Recipe for Successful Presentations

1. Kansas Nutrition Council April 16, 2009 Recipe for Successful Presentations Jan Stephens Multi-County Specialist Kansas State Research & Extension

2. Keys to a Good Demonstration • Know what you want to accomplish • Research • Demonstrate to reinforce the objective • Organize and practice

3. Keys to a Good Demonstration • Be sure everyone can see • Introduce the topic • Involve the audience • Review objective(s) • Make it your own

4. Know Your Goal • Educate • Awareness • Knowledge • Action • Teach nutrition and health • Promote your organization • Learn for yourself

5. Know Your Audience • Education Level • Experience, knowledge • Age, gender • How to get them there • Promotion • Location • signage

6. Research: The Topic • Topic • Information accurate & current • Usable by audience • Not already known • Builds on past meetings • Narrowed to fit audience & time

7. Food Demo Today Research: Location • Type of setting • Formal or relaxed • How far away • May impact food safety • Get directions • Audience • Hear and see presenter

8. Research: Help Available • Presentation help • Will they need training • Help to unload • Before • After

9. Research: The Equipment • What is available &/or usable on site • Water, refrigeration, electricity, gas, table, oven, etc. • Audio Visual • Presentation • Easels • Microphone • Demonstration mirror

10. 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

11. Demonstration Intro • Smile • Catchy title & intro • Put audience at ease • No more than 2 – 3 minutes • Give information about yourself and your organization

12. Demo - Body • Outline main ideas • List steps in order. Expand and explain • Include information about nutrition, costs, techniques

13. Demo - Body • Use visuals, posters and examples • Offer ideas for additional options • Add bits of trivia, personal information for extra things to say

14. Demonstration Conclusion • Sum up the main ideas • End with a cleared table and show a finished product • Remind audience why they should try this • Ask for questions • Thank audience

15. The Food • Should smell great • Should taste wonderful • Try to let participants sample • Be colorful & garnished • Show finished product

16. 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

17. How to Dress • Look professional • Comfortable, neat, & clean • Finger nails clean & natural • Light makeup • Little or no jewelry • Gloves (Disposable) • Aprons (pressed & clean)

18. 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

19. Organizing Food Items • Buy food day before the training • Consider the food safety factors

20. Equipment • Know how to use it • Use appropriate equipment • Clean and in good repair • Will audience have access to same equipment at home? • Suggest substitutions

21. Often Forgotten • Appliance cords • Sampling utensils/plates/ cups • Tablecloth • Trays • Paper towels • Potholders • Timer • Spoons/knives • Cutting board • Serving equipment • Extension cord and adapters

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Demonstration Tips • Tilt pan lids away from face • Place lids upside down on table • Have waste basket beneath demonstration table • End with finished product

26. The Demonstration:Involve the Audience • Use humor • Ask for help: • With timing • Following recipes • Distributing handouts • Make eye contact • Smile • Talk while working • Ask questions • Answer questions

27. Make a List – check and double check • During practice • Before you leave • Before the demonstration

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

29. How much practice? • As often as you can: • With food & equipment • Before a mirror • Get critiqued

30. Everyone Needs to See • Tilted bowls & pans • Small groups up close • Posters • Video camera connected to monitor • Pictures on PowerPoint • Other ideas?

31. Expect the Unexpected • Be prepared • Be flexible • Enjoy the experience • Learn from each demonstration • Let your personality show through

32. Review • Know your goals • Know your topic, audience, location, equipment, techniques • Have a neat look and table • Practice, practice, practice

33. Any Questions??References from:Kansas State University Research & ExtensionUniversity of Arkansas ExtensionOklahoma State University ExtensionUniversity of Georgia ExtensionUniversity of Illinois Extension