Lucy and the Sweet Potato
Read along as Lucy the otter meets an unfamiliar food and finds the courage to try one curious bite.
Read along
Lucy finds a sweet potato at mealtime and is not sure she wants to taste it. Its color, smell, and texture are different from the foods she already knows. Instead of forcing herself to love it, Lucy gets curious. She looks closely, learns how the sweet potato grew underground, and helps prepare it with a grown-up. Lucy takes one small bite. The taste is new, and she gives herself time to decide what she thinks. She learns that trying a food does not mean she must finish it or like it immediately. Being brave can be as simple as exploring something unfamiliar with her senses and keeping an open mind.
Inside the story
Scene by scene
Pause, look closer, and discover the science behind each part of the adventure.
Scene 0101
Something new on the plate
“Lucy studies the bright orange sweet potato and wonders what it might taste like.”
New foods can feel uncertain because their smell, color, or texture is unfamiliar. Looking and smelling are useful first steps before tasting.
Scene 0202
A root from underground
“Lucy learns that a sweet potato grows underground and helps prepare it safely with a grown-up.”
A sweet potato is a storage root. It contains carbohydrates for energy, fiber, and beta-carotene, which the body can turn into vitamin A.
Scene 0303
One curious bite
“Lucy tries a small bite and feels proud that she explored a new food at her own pace.”
Children sometimes need many calm exposures before enjoying a food. Pressure-free tasting helps build familiarity and confidence.
Keep wondering