Edible Art & Food Styling
Art for kids doesn’t need to involve crayons and paper. Helping children connect to their own sense of style can be loads of fun in so many daily activities that we may take for granted. We all appreciate an artfully presented dinner plate. Meal time can offer your child an opportunity for creative expression. You can engage your child in creating the menu and presentation of your next family meal. Perhaps you are planning to have chicken as a main course. You could ask your child what side dishes would add color, flavor and good health. How might this rainbow of colorful vegetables, fruits and grains be served on your plate to add visual appeal? It would be very helpful to keep clean fruits and veggies in easily accessible containers, which you can pull out and offer as choices for setting a plate of scrumptious looking and tasting food. Maybe your child imagines a scoop of rice with fish and salsa stacked over top and garnished with green beans in a circular pattern. By encouraging your child to tap his or her imagination at meal time, you are fostering wonderful family connections, healthful habits, as well as encouraging your child’s inner artist.

Decorating baked goods is another fun way for kids to express their creativity. Children delight in adorning cookies, cakes and baked treats. Once you roll out the dough, your child can decide on fun shapes, glazes, sprinkles and colors that reflect his/her own sense of style and whimsy. Brownies, biscuits and breads can be cut into fun shapes. You could also bake cupcakes and set out a variety of icings and toppings (edible flowers are great fun) that your child can use to decorate them. A treat wrapped in cellophane and tied off with a ribbon can make wonderfully personalized gifts for coaches, teachers, family members or friends. Best of all, children cherish the opportunity to show off their imaginative creations.