I have always enjoyed teaching students how to make convenience foods from scratch and showing them the benefits of doing so. When I saw an article about DIY UnCrustables, I knew it was a mini-lesson and lab in the making!  Thus “Making vs Buying UnCrustables” was created! Read on to learn more…

Set

• Show students the image of SMUCKERS UNCRUSTABLES and poll students to see how many of them have eaten them as a child, still do eat them or have never tried them.  Ask students what they like and dislike about them?  Ask them to think about this from the perspective of a parent. What might they like or dislike about them?
• Hopefully, your students make the connection between the convenience of the food as a like vs the cost of the food as a dislike.
• If your students have made the connection, great!  If not, tell them that this will be the focus of the lesson.
• If you’d like a little background on this product, check out this YouTube video titled, “How a “Sandwich Dumpling” Made Smucker’s a Snack Food Giant“.

Materials

• iPads or Laptops
• Projector & Screen
• Calculators (optional)
• UnCrustables by Smuckers: Grape or Strawberry (affiliate links)
• Sandwich Cutters & Sealers (affiliate link)
• Ingredients for Homemade UnCrustables

Activities

• NOTE: If you have any student(s) with peanut allergies, use your discretion with this lesson as UnCrustables contain peanut butter.  At one time, UnCrustables came in savory flavors which could be substituted for the originals if they are available in your area.
• Begin by having students do a Cost Analysis between the actual product and the ingredients used to make them from scratch. The average prices for the specific amounts needed for each sandwich can be found below, under the attachments. Note: prices may vary depending on where you live and shop.
• Next, have students do a Nutritional Comparison between the two products using the nutrition facts labels for all products and individual ingredients.
• Once all comparisons are completed, it’s time to head to the kitchen and make some UnCrustables from scratch and then compare them to the original UnCrustables. Students will then evaluate each and make comparisons before tasting.
• After the lab, discuss the results and do a class poll on the preferred version. This would also be a great time to discuss what could be done with all of the leftover crusts which can be easily frozen until needed. (Hint, hint: the leftover crusts are perfect for the DIY homemade bread crumbs and croutons lab).

Attachments

• Smuckers UnCrustables Image
• Average Ingredient Prices (PDF)
• Cost Analysis (PDF)
• Nutritional Analysis (PDF)
• Lab Activity (PDF)