If you are looking for fun ways to increase exposure to fruits and veggies this holiday season, check out these food art ideas. We will be making a “Grinch Santa” and a “Veggie Train”. I will be honest, the veggie train is slightly more complicated but perfect for a child who hates veggies but loves trains! Exploring food safely is not always something kids just “know” how to do. Especially if their first reaction to new food is melting down or gagging. So in this video I will not just show you how to make fun food crafts with your children this holiday season, I will also show you how to model safe food exploration and introduce food without expecting that your child “eat what is on the plate”
All you will need is: Three garden peppers (any color), Zucchini, 3 different kinds of “other” veggies, a banana, strawberries, and green grapes. Grab a knife and some toothpicks as well.
These ideas are a great way to encourage your child to interact with foods that they typically avoid. Even if your child doesn’t end up eating their creations, the juices get on their hands and the process of exposing your child to the smell and feel of non-preferred foods has begun! Do activities like this daily. You will need a minimum of 10 food exposures before a child will typically consider adding a food to his or her diet. If you just pick a few things that can be bought in small quantities that other family members will eat, then it is still cost effective to do activities like this.
Food Art is also a great way to increase opportunities to build proficiency with tools like table knives, scissors, and skewers. Pincer grasp, bilateral hand use, manipulation of small objects, and thumb strength/stability are among the many fine motor skills worked on during these four food art projects.
If you are interested in watching the full webinar on picky eating and food exposure during the holiday seasons, Click Here.