High school culinary programs often require a final project.
In one way or another, everybody enjoys food. Some people love eating, others love cooking and still others like to learn about the science behind food. If you're studying culinary arts in high school, chances are you'll be asked to prepare a senior year project before graduation. Choose a topic that will not only get you a good grade but that will interest you as well.
Expiration Dates
If you lean toward the scientific study of food, research the rate at which foods expire, rot and spoil. You can also look into how expiration dates are determined and what they really prevent. For example, just because the expiration date on something has passed, does that truly mean the food is too spoiled to consume? What exactly happens to specific types of foods as the expiration date nears? You can also look into how different food packaging methods and wrappings affect the food.
Food Substitutions
Students who enjoy cooking can explore different food substitutions, both tried-and-true and new. Buttermilk can be replaced with a mixture of white vinegar and milk, and basil and oregano can be interchangeable. Students can explore the taste differences when replacing certain food items in a recipe, and they can also play around with their own creative substitutions to see if they're able to improve a recipe.
Green Projects
Plenty of people these days are interested in and even concerned with green ways of living, including farming methods and organic foods. Students can explore the practices of both big businesses and small farms, including treatment of animals and crops. They can research a number of issues, from health consequences or benefits to taste and even ethical issues.
Recreations
A fun project idea is to recreate your favorite dishes. Choose your favorite candy bar, packaged potato chip or even frozen entr e and attempt to recreate the plate. Have your class taste-test your final product to let you know if you've hit the nail on the head. The key to this is to not look up the recipe, but instead try to figure out the ingredients depending on your palate. You can also choose your favorite meal that's featured in a movie or TV show, try to figure out the recipe yourself, and present it so that it looks the same as on screen.
Tags: your favorite, also look, also look into, different food, expiration date