Lifestyle
Food & Nutrition
Fitness
Spring is here, and we’re loving all the fresh fruits and veggies available this time of year! If you’re looking for a fun project to do with your kids, check out this healthy food art idea for snack time.
This healthy food art project teaches kids about nutrition while encouraging them to get creative. Kids can help pick out their favorite fruits and vegetables at the store, and then use those items to create an original work of art. They can also learn about the health benefits of each food they add to their snack-time masterpiece. So what are you waiting for? Grab your kid’s favorite fruits or vegetables (or both) and get started on your own healthy food art creation!
What You Need
- Cucumber
- Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries
- Kiwi
- Banana (try this with a cookie cutter)
- Apple (use a cookie cutter or just cut it into small pieces)
- Cantaloupe (slice it into rounds with a knife or use this tutorial)
- Watermelon
- Pineapple chunks
Cucumber
Cucumber is a great source of vitamin K and C, manganese, fiber, vitamin A and copper. It’s also loaded with B vitamins (B1, B6, and folate), potassium, and magnesium.
There are so many ways you can use cucumbers in your kitchen—you can add them to salads or smoothies; eat them plain with hummus; blend them into the water for a refreshing drink; roast them with spices for an easy side dish or snack; or pickle them using this recipe from the Kitchen!
Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries
- Cut a strawberry in half and use a cookie cutter to make two circles with the leftover.
- Transfer the cut-out shapes to a plate or parchment paper and add blueberries on top.
- Use toothpicks for stems, leaves, and fruit.
Kiwi
Kiwis are a great healthy snack when your kids are hungry, so why not make them into kiwi flowers? You will need:
- A kiwi slicer. I found mine at Target and it was only $5! It’s super easy to use and makes perfectly sliced kiwis every time…like this!
- A cookie-cutter of some kind (I used this one). If you don’t have one, don’t worry about it too much because your slices will still taste delicious.
Banana
Bananas are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. They’re also an excellent source of vitamin B6. A banana contains about 10% of your recommended daily allowance for this nutrient, which is important for brain function and plays a role in converting blood sugar into energy. It also helps to build red blood cells and produce antibodies that fight diseases such as colds or flu.
Apple
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But did you know that not all apples are created equal?
When it comes to healthy snacks, Apple slices are one of the best choices for your kids. They’re packed with vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and fiber—not to mention they’re naturally sweet.
Let’s take a look at how apples can benefit your child:
- Antioxidants reduce free radicals in the body (free radicals cause damage to cell membranes). These antioxidants include vitamin C and E as well as flavonoids like quercetin and cyanidin-3-glucoside that have been shown to protect against cancer.
- Fiber helps maintain healthy digestion by keeping things moving smoothly along through elimination while also helping reduce cholesterol levels in our bloodstream. Fiber is found in both soluble forms (like pectin) and insoluble forms (like cellulose). You may have heard of “soluble” and “insoluble” fibers before—these terms refer to whether or not an individual molecule has bonds that will dissolve easily when placed in liquids such as water; what makes them different from each other is their molecular structure which allows them to behave differently once inside our bodies!
Cantaloupe
To make this snack, you will need:
- a cantaloupe
- a sharp knife
- Cut the cantaloupe in half, then scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
- Cut each half into slices about 1/4-inch thick (or thinner). The smaller and thinner they are, the less likely they’ll roll off your plate or get lost under other foods! You can also slice them on an angle for a more interesting presentation.
- Store any leftover slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
Watermelon slices
You can’t go wrong with watermelon! This fruit is a good source of vitamins A, C, and B6. It also has potassium, copper, and magnesium. You can slice them up or cut them into cubes for your kids to munch on during snack time.
Pineapple chunks or slices
Pineapple is a nutritious fruit. It’s a good source of vitamin C, which helps the body fight off infections and boost the immune system. It also contains manganese, copper, vitamin B1, and other nutrients that are important for healthy growth and development as well as energy production in cells.
Pineapple chunks or slices can be cut into any shape using cookie cutters. You can make them into flowers by cutting out half-circles at different angles from the top of each pineapple chunk. Place your child’s favorite sandwich fillings between two pieces of bread with their favorite vegetables (such as cucumbers) to create a unique snack time masterpiece!
Kiwi flower cookie cutter (get it here)
You can purchase this kiwi flower cookie cutter from Amazon for $6.99 (available in different colors).
To make your own: Use a knife to cut the kiwi into flower shapes, then use a fork to dip the kiwi slices into honey or melted dark chocolate.
Alternatively, you can cut them into triangles instead of flowers and arrange them on top of yogurt or ice cream!
Try this food art idea with your kids this spring
This is a great activity to do with your kids this spring. It’s fun, delicious, and teaches them about healthy foods. They will love eating their art, which makes it a win-win for everyone!
This is also a great opportunity for parents to encourage creativity in their children by helping them create something beautiful that they can enjoy over time. You can make this food art together or let your child do it on their own—either way, it’s sure to be a big hit!
There you have it! Your healthy spring flower art is ready to serve. We hope you and your kids have fun trying out this project, and if you have any questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
Awesome Article! Thank you!!