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How to Give a Food Demonstration

Recommended to Arkansans by Easter H Tucker

Associate Professor – Family and Consumer Sciences Specialist

Originally developed by Barbara Brown, Ph.D., R.D./L.D.Food Specialist Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

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Keys to a Good Demonstration

• Know what you want to accomplish• Research • Demonstrate to reinforce the objective• Organize and practice

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Keys to a Good Demonstration

• Be sure everyone can see• Introduce the topic• Involve the audience• Review objective(s)• Make it your own

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Know Your Goal

• Educate–Awareness –Knowledge–Action

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Know Your Goal

• Promote–Programs–Products

• Combination

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Number of Points to Cover

• Time available• Audience–Age–Background

• Your own knowledge level–Research–Experience

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Research: The Topic

• Topic– Information accurate & current–Usable by audience–Not already known–Builds on past meetings–Narrowed to fit audience &

time

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Research: The Audience

• The more you know the better• Age, gender, skill & knowledge

level, economic status

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Research: Location

• Type of setting– Formal or

relaxed• How far away–May impact

food safety• Get directions• Audience–Hear and see

presenter

Food Food

DemoDemo

TodayToday

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Research: Help Available

• Presentation help–Will they

need training• Help to unload–Before–After

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Research: The Equipment

• What is available &/or usable on site–Water, refrigeration, electricity,

gas, table, oven, etc.–Audio Visual–Presentation Easels•Place to hang teaching materials

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Food Demonstration• Reinforce key

points–Choose

techniques & recipes to get point across(Ex: Don’t premeasure when teaching measuring is the goal)

• Keep it simple

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The Food

• Should smell great– Try to let

participants sample

• Should taste wonderful

• Be colorful & garnished

• Show finished product

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Be an Example

• Safe food handling behavior• Good nutrition choices• Good posture• Speak clearly & slowly• Use good grammar• Avoid nervous twitches & habits• How you eat

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How to Dress• Look professional• Comfortable, neat,

& clean• Finger nails clean &

natural• Quiet makeup• Little or no jewelry• Gloves (Disposable)• Aprons (pressed &

clean)

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Organize Training Materials

• Select recipes & techniques to demonstrate–Done ahead– In stages–All at once

• Make lists of items needed–Equipment and supplies–Notes and handouts–Food

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Organizing Food Items

• Buy food day before the training• Consider the food safety factors

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Often Forgotten

• Potholders• Timer• Spoons/knives• Cutting board• Serving

equipment• Extension cord

and adapters

• Appliance cords

• Sampling utensils/plates/ cups

• Tablecloth• Trays• Paper towels

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Equipment

• Know how to use it• Will audience have

access to same equipment at home–Suggest

substitutions

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Demonstration Tips

• Use correct equipment for each task• Use clear bowls & pans when

possible• Use trays –Notes on tray include:•Recipes•Talking points

• Cover table

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Demonstration Tips

• Scrape bowls & pans clean with rubber scrapper

• Remove any extra pieces of equipment & food

• Put dirty equipment on a tray

• Keep table clean and clear

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Demonstration Tips• Wooden spoons are quieter than

metal• A damp cloth under bowls holds

them steady & cuts noise• Tip bowls & pans for viewing–Hold bowls from bottom–Be careful not to spill

• Don’t talk while using noisy equipment

• Spill it? Don’t use it

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Demonstration Tips

• Tilt pan lids away from face

• Place lids upside down on table

• Have waste basket beneath demonstration table

• End with finished product

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Double Check, Triple Check

• During practice• Before you leave• Before the demonstration

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Practice

• Frees mind to do 2 things at once• Posture• Grammar • Vocabulary • Facial expressions

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How much practice?

• As often as you can:–With food &

equipment–Before a mirror–Get critiqued

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Everyone Needs to See

• Tilted bowls & pans• Small groups up close• Posters• Video camera connected to

monitor• Pictures on PowerPoint• Other ideas?

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The Demonstration:Involve the Audience

• Make eye contact

• Smile• Talk while

working• Ask questions• Answer

questions

• Use humor• Ask for help:–With timing–Following

recipes–Distributing

handouts

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Expect the Unexpected

• Be prepared • Be flexible• Enjoy the

experience• Learn from each

demonstration• Let your

personality show through

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Introduce Topic &Review Objectives

• Smile• Prepare an

introduction–Story or a

joke• Put audience at

ease• No more than

2-3 minutes

• Tell what you will teach

• Teach• Tell what you

taught

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Sample Demonstration

Canned Tomato Salsa

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Canned Tomato Salsa

• 15-ounce can diced tomatoes–drain &

reserve liquid• 1/2 onion,

finely chopped• 1 pepper, finely

chopped

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

• 1/2 teaspoon cumin

• Juice of 1/2 lime

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Review

• Know what you want to accomplish

• Research• Demonstrate

to reinforce the objective

• Organize• Practice

• Be sure all can see

• Introduce the topic

• Involve the audience

• Review the objectives

• Make it your own

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Any Questions??

Recommended to Arkansans by Easter H Tucker

Associate Professor – Family and Consumer Sciences Specialist

Originally developed by Barbara Brown, Ph.D., R.D./L.D.Food Specialist Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service