Nutrition

You can get your potassium from fennel. This supports proper muscle function. 

Shopping Guide

Look out for a fresh appearance for the greens to make the most out of your fennel.

Storage

To store fennel, just wrap in paper towels, place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 10 days.

Preparation

It is strongest as a flavour when raw, so if you are not such a fan, try it roasted, braised, or slow-cooked – cooking mellows the flavour and brings out a natural sweetness resulting in a completely different taste.

Kids in the Kitchen

For a younger child, why not let them wash the fennel and perhaps even help prep for chopping by pulling apart the layers. If you are serving fennel raw, let them help you make a dressing (orange juice squeezed into some olive oil and salt works really well!). If you are cooking it, let them toss the pieces of fennel with the oil and salt before it is roasted.

For an older child, it could be a great opportunity to teach some essential knife skills. Show them how to safely chop the fennel using the bridge and claw grip.

Find more ideas for involving kids in the kitchen here.

Sensory

Try exploring a whole fennel bulb with your senses. What does it look like? What does it remind you of? Take a closer look – what does it feel like? Is it bumpy, rough, smooth, furry, hard, soft? Cut the fennel open and hold a chunk close to your nose – what does it smell like? Does it remind you of something? Finally, if you feel up to it, try comparing the sound and taste of raw and cooked fennel. When fennel has been roasted or cooked for a while, it tends to be a more subtle, mild and sweet flavour, completely different to the strongly aniseed-y raw version. When you crunch them, does one sound loud and one quiet? Does one taste strong and one mild? One bitter and one sweet? Which do you prefer?

Find more sensory ideas, tips and videos here. If you get stuck and need a little help with describing words, we have a selection for you here, too!

Serving

Next time you make a meal that includes fennel, why not ask your child to help you with one small step in the preparation of the fennel (maybe washing it carefully or separating the layers), then see if they want to help you serve it as “their” meal.

Find the best ways of involving your own child and their skills and interests on our Roles for Kids page.

Activities

Why not try making a fun 3d picture on a plate or tray? Fennel are a great, unusual shape and pattern, perfect for making fun pictures with. Use cut pieces of fennel (including the green leafy fronds) to make images of a green sea, a meadow or mountain, or whatever comes to mind. Use other veggies to fill in details. Alternatively, try to draw the whole fennel bulb using colouring pencils. Notice the lines, patterns, details and colours going on and try to capture them in the picture.

Kids more into science? Explore fennel by investigating the herby tops, layers, and colours with a magnifying glass.

Find loads more free veg-themed crafts here, games here or fun at-home science with Stefan Gates here.