Edible Food Art: 10 Easy Ways to Make Mealtime Fun For Your Kids
Discover > Texas Mom Blog > Edible Food Art: 10 Easy Ways to Make Mealtime Fun For Your Kids
As any Texas mom knows, life is busy. We're always running around taking care of our kids, jobs, and homes. With all that on our plates, it's no wonder we don't always have much time to spend in the kitchen. But being short on time doesn't mean our kids can't enjoy a little mealtime fun. With a bit of imagination, even the simplest meals can be transformed into works of art.
Food art is a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen and excited about eating their meals. And the best part is that it doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. You can turn even the most mundane meals into works of art with creativity. So the next time you're short on time, don't reach for the take-out menu. Instead, break out the food coloring and let your inner artist out! Your kids will love it, and you might just have some fun yourself.
Food is the Ultimate Connector
All of us can relate to the experience of comfort food. Whether it's your mama's spinach (What wine goes well with spinach?) artichoke chicken or a big bowl of your grandma's corned beef hash, there's just something about certain foods that can take you back to a different time and place. And when it comes to connecting with kids, food can be an ultimate connector. Just think about the memories and emotions that are often created over something all humans have in common - eating.
Sure, kids like to play with their food, but as it turns out, adults can do too. And by doing things such as combining fruits, veggies, and pancakes into critters and recognizable characters, kids can experience new foods in a fun and creative way. Not to mention, they're getting a little art lesson too.
Get the Kids Involved
Regarding food art projects, it's essential to take your child's advice and let them help. Sometimes these projects can take a while to create, but that's okay. With everything being so immediate in the digital world, we often forget that skills are not instantly developed - like family relationships, they are something that creates and grows over time.
By allowing your child to participate in the creation process, you're teaching them patience and how to work through complex tasks. These are valuable skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. So next time you plan a food art project, remember to involve your child and let them help. It'll be worth it in the end!
It was found that children involved in gardening and cooking with family ate more servings of vegetables. TexasRealFood explores ideas on how to Get Your Kids Involved: Cook Together
Some Ideas to Get You Started
Pancake Owls
As any ever-hungry Southerner knows, pancakes are delicious and delightful, but sometimes you want something with a little more, well, *pizazz*. That's where these adorable pancake owls come in! Sliced almonds are perfect toppers to achieve the look of the owl's fur, while sliced strawberries make for some very convincing owl wings. Top with bananas and blueberries for eyes, and you will have a delicious, nutritious meal containing protein, antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin C -- to name a few! So the next time you're in the mood for a little something extra special (and extra cute), give these delicious owls a try. You'll be glad you did!
Potassium helps maintain normal levels of fluids in our body. Its other role includes supporting normal blood pressure and allowing our muscles to contract. Find Texas food that are Rich in Potassium at TexasRealFood's Promptuary.
Silly-Faced Sandwich
What better way to get your child to eat some greens than this silly-faced sandwich with leafy green hair? Go for it, parents! Try serving up a handful of spinach! Spinach is such an excellent source of vitamins and minerals that, in all honesty, it would be an exhausting list to write.
Niacin, zinc, folate, and protein – are a few things to note, but spinach is loaded with good stuff for everybody. And what kid wouldn't love a silly sandwich?! So go ahead, and give it a try… your kids will thank you for years to come!
Happy Cacti
As any good Texan knows, a meal isn't complete without some fruits. And what better way to get your kids to eat their fruits than with these happy cacti? So go for it, parents! Try serving up a handful of kiwis! Each kiwi contains Vitamins C and E, potassium, and fiber are a few things to note, but kiwi is loaded with good stuff for everyone. So give your kids a happy cactus made of kiwis - they'll love it. And so will their bodies!
Oatmeal Animals
Oatmeal is the perfect meal to help power your body through the morning. It's packed with fiber, protein, and calcium and is much more versatile than you might think. You can make fun animals out of oatmeal, and they're sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
Just prepare oatmeal with milk, then top with sliced banana, strawberry, or apple slices for ears and antioxidant-packed blueberries for their eyes or noses. Finally, add a little peanut butter (how long does peanut butter last?) to the mix for extra protein and visual appeal. Your kids will love these fun oatmeal animals, and you'll love knowing that they're getting a nutritious breakfast. So give it a try - you might be surprised at how much you enjoy it!
Red Head Caterpillars
Grapes on skewers to make Big creepy crawly red-headed caterpillars for the fruit platter. This is a great way to show off your red and green grapes, and it's easy, too! Just thread the grapes onto skewers, leaving some space in between for the "caterpillar" body. Then, add a red grape at one end for the head, and voila! Your creepy crawlers are ready to crawl onto your fruit platter. Serve them up with some apples and other seasonal fruits, and enjoy!
Chunky Peanut Butter Bear
Chunky peanut butter bear is a tasty treat consisting of a slice of bread spread with chunky peanut butter for a little added visual (and edible) texture. Whole almonds will add even more protein, fiber, and healthy fats into the mix, while bananas and blueberries complete this filling snack.
Peanut butter bears are perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up or after-school snack, and they'll keep you feeling satisfied until dinnertime. So indulge in this childhood classic - your taste buds (and waistline) will thank you!
Crawling Ants
You had probably seen this tasty snack or enjoyed it personally when you were younger. Crawling Ants are a healthful snack that is sure to please! Celery is an excellent source of vitamin K and folate, potassium, and dietary fiber — to name a few.
Spread peanut butter and line with raisin' ants'. Your little one will be inspired to count the ants as they march one by one. This tasty snack is easy to make and is excellent for road trips, beach days, or afternoon picnics! So next time you look for a healthy and delicious snack, try crawling ants!
Grilled Nemo
You can't go wrong with this grilled cheese fish sandwich. It's cute, it's easy, and kids will love it! The cheese filling is the perfect bait to lure in your little ones, and the orange slices make for the ideal fins. To bring this design to life, use a grill pan to achieve those grill-mark lines. Then, garnish the plate with some thinly sliced cucumber for waves, and serve with a side of chips for an authentic Texas-style lunch!
Chicken With a Nest
What better way to wake up and start your little one's day than with this super cute breakfast spread? Cut two slices of bread into a circle to create the chicken's body and the nest. Spread some cream cheese (how long does cream cheese last?) and top with sliced pieces of beta-carotene-rich carrots to complete the look. Garnish the plate with parsley, or again, maybe some sliced avocado would be an excellent, more palate-pleasing garnish.
Your kiddo is sure to get a chuckle out of this fun and festive breakfast, not to mention all the benefits of starting their day with some nutrient-dense foods. And you, mama, can feel good about starting your day off right too! Quick, easy, healthy, and did we mention super duper cute? It looks like this breakfast has it all! So go ahead and whip this up for your family today! Enjoy!
Tomato Ladybugs
Bright red tomatoes make a beautiful ladybug! You start with a slice of whole-grain toast for the base. For the green grass, you can top it with a piece of green lettuce or, for an extra punch of nutrition and flavor, try spreading some mashed, ripe avocado on the whole grain toast.
Avocados are superfoods that offer nearly 20 vitamins and minerals in every serving, and they're a good source of fiber and healthy monounsaturated fat. They're also one of the few fruits that contain nutrients that can help protect your eyes from conditions like macular degeneration. Next, add two slices of fresh tomato to the toast to represent the halved red tomatoes. And there you have it! A beautiful and nutritious ladybug!
Iron is an essential mineral our body needs, an important component of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from our lungs and transports it to all body parts. Find Texas Food that are High in Iron at the TexasRealFood Promptuary.
Summary
And that's it! Ten great ideas to get your kids excited about food and turn mealtime into a fun experience for the whole family. Which ones will you try first? Do you have any other tips or tricks for making mealtime more fun? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below. And don't forget, food is the ultimate connector. So sit down with your kids, break bread together, and enjoy quality time at the dinner table.
Find produce that are fresh and in season in the TexasRealFood Promptuary.
