Pizza: Any Way You Slice It!

February 16, 2010 "This exhibit takes a familiar family experience-having pizza for dinner-and turns it into a sophisticated learning environment," said Sheridan Turner, President and CEO of Kohl Children's Museum. "This is something that blends in very well with the rest of the Museum environment, creating fun, inviting places for children to learn through play."

Pizza: Any Way You Slice It! was created by Omaha Children's Museum and will continue at the children's museum in Glenview through Sunday, May 24.

"We're glad to bring back the exhibit to Kohl Children's Museum and play a role in kids getting excited about math and math concepts at this exhibit," said Tom Simons, Omaha Children's Museum director of education. "By utilizing a familiar and favorite food, Pizza: Any Way You Slice It! immediately relates to kids."

Highlights of Pizza: Any Way You Slice It!

Pizza Parlor - Kids can get behind the counter, put on an apron and take pizza orders. When kids answer the phone, they will be greeted with a number of entertaining recorded pizza orders.

Pizza Kitchen - A wide variety of toppings are available to make pretend pizzas. Measuring cups and recipes are available for kids to make their perfect play pizza.

Delivery Spots - Children can make deliveries to family and friends at three locations, complete with kid-sized doors that open.

Giant Pizza Couch - Visitors get into this massive pizza where they can pile up super-sized toppings to make their own larger-than-life pizza.

Pizza Fact Fun - Guests will learn fun pizza facts, including information on popular pizza toppings around the world.

Slice-It-Up Table - Kids can work on division with pizzas that can be 'cut' into different fractional sections. They will learn how fractions change by taking slices away or putting them together to make a whole.

Pizza Book Stop – Guests will learn about pizza through a number of books on the subject.

Fun Pizza Facts from the Pizza: Any Way You Slice It!

Americans eat 350 slices of pizza each second.
Three billion pizzas are made each year in the USA.
36 percent of those pizzas have pepperoni topping.
In Finland, the most popular pizza toppings are salmon, sardines, and mackerel.

Fun facts about Pizza: Any Way You Slice It!

The pizza couch features over-size toppings of onion, cheese, tomato, and pepperoni.
The pizza oven emits an aroma of baking pizza.
Children can make pretend pizzas with felt crust and sauce layers, and plastic cheese, tomato, and mushroom pieces.
This is the first traveling exhibit that Kohl Children's Museum has ever rented for a second appearance.

Kohl Children's Museum is located at 2100 Patriot Blvd. in Glenview at the corner of Patriot Blvd. and West Lake Ave. in the newly redeveloped area known as The Glen. The Museum can be easily reached by public transportation, including Pace bus and Metra trains. For hours and admission information, visit www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org or call (847) 832-6600.

Pizza: Any Way you Slice It!
Kohl Children's Museum
2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview
(847) 832-6600
www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org

Kid Friendly English Muffin Pizza

Healthy English Muffin Pizza Recipe Ideas

An English muffin pizza can be a good way to get some extra fiber, calcium (from the cheese), and veggies, into your child's diet.

use whole grain English muffins

use several vegetable (mushrooms, peppers, onions) and fruit (like a pineapple English muffin pizza) toppings use part-skim mozzarella cheese to decrease the amount of fat in this recipe Parent-Friendly English Muffin Pizza Recipe Ideas

In addition to making the above 'kid friendly' English muffin pizzas, you can make another version that is more 'adult friendly' and better tasting.

use fresh mozzarella, instead of processed cheese

use home made tomato sauce or fresh sliced tomatoes

add fresh basil leaves

Alternative Recipe Ideas

Although some kids seem stuck in food fads and like to eat the same things day after day, others need more variety in their diet. The following ingredient changes can help keep your child interested in wanting to eat an English muffin pizza:

use a sliced bagel instead of an English muffin

use a different cheese, or even more than one cheese at a time, instead of the more traditional mozzarella cheese

It can also be fun to let kids choose their own toppings and put the English muffin pizza together by themselves. As an added bonus, consider letting them bake it themselves too in an Easy-Bake Oven.