Episode 01 · 6:28 · English audio · Ages 4–7, with a parent
Audio: English · Listen in Greek · Download video with Greek and English audio
THE STORY
Eirini, Nefeli and Pico discover that a food’s colour does not tell us its composition. An orange, a pepper, a strawberry and a kiwi lead to a question: how do we test an idea?
This episode is about curiosity and testing a hypothesis. A food’s appearance does not measure its composition. The ribbons in the story are a simple metaphor for support, not an anatomical model.
Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruit, peppers, kiwifruit and strawberries. It contributes to collagen synthesis. Amounts vary between foods and can be affected by storage and cooking.
The episode does not recommend supplements or doses. For individual dietary or medical needs, consult an appropriate healthcare professional.
The activity uses drawings. If you choose to observe real food, an adult remains responsible for preparation and suitability.
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin C
Source checked on 22 September 2026. This reference does not imply NIH endorsement of the series.
Welcome to the Why Lab with Eirini, Nefeli and Pico, where we observe, ask and discover!
Ready! I've made the world's most orange collection!
An orange, a pencil and your sock? Why together?
I heard that oranges have vitamin C. So… everything orange has vitamin C!
Even my orange sock?
We can test that idea. First, let's separate our food… from all the other things.
Let's start with a question. Can a food have vitamin C even if it isn't orange? Our first idea is called a hypothesis. Then we test it!
I think it can, and I have brought something red and something green for us to explore!
I'm almost sure about orange. But… I'll listen!
Well… what do you think?
A pepper! Strawberries! And a kiwi!
The kiwi is brown outside. But it's green inside! Now I'm confused.
All four of these foods contain vitamin C. They have different colours, different shapes and different flavours.
So vitamin C has lots of friends!
A colourful bunch of friends! No socks.
Let me see the vitamin! Could it be hiding behind this little dimple?
We can't see it that way. The magnifying glass helps us look at the surface. To find out what's in a food, we need other information and the right measurements.
So what we see… isn't the same as what's inside!
My magnifying glass cannot tell me everything.
Scientists study different foods and carefully record their measurements, so we read reliable sources and check what the information actually tells us.
Guessing from the colour isn't enough.
What if our first idea is mistaken?
Correcting our ideas helps us learn!
So… I have learned something new!
Why is vitamin C important?
Vitamin C has many roles, including helping our bodies make collagen, a material that supports body parts such as our skin.
Like these ribbons that make a network?
The ribbons help us imagine it, but our bodies are more complex and need many things working together.
Just like our lab friends!
What if I fill this whole notebook… with one enormous orange?
But what happens to all our other food friends?
Every food has its own mix of ingredients. We need variety in what we eat.
My notebook has a better idea… lots and lots of little drawings!
Which food contains vitamin C: the orange, the pepper, or both?
Yes, both of them!
Foods can have different colours… and still contain the same nutrient, like vitamin C.
Look, here's our discovery… written in my notebook!
At first I thought something else. Now I feel… a bit more like a researcher!
Because you found the answer?
You also asked questions, checked the evidence and changed your mind.
Changing my mind feels good!
Tomorrow, we can explore a new question.
Now we have a mission for you. With a grown-up, remember two foods we saw today and draw them.
Together… in one paper basket!
My kiwi looks like a potato… so I'll draw a little label to explain it.
If you want to explore a food in the kitchen, ask your grown-up for help first.
And tell each other: what surprised me today?
My orange collection… has a new name!
What name?
The colourful bunch!
Your own discovery comes next… see you at our next why!
I observe the world, I ask my questions, and I discover!
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An educational initiative by Stasinos Sikalias · Sikalias. An original story with digitally generated animation and voices.