Unless you dine at a five-star restaurant or take special care to plate your meals, food isn’t necessarily pretty. It’s usually just a pile of ingredients in a pot or on a plate, gone in minutes. No wonder kids can be finicky about what they eat. But food art—making pictures on your plate out of food—just might be the answer for a picky eater, even if that picky eater is you.
Below, we’ve collected our 10 favorite food art ideas from across the internet that you can easily take to the campground to add interest to snacktime. It’s a family-friendly activity that encourages creativity and rewards everyone in the form of full bellies.
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1. Fruit Cow
Source: Bored Panda
Use ingredients to make a food art portrait, like this cow. Or make a portrait of your favorite animal, of yourself, or of a family member. How detailed can you make it?
2. Snacking Caterpillar
Source: Super Simple
Your plate is the canvas. Create a scene like this one of a caterpillar munching a leaf. Mix veggies and fruits with crackers and cheese for a balanced snack.
3. Oatmeal Owl Bowl
Source: Pure Wow
Who knew a bowl of oatmeal could be so creative? Before digging in with a spoon, arrange your favorite oatmeal toppings into food art.
4. Fruits and Veggies Village
Source: The Sporkful
Paint a landscape with berries, melons, watermelon, celery, and more. This is a great way to use up leftover ingredients from other meals.
5. Butterfly Charcuterie Board
There’s nothing better than a charcuterie board after a hike, paddle, or a bike ride. Crackers, cheese, fruits, nuts, and dips go great together.
6. Artist Palette Sugar Cookies
Source: Arts & Crackers
Sugar cookies are a classic food art project. Bake them ahead of time, and bring candies and frostings along with you to the campground for a fun family dessert.
7. Breakfast Snowmen
Source: SAS Institute
Food art doesn’t have to be flat. Stand up your eggs into little snowmen and top them with carrot hats. What else can you make 3D?
8. Rainbow Pizza
Source: Gimme Delicious
One topping? How about six? One for every color of the rainbow. Get fancy with meats, veggies, cheeses, and more stuff you like on your pizza.
9. Carved Watermelon
Source: Food Network
You’ve carved a pumpkin, but have you carved a watermelon before? Make a monster, a basket, a farm animal. Then fill them with fruit salad.
10. Silly Face Sandwiches
Souce: CBC
A PB&J is good on its own. But add a silly face to the top, and your kid will dig it even more. How many different faces can you make?
Don’t feel like you have to stick to this list. Let your imagination run wild, especially when you’re hungry. Hopefully these packable snacks and meals will spark some creativity.
