Star Report
Children of all ages will cook up an assortment of healthy snacks, both imaginary and real, this Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum’s launch event for its farm-to-table exhibit, the Moxie Café, and the third year of Kohl’s free Nutrition Expedition.
This free, family-friendly event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. at the museum, is designed to teach families about good nutrition in a fun and engaging way. It will feature a bilingual cooking lesson by Dignity Health educators, a kids’ farmers market with free produce from the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, and samples from Moxie Café while supplies last.
A major gift from Jay and Anne Hardy of Hardy Diagnostics and Dan Blough Construction, the Moxie Café exhibit is a child-size version of the real café located at 1317 McCoy Lane in Santa Maria.
“At the Moxie, we are all about healthy eating and maintain the belief that nutritious food can actually taste good,” Jay Hardy said. “When we were asked to be involved with the Discovery Museum, we jumped at the chance, since this would be our opportunity to expand our influence for healthy eating far beyond just McCoy Lane.”
Little ones who play in the exhibit get to make and sell meals to customers and learn about good nutrition through sensory-driven displays, including “Smell a Rainbow” and “Eat a Rainbow.”
“When it comes to good eating habits, you can’t start at too young of an age. We are very thankful for the good folks at the museum who supported us in this vision,” Hardy said. “There is so much to be done to help the kids in our community. The museum is becoming more and more effective at being a positive influence in the lives of the little ones that we care so much about.”
Sponsored by Dignity Health Marian Regional Medical Center and Kohl’s Cares, Nutrition Expedition is a free, bilingual program offered the second Sunday of every month from 2 to 4 p.m. through June 2017. Families who attend the program make easy, healthy snacks together and get a free cook book to take home with them.
The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum is located at 705 S. McClelland St. in Santa Maria. We are open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit us on Facebook to get up-to-date information on special events like this one, weekly programs, exhibits and daily tips on fun things to do with your kids!
For more information, call (805) 928-8414 or visit www.smvdiscoverymuseum.org.
