A Deliciously Creative Adventure for Kids
We're excited to share a recipe for edible paint that's as easy for you to make as it is fun and safe for your child to play with! But first, let's delve into why children SHOULD be encouraged to play with their food.
Playing with your food isn't just loads of fun—it also has a sneaky secret benefit!
Read on to find your recipe for edible paint and to learn how to turn your little eater into a culinary adventurer using only the power of play. Better yet, pair this experience with a great book and you'll discover the magical link between reading & play that guides everything we do at L•M•N•O•Play!
Why You Should Play with Your Food
Healthy attitudes towards food offer more than just nourishment for the body. From day one, parents and caregivers strive to instill healthy eating habits in their children. Eating healthfully has been proven to be a cornerstone of a happy life. And yet, we often find ourselves facing challenges...
It's common for many children to become picky eaters almost by default. By the age of two, most children tend to be reluctant to try new foods. So, what do you do when your child seems to only prefer 'white food'—starches, carbohydrates, etc? Or when they've already developed a sweet tooth? And what about the little one who turns their nose up at anything that's...green? These are all common challenges that many parents and caregivers face...
At LᐧMᐧNᐧOᐧPlay!, we offer a radical new approach to inspire a healthy love of food: Getting comfortable with food sometimes has nothing to do with eating at all!
In fact, we recommend that instead of eating, you invite your little one to try experimenting with food—touching, hammering, rolling, smelling, stacking, scooping, and digging! It follows that when you create opportunities for this playful engagement with food you also encourage a healthy approach to eating. Children who have rolled an orange across the counter, painted with mustard or whipped cream, or helped pull Brussels sprouts off the stalk are gaining familiarity with food through direct, playful contact—without the pressure of having to eat it.
Please remember, above all, this play is about encouraging a feeling of freedom and permissiveness with food. A life rich with a love of food includes tactile and sensory adventures, intimate family moments, scientific experimentation, and of course great health! So go ahead, get messy, and play to build a familiarity with diverse foods that will inspire delight and joy in your whole family for years to come. We hope you enjoy this wonderfully simple recipe for edible paint that invites your little ones to play with their food.
Recipe for Edible Paint
READY
- Plain or vanilla yogurt
- Berries or food coloring
- Paper (the larger, the better)
- Optional: Paintbrushes, sponges, plastic spoons & forks
SET
- Combine yogurt with crushed berries or food coloring.
- Make as many individual colors as you like (we recommend at least 2 to allow for some color mixing and experimentation).
PLAY!
- The texture of this paint is perfect for finger painting. Dip your hands, fingers, or even feet into this paint. Then, have fun making your mark with this safe and delicious “paint.”
- Consider placing your paper on various surfaces (e.g., the floor to walk on, high up on the wall to reach for, etc.).
- Add in tools such as paintbrushes, sponges, or plastic spoons and forks to explore different ways to paint.
The Bottom Line - Edible paint will inspire your little artists while ALSO encouraging them to be more adventurous eaters.
When we stop to think about all the colors, shapes, and textures found in everyday food, it is no wonder that chefs spend so much time making your meal appear perfect on the plate. Food is beautiful! We hope you will think of food as art to look at, touch, taste, and also, as a material with which to play.
Another way to turn your little one into a culinary adventurer?
Pair your food play with a book!
At L•M•N•O•Play! we uncover the natural link between reading and playing. Check out these recommendations and discover books to pair with your edible painting.
