Mini Mobile Museum of Sweetneres
The mobile cart presents information about artificial and natural sweeteners by traveling the streets of San Diego. The world of sweeteners can be as complex as food itself. Food scientists have many reasons to create new sweeteners, from low calorie options for diabetics to increasing market share for food related industries.
Generally, sugars and sweeteners have little nutritional value but are often used to enhance the flavor of food or simply to fulfill someone's sweet tooth. The big questions are: What are these sweeteners doing to our bodies? Which ones are better than others? How do we decide what sweeteners we should eat?
The Mini Mobile Museum of Sweeteners traveled to events, galleries, schools and farmer's markets from 2012 - 2019. The cart included trading cards of 18 sweeteners, a tasting station, and in 2015 the book, Kalea & Her Sweet Tooth. We invited kids at workshops to invent their own soda pop. The soda making station started with a list of ingredients common in sodas (a big list). The kids pretended to be chemists mixing their drinks. These workshops were meant not only to allow curiosity and playfulness, but also to begin the process of kids looking at the ingredients in foods and recognizing all the sweeteners.
Generally, sugars and sweeteners have little nutritional value but are often used to enhance the flavor of food or simply to fulfill someone's sweet tooth. The big questions are: What are these sweeteners doing to our bodies? Which ones are better than others? How do we decide what sweeteners we should eat?
The Mini Mobile Museum of Sweeteners traveled to events, galleries, schools and farmer's markets from 2012 - 2019. The cart included trading cards of 18 sweeteners, a tasting station, and in 2015 the book, Kalea & Her Sweet Tooth. We invited kids at workshops to invent their own soda pop. The soda making station started with a list of ingredients common in sodas (a big list). The kids pretended to be chemists mixing their drinks. These workshops were meant not only to allow curiosity and playfulness, but also to begin the process of kids looking at the ingredients in foods and recognizing all the sweeteners.