Sometimes a little hands-on education goes a very long way when it comes to instilling sustainable and healthy eating habits in children. Take, for example, the Mobile Food Lab (MFL), a 300-square-foot bus that has been customized with a built-in greenhouse, classroom science lab, and art exhibit space.
The movable classroom is meant to educate young students in the New Jersey area on everything from better eating habits to how to cook and garden. Inside the Mobile Food Lab, students will find a hydroponic garden that grows sustainable veggies, fruit, and herbs, as well as space to conduct food experiments. To make space for the educational activities, which welcome up to 30 students at a time, the converted bus is divided into three zones: a “social zone”, meant to facilitate conversation and brainstorming; a cooking area, including a stovetop, sink, and cutting service; and finally a science area, complete with digital microscopes, test tubes of herbs and spices, and a “taste” chart to learn the science of taste.
According to the designers, the MFL’s primary mission is to “help children develop a healthy connection to food by harnessing their innate curiosity through a multi-sensory experience of smell, sight, touch, and taste”.
