Edible Artwork                                               

 Makes 24 Edible Pictures

Preparations before class:
Gather all of the supplies needed to prepare the recipe. Wash and drain the vegetables. Pre-cut the vegetables as described in the list of ingredients. Place vegetables in different bowls. Wash a table surface where students can stand all around the table, or make two stations. Place the empty plates, knives, a couple cutting boards, and an assortment of vegetables, cheese, and dip on the table. Leave space between the ingredients for the students to work on the edible pictures.

Directions for class:
Have students wash their hands. Stress the importance of clean hands, utensils, and surfaces when handling food. Have the students stand around the tables and explain that they will be creating edible pictures on their plates. The paper plates are their drawing papers. The vegetables, fruit, cheese, and dip are what they use to create a picture on their plates. Let them be creative. The vegetable dip works well to help hold things together, but it isn't necessary to use it to hold all the vegetable pieces onto the plate. They can't put food back that they have already touched. They need to leave enough food for others. If they cut something, they are to use the cutting boards and cut down toward the cutting board, keeping their fingers out from under the food and plastic knife. After they are finished with their edible artwork, have students show what they have made before they start eating their artwork.

Follow-up questions:

What pictures did everyone make?

What made you decide what picture to make?

What ingredients did you use to make your picture?

Which food group from the USDA Food Guide Pyramid do the ingredients come from?
(Use the USDA Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children poster found in the back pocket of Growing in the Garden, 4H-905A.)

What is the 5 a day rule?
Eat 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit each day.

Did you eat a serving of vegetables with your picture?

Did you try a new vegetable today? What was the vegetable? Did you like it?

Did you eat stems, leaves, flowers, seeds or fruits?

What other ways do you like to eat vegetables?