has been incredible.

We can’t wait to welcome back our returning junior chefs and meet a whole new group of future foodies. The countdown to March 15th is ON—let’s get ready to cook, create, communicate and collaborate!
Feeling incredibly honored to have written a piece Feeling incredibly honored to have written a piece for The ASHA Leader, the national magazine published by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association about my business, @thekidzkitchenofnj

As a speech pathologist with years of experience, bringing my passion for cooking and communication together through The Kidz Kitchen has been a dream come true. 🌟

I’m so proud to share my story in this publication and hope it inspires others to follow their dreams too.
👩‍🍳👨‍🍳👩‍🍳👨‍🍳👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

You can view the full article in the bio link.

#thekidzkitchenofnj #ashaigers  #KidsInTheKitchen #CookingAndCommunication #cookingskills #cookingwithkids #CommunicationSkills #CulinaryAdventure #kidscookingschool #childrensculinaryinstitute #kidscookingactivities #kidscancook#slpeeps #slpsoninstagram #slpsofinstagram #slps #slpsontpt  #executivefunctioning  #schoolslp #cookingwithkids #slpsontpt #speechlanguagepathologists #languagechefs #cookingupgoodspeech #cookingintheclassroom #slpbloggers #lifeskillsforkids #instaspeech #instaslps
✨DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN?✨ (A marshmall ✨DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN?✨ (A marshmallow one, of course!) ☃️❄️

Skip the store-bought hot chocolate and make the winter season extra special! Teach your students how to whip up super simple, homemade hot chocolate while exploring tons of language concepts along the way in my LANGUAGE-RICH RECIPE RESOURCE: LANGUAGE CHEF!👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

This activity is perfect for warming up your sessions after the holiday break and is a ⭐️FREE⭐️ resource in my TeachersPayTeachers store!

☕️ Fun. Engaging. Educational.
Want to check it out? ❄️ Link in my bio or drop a ☃️ below, and I’ll send you the link!

#HomemadeHotChocolate #slpeeps #slpsoninstagram #slpsofinstagram #slps #slpsontpt #executivefunctioning #schoolslp #ashaigers #middleschoolslp #cookingwithkids #speechlanguagepathology #teacherspayteachers #languagechefs #cookingupgoodspeech #cookingintheclassroom #slpbloggers #homemadetreats #kidapproved #nobaketreats #nobakedesserts #kidsnacks #speechsnacks #executivefunctioningskills #instaspeech #schoolslp #slpsoninstagram #slpsofinstagram #speechsnacks #cookingupgoodspeech #snowmansoup #speechlanguagepathology #sped #cookinginspeech
DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWFLAKE⁉️❄️❄️ DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWFLAKE⁉️❄️❄️❄️
.
We created a winter wonderland in tne speech room while working on DIRECTION FOLLOWING, SEQUENCING, AND VOCABULARY, (symmetrical, unique, secure, seasonal) , /s/ and /s/ blends.
.
This craft is called an ARIZONA SNOWFLAKE. Can you figure out why??? I asked my students to tell my why they think this is the name. Some struggled, so I gave them clues to help them reason through and connect the dots. 
.
For this project you will need 8 paper lunch bags. Secure them together with a bead of glue down the middle of each bag ( I chose to do this part by hot gluing them but a good glue stick will als do the job.) The students needed to make sure the bags were neatly layered directly on top of each other and all facing the same direction). Next they drew a pattern on one half of the bag and made a symmetrical design on the opposite side. They used scissors to cut through the layers of bags ( with assistance if needed). They opened and spread out the bags from each end.... and like magic.... our SNOWFLAKE came to life!! 
.
This low cost, low prep activity has been a hit with my older students. Have fun making snowflakes in speech this holiday season!!
.
.
#speechlanguagepathology #slpsoninstagram #slps #speechtherapy #schoolslp #ashaigers #slpsontpt #slpbloggers #instaslps #instaspeech #slpsoninstagram #slpsofinstagram #middleschoolslp #seasonalcrafts #snowflakecraft #craftsinspeech
🚨 HOLIDAY ALERT! 🚨 Are you "hungry" for fres 🚨 HOLIDAY ALERT! 🚨 Are you "hungry" for fresh ideas to add fun, functional communication to your therapy sessions or classroom?

🌟 LANGUAGE CHEF has you covered with simple, multisensory, language-rich recipes that will keep your students motivated and engaged this holiday season!

🎅 Here's what's on the menu:
✅ Rudolph Apple Slices
✅ Grinch Hearts
✅ Snowman Bagels
✅ Reindeer Sandwiches
✅ Snowy Popcorn
✅ Grinch Fruit Kabobs
✅ Veggie Bagel Ornaments
✅ Snowman Hot Chocolate
✅ Holiday Cookie Bites … and MORE!

Drop a 🎄 for the link to these recipes and all the language extension activities in the WINTER EDITION of LANGUAGE CHEF!

Let’s start cooking up good speech and language together this holiday season!

#slpeats #speechsnacks #instabaker #cookingwithkids #cookingupgoodspeech #bakersofinstagram #fallbaking #instaspeech #instaslps #slpsoninstagram #cookingwithkids #schoolslp #ashaigers #fallcookies #sped #lifeskillsforkids
WHAT A DILLEMA‼️I try to guestimate correctly, WHAT A DILLEMA‼️I try to guestimate correctly, but every year I seem to buy more candy than I need! So now what do I do with it all? 😕

A. Bring it to work for my students and coworkers?
B. Throw it out?
C. Bake up some 
CANDY BUCKET COOKIES❓️‼️🍫🪣🍪

If you guessed C, you are correct! Although A and B would probably be better for my health, the creative, sugar-addict side of me is winning this battle.

This recipe is a great way to support DIRECTION FOLLOWING, SEQUENCING SKILLS, EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING and SO MUCH LANGUAGE! 
.
Here's the recipe:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups leftover Halloween candy (chopped)
Beat butter and sugar until smooth....beat in vanilla and eggs...add flour, baking soda and salt...slowly stir in candy pieces...plane 2 tablespoon scoops of dough onto cookie sheet spaced 1 inch apart...press extra candy pieces on top of each scoop....bakes at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes until browned around edges....let cool 5 minutes....enjoy!!!!!🍪👨‍🍳🍪👩‍🍳
.
#slpeats #speechsnacks #instabaker #cookingwithkids #cookingupgoodspeech #bakersofinstagram #fallbaking #instaspeech #instaslps #slpsoninstagram #cookingwithkids #schoolslp #ashaigers #fallcookies #sped #lifeskillsforkids

Latest on Pinterest

  • Save
  • Save
  • Learn a variety of spring-themed vocabulary while playing a mathematical game!  Sentence examples and graphic organizer included.
  • Your students will love these fun April Fool's practical joke scenarios! Predict what might happen next and and identify feelings with this fun product.
  • This fun language game contains a collection of "green things" that can be used in several different ways: for RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE: Give your student THREE clues or THREE adjectives describing an object and ask them to guess the object. (played similar
  • FREE!  I've created a craftivity (or cork-tivity!) for St. Patty's Day that can be used as a speech and language reinforcer--something for all ages/ability levels.
  • You've heard of Trip Advisor® , a tool that helps you plan your next vacation. Now you can work on language skills while taking a vacation to the Emerald Isle!  Great for middle/high school students!
  • Help your older students identify and define figurative language concepts with this fun St. Patty's Day activity
  • A snack fit for an Olympian! Easy to make with your speech students. Great for direction following and sequencing (plus a few comprehension questions included!)

Latest on Facebook

Cooking Up Good Speech

6 days ago

Cooking Up Good Speech
How cool is this?! An AI-generated podcast was created all about my business, The Kidz Kitchen of NJ, citing the article I recently authored in The ASHA Leader, and sharing how it all began with my blog, www.speechsnacks.com, and my digital language-based recipe resource, Language Chef. Give it a listen if you’re curious! notebooklm.google.com/notebook/3a2308fd-f423-4551-968a-e774106d95f3/audio ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Cooking Up Good Speech

6 days ago

Cooking Up Good Speech
📢 We are loving how this SLP is using our National Speech-Language-Hearing Month product! 💬🧠👂Check out this creative display outside her speech room where students can cast their vote on whether statements are facts or opinions using our Fact/Opinion cards. 🎉 What an engaging and interactive way to boost awareness of speech, language, and hearing while also teaching a valuable critical thinking skill!Looking for a fun and meaningful way to celebrate this month in your school? Head over to my TpT store to grab this resource—it’s packed with activities to promote National Speech-Language-Hearing Month in a way your students will love! 💙https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/National-Speech-Language-Hearing-Month-Activity-Packet-1230808 ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Cooking Up Good Speech

4 months ago

Cooking Up Good Speech

Cooking Up Communication in a Kitchen Classroom

leader.pubs.asha.org

An SLP uses culinary instruction to build children’s vocabulary, problem-solving, and language skills—while they connect socially.
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Cooking Up Good Speech "" updated their status.

4 months ago

Cooking Up Good Speech

This content isn't available right now

When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Cooking Up Good Speech

8 months ago

Cooking Up Good Speech
Did you know September 19th is "Talk Like A Pirate Day?" A pirate theme is fun any time of year, especially when September is often too warm to think about pumpkin spice! It's a great theme for Halloween and the summer months as well!Pirate Snack Mix is a step-by-step visual recipe (using full-color photos) for addressing communication skills with all ages and ability levels from my recipe resource ©LANGUAGE CHEF. This activity includes the following:•lesson plan page•full-color step-by-step recipe VISUALS (using real photos)•written directionsFollow-up language extension activities:•Rate the Recipe feedback sheet•Recalling & Sequencing the recipe steps (visual activity)•Recipe Summary Organizer (written activity)•Pirate Mix Memory Game•Talk the Plank! Walk the Plank! Vocabulary game for younger students•Pirate Language Loot Vocabulary game for older studentswww.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/LANGUAGE-CHEF-PIRATE-EDITION-Language-Skills-Cooking-Visual-R... ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

 

Copyright © 2025 · Becca Paro Design Co., LLC
We use cookies to store information on your computer. Some of these cookies are essential to make our site work and others help us improve by giving us insight into how the site is being used. By using our site you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy.OkNoPrivacy policy