Lessons From A Ghost Pepper

If you present ghost peppers to a group of male teenagers- even while educating them on the concept of capsaicin content- someone is bound to eat a ghost pepper. In this case, more than one student dared to consume these fiery veggies.

In short, lots of lessons were learned during the Brains, Grains, and Tissues workshop with the detention center today. Some of which will surely never be forgotten.

One lesson plan objective in particular was definitely accomplished:

"Taking healthy risks: Stepping outside of our comfort food zone to try new taste combinations."

Even after the tongue-twisting, eye-watering taste was washed out of their mouths, the boys couldn't get enough of the ghost pepper lesson. After feeling the burn and filling their bellies with their own homemade salsa and guacamole, they took turns popcorn-ing our Pepper Food Facts Handout.

Student: Why doesn't my salsa look like real salsa?

Teacher: What do you mean by real salsa? The stuff you buy from the store in a jar?

Student: Yeah.

Teacher: That's not real salsa. That's processed food with a bunch of chemicals and preservatives. YOUR salsa is REAL salsa. It's made with fresh vegetables from a farmer's market.

Student: Oh. So this is what salsa is really supposed to look like?

Teacher: Yup. And it can taste any way you want it to taste because you get to decide what goes into it.

Student: Cool. I'm gonna put more ghost pepper in it!

One of the boys was so impacted by his intense experience with the ghost pepper that he wanted to take the entire lesson plan with him! Of course, we let him. He left the workshop wearing a huge smile like a badge of courageous honor.

For their part, the girls have never been so engaged. They tried multiple salsa recipes and created some of the most amazing flavors imaginable! They were so invested that they even began asking questions about our yoga program. Until now, they've had no interest in attending our optional Girls' Yoga. Not after today! They're pumped up and planning to come to AHHAH's next class.

We had so many different foods to sample or to mix and match. Aside from ghost pepper, there were serrano peppers, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, long hot peppers, red onion, white onion, garlic, avocado, tomato, corn on the cob, mango, pineapple, lemon, lime, cilantro, apple cider vinegar, mango rice vinegar, sriracha hot sauce, coconut oil, hickory smoked salt, table salt, pineapple juice, mango juice, banana juice, strawberry banana juice, tortilla chips, multi-grain chips, pickles and olives. They were also served a homemade cucumber salad with dill, cabbage, carrot, and broccoli. In honor of the July 4th holiday, we celebrated by enjoying a Red, White, and Blue dessert featuring strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream.

It was truly a Choose Your Own Culinary Adventure. Kids were trying everything... with no fear! I'd venture to guess that a few have changed their mind about certain foods that they've previously perceived as healthy and uninteresting.

And, after testing the limits of their taste buds, others now know better than to face off with the hottest pepper on the face of the earth.