The Family Taste Test: Synonym and Antonym Bites

How to Hold a Family Taste Test

1Do you want a fun way to spend a Saturday at home? Try a family taste test! In a taste test, everyone tries small bites of different foods and describes them. My family holds one every month, and we have learned that good describing words make the game even better.

2First, choose a theme. Last month our theme was apples. We bought four kinds, from pale yellow ones to deep red ones. Cut each kind into thin slices and set them on plates. Write the name of each apple on a card and hide it under its plate so no one can peek.

3Next, take a small bite and think before you speak. Is the slice crisp, or is it soft? Is it sweet like honey, or is it sour enough to make you pucker? My little brother Kwame used to say every apple was "good." Now he says a slice is "juicy" or "dry," "mild" or "tart."

4Then, give each food a score. Our family uses a scale from one to five. A one is dull, and a five is so delicious that you want another slice right away. Grandma always gives the tart apples a five, while Kwame likes the sweetest ones best.

5Finally, lift the plates, read the cards and talk about your scores. Sometimes the plainest apple surprises everyone. Our last test ended in a tie, so we baked the two winners into a pie and shared it.

6A taste test is quick to plan, cheap to run and lots of fun. Best of all, it teaches you that "good" is only the beginning. There are many more words waiting to describe what you taste.