Tuna Fish Boats

[20 Minutes]

Tuna is a member of the mackerel family and is the most popular fish used in canning. Albacore, blue fin, bonito, and yellow fin tuna are the best known varieties. Albacore is a white, high-fat tuna, weighing 10-60 pounds. It is the most expensive tuna. Yellow fin tuna can weigh up to 300 pounds; it is a light tuna with a stronger flavor. The blue fin tuna can weigh up to 1000 pounds! Most canned tuna is albacore and is sold as solid, chunk, or flaked. Use canned tuna to create this tasty and healthy lunch.

You'll need:

• bowls • green pepper • tuna • mayonnaise • slice of cheese • pretzel stick or carrot stick • plastic knife • ice cubes • spoon • cutting board

What to do:

1. If possible, print out these directions. Read them through with your child before you begin.
2. With your child, gather everything you'll need.
3. Help your child to wash all vegetables under cool running water.
4. Help your child make tuna salad by mixing the tuna with the mayonnaise.
5. On a cutting board, let your child use a plastic knife to cut the green pepper in half.
6. Remove the seeds and fill 1/2 the pepper with tuna salad.
7. Let your child cut the cheese slice in half to make triangles.
8. Let her place a pretzel or carrot stick in the tuna salad and lean the cheese 'sail' against it.
9. Set the tuna boat into the "sea" - a bowl of ice cubes.
10. Make other boats by using scooped out tomatoes, zucchinis, or red pepper halves.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• Why do we wash the vegetables?
• Should we use tomatoes or green pepper for the tuna boat?
• Which type of cheese should we use for the sail?