Are you looking for a creative and engaging way to introduce your preschoolers to the world of healthy eating? Look no further! This article provides a comprehensive collection of healthy food art and craft ideas designed specifically for preschoolers. These activities not only encourage creativity and sensory exploration but also instill an early appreciation for nutritious foods.
Why Healthy Eating Matters for Preschoolers
A healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition, protecting against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Eating a variety of foods will make sure that your body has all the nutrients it needs to stay fit! Teaching children about healthy eating and dental health is vital for their physical and mental wellbeing.
Addressing Picky Eating Habits
It’s important to understand that it’s normal for toddlers and preschoolers to be picky eaters. But that doesn’t make mealtime with a picky eater any less frustrating. When preparing meals for preschoolers and toddlers, be sure to offer at least one thing you know they’ll eat, and pair that food with a less familiar or less liked food. That way, if your preschooler chooses not to try the new food, they can still have something they like. Don’t force a child into trying a new food, either. Instead, model eating that food. Talk about what it tastes and feels like, and share how much you enjoy eating it yourself.
Teaching Healthy Eating Through Example and Exposure
The best ways to teach preschoolers about healthy eating are by example and exposure. Children are much more likely to try new foods if they see a trusted adult eating that same food and enjoying it. They’re also more likely to try a new food if they’ve been exposed to it multiple times and in various ways. You can read books about healthy foods, engage in food and nutrition activities for preschoolers, and of course serve healthy foods at snack and meal times.
Engaging Art and Craft Activities
Here are some fun and educational art and craft activities to spark your preschoolers' interest in healthy food:
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
1. Lettuce Process Art
This lettuce process art activity is a food and nutrition craft where children can create their own lettuce art using craft supplies you already have on hand. This activity will give them free range in creating some fun crafts and art and will also stimulate their brains with sensory play!
Materials:
- Watercolor paper
- Watercolor paints (shades of green and white)
- Liquid glue
- Watercolor paintbrush
- Tape
- Scissors
- Painting aprons
Instructions:
- Tape watercolor paper to table or tray to prevent warping. Start by taping down the watercolor paper onto the table. You’ll be leaving this until it dries completely, so make sure you have time to leave it. Alternatively, you can also tape the paper to a tray.
- Set out some watercolors in shades of green and white. I prefer liquid watercolor, but a solid pallet will work as well. I also offer a watercolor paint brush. It has different bristles and will pick up the paint better.
- Start by squiggling glue all over the paper. Yes, “squiggling” is an official term. (Just kidding). The idea here is to create lines that will be the lettuce leaves; squiggly lines make the leaves look more realistic.
- Allow the glue to dry completely.
- When my preschoolers returned to school, we started painting our lettuce leaves. Now, if you’re a super stellar teacher, you can bring in different varieties for the preschoolers to look at and handle. They can even try some, too! Some preschoolers were very careful to not over-mix their paint colors, while others swirled their paintbrushes on their paper until is was all one solid color of green. Either approach is fine…which is the beauty of process art! Aside from being respectful to the materials we use and the space around us, there are no rules.
- Remember to allow the paintings to dry completely before pulling up the tape.
- Then your preschooler can practice scissor cutting and “cut out” their head of lettuce.
- Make name tags for each lettuce head, giving them different names: spinach, kale, collard greens, romaine, arugula, etc. This is the kind of craft for kids I like to use in my preschool. It’s a little step-by-step, and a lot of process.
2. Vegetable Faces
Your little ones will love using real fruits and vegetables to create funny faces!
Materials:
- Assorted fruits and vegetables
- Plates or trays
Instructions:
- Provide a variety of fruits and vegetables.
- Let children arrange the pieces on their plates to create funny faces.
3. Healthy and Unhealthy Food Sorting
This is a great activity to practice categorization while also teaching your students about nutritious foods! Have them cut out pictures of foods from advertisements or magazines and then sort these into healthy and unhealthy food categories.
Materials:
- Magazines or advertisements with food pictures
- Scissors
- Glue
- Paper or cardboard
Instructions:
- Have children cut out pictures of various foods.
- Create two categories: "Healthy" and "Unhealthy."
- Let children glue the food pictures into the appropriate categories.
4. Vegetable Collages
Creating collages is always a hit with little ones! Give your students an outline of a vegetable and have them glue down different scraps of paper, stickers, and other small items to make the vegetable the correct color.
Materials:
- Outlines of vegetables (e.g., carrot, broccoli, tomato)
- Scraps of paper, stickers, and other small items
- Glue
Instructions:
- Provide each child with a vegetable outline.
- Let them glue scraps of paper and stickers onto the outline to color it.
5. Healthy Lunch Box Creation
These tiny, paper lunch boxes are perfect for helping students practice making good, healthy choices. Have your preschoolers use food cards or food pictures to fill their lunch boxes with good food choices.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
Materials:
- Paper lunch boxes
- Food cards or pictures of healthy foods
Instructions:
- Give each child a paper lunch box.
- Have them fill the lunch box with food cards or pictures of healthy foods.
6. "I Spy" Vegetables
I spy a carrot! These easy-to-print pages are a fun and educational take on the favorite ‘I Spy’ game. Your little ones will love trying to hunt for the listed vegetables.
Materials:
- "I Spy" vegetable printables
Instructions:
- Provide each child with an "I Spy" printable.
- Have them find and count the listed vegetables.
7. Fruit and Vegetable Art
This colorful art activity is a great way to teach about fresh fruits and vegetables. Your little ones will have a blast as they create their own works of art from these adorable food templates.
Materials:
- Fruit and vegetable templates
- Crayons, markers, or paint
Instructions:
- Give each child a fruit or vegetable template.
- Let them color or paint the template.
8. Rainbow Food Activity
This fun activity reinforces the importance of eating a wide range of fruits and vegetables! Use construction paper to create a colorful rainbow and let your kiddos clip pictures from grocery ads or magazines to fill each color.
Materials:
- Construction paper (various colors)
- Grocery ads or magazines with food pictures
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Create a rainbow on a large sheet of paper.
- Have children find and cut out pictures of fruits and vegetables that match each color of the rainbow.
- Let them glue the pictures onto the corresponding color of the rainbow.
9. Vegetable Shape Puzzles
Vegetable shapes are perfect for teaching nutrition and pattern recognition! Have your students match the puzzle pieces or use clothespins and have them clip the pairs together for a little extra motor skill practice!
Materials:
- Vegetable shape puzzles or matching cards
- Clothespins (optional)
Instructions:
- Have children match the vegetable shapes or clip clothespins to matching pairs.
10. Food Stamps Shopping List
This exciting play center is sure to be a hit with your little grocery shoppers! They will love using food stamps to make a shopping list of healthy foods.
Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution
Materials:
- Food stamps
- Paper
- Markers
Instructions:
- Let children use food stamps to create a shopping list of healthy foods.
11. Happy Plate Activity
Another fun activity that will allow your preschoolers a chance to practice fine motor skills is the happy plate activity!
Materials:
- Paper plates
- Markers or crayons
- Pictures of healthy foods
Instructions:
- Have children draw or glue pictures of healthy foods onto their plates.
- Encourage them to create a balanced meal.
12. 3D Food Pyramid
This one might take a little more prep but your preschoolers will love this 3D food pyramid! They can use grocery store ads or pictures from magazines to fill in each section of the food pyramid and learn more about each type of food.
Materials:
- Pyramid template
- Grocery store ads or magazines with food pictures
- Glue
Instructions:
- Provide children with a pyramid template.
- Have them cut out and glue food pictures into the appropriate sections of the food pyramid.
13. Broccoli Craft
Let’s start a love of veggies early! This printable craft is a great way to teach kids about the value of eating super healthy, yet somewhat unpopular veggies like broccoli!
Materials:
- Broccoli craft template
- Crayons, markers, or paint
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Have children color or paint the broccoli template.
- Let them cut out and assemble the craft.
14. Food Patterning
Identifying and making patterns is an important math skill for preschool-aged children. Just print and laminate these templates for a ready-to-go center that exposes your little ones to healthy foods while giving them practice with AB and ABC patterns!
Materials:
- Food pattern templates
- Food cards or pictures
Instructions:
- Have children create patterns using food cards or pictures.
15. Food Group Sorting
Learning about the food pyramid and understanding food groups can be tricky for preschoolers. This simple sorting activity is the perfect way to let your students practice placing items into different food groups.
Materials:
- Food group sorting mats
- Food cards or pictures
Instructions:
- Have children sort food cards or pictures onto the appropriate food group mats.
16. Food Pyramid Floor Activity
This hands-on food pyramid is a great way to bring learning to life! Tape a large food pyramid to the floor and have your students choose items that fit into each food group.
Materials:
- Large food pyramid taped to the floor
- Food items or pictures
Instructions:
- Have children place food items or pictures onto the corresponding sections of the food pyramid.
17. Sandwich Making with Healthy Twists
Your preschooler will love this sandwich-making activity with a healthy twist! Just print, cut, and laminate these cut-outs to inspire them to make a sandwich piled high with healthy ingredients.
Materials:
- Sandwich cut-outs
- Printable healthy ingredients
Instructions:
- Print, cut, and laminate the sandwich cut-outs, including healthy ingredients.
- Inspire children to make a sandwich piled high with healthy ingredients.
18. DIY Salad Making
Crayola brings us this adorable DIY salad-making activity. Print out the bowl, lettuce, and other veggies, and give your kids some crayons to bring the paper to life. Then, they can create their own salad by gluing the toppings of their choice!
Materials:
- Printable bowl, lettuce, and other veggies
- Crayons
- Glue
Instructions:
- Print out the bowl, lettuce, and other veggies.
- Give kids some crayons to bring the paper to life.
- Create their own salad by gluing the toppings of their choice!
19. Veggie People
This hands-on activity actually encourages playing with food! Your kids will love creating veggie people from an array of baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli.
Materials:
- Baby carrots
- Cherry tomatoes
- Broccoli
Instructions:
- Create veggie people from an array of baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli.
20. Yogurt Parfaits
In this next hands-on activity, your preschoolers will have loads of fun making their own yogurt parfaits! Teach them about fruits and grains along the way as they adorn their yogurt with healthy toppings.
Materials:
- Yogurt
- Fruits
- Grains
Instructions:
- Have preschoolers make their own yogurt parfaits.
- Teach them about fruits and grains along the way as they adorn their yogurt with healthy toppings.
21. Grape Structures
Grape structures are a hands-on activity that builds fine motor skills and introduces your preschoolers to the world of STEM. All you’ll need is a box of toothpicks and different kinds of grapes to teach them about variety!
Materials:
- Toothpicks
- Grapes
Instructions:
- Build grape structures with toothpicks and grapes.
22. Pizza with Veggies
Sometimes it’s tricky to get preschoolers to eat their vegetables, so let’s entice them with pizza! Have your little chefs top off the dough, sauce, and cheese with a rainbow of different veggies. This is great for practicing their fine motor skills and sorting colors.
Materials:
- Pizza dough
- Sauce
- Cheese
- Different veggies
Instructions:
- Have the little chefs top off the dough, sauce, and cheese with a rainbow of different veggies.
23. Paper Bag Puppets
Learning about healthy eating just got even more fun with this paper bag puppet and fun writing craft. Each craft activity lets students draw a picture of healthy food options. They are great to add a bit of fun to your health lessons!
Materials:
- Paper bags
- Markers
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Students can draw or write their favorite healthy foods in their puppet's lunchbox, and then once they have made their craft they can use it to tell their friends and family about healthy eating. Or you can even have students get up in front of the class with their puppet to share their choices!
24. Fruit and Vegetable Crowns
Make learning about fruits and vegetables fun and hands-on with this printable Fruits & Vegetables Crown Craft! This black & white pack includes 10 creative crown designs that feature a variety of healthy foods-perfect for PreK-2nd grade students learning about nutrition, healthy eating, or food groups. Ideal for health units, farm-to-table lessons, or fun food-themed classroom activities!
Materials:
- Printable Fruits & Vegetables Crown Craft
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Print the crown designs.
- Color them.
- Cut and glue to assemble.
25. Cheerful Carrot Headband Craft
Brighten your classroom with this adorable Cheerful Carrot Headband Craft - the perfect blend of fun, creativity, and nutrition learning! This Carrot Headband Craft features a happy, smiling carrot with open arms, ready to spread healthy eating joy! It’s an ideal hands-on activity for teaching about vegetables, nutrition, farm life, or healthy habits.
Materials:
- Cheerful Carrot Headband Craft template
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Print the Cheerful Carrot Headband Craft template
- Color it.
- Cut and glue to assemble.
26. Tomato Vegetable Headband Craft
Bring a burst of color, creativity, and veggie fun into your classroom or home with this adorable Tomato Vegetable Headband Craft! This Printable Paper Crown Coloring Activity is perfect for teaching kids about healthy eating, farm-to-table lessons, nutrition week, or garden theme.
Materials:
- Tomato Vegetable Headband Craft template
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Print the Tomato Vegetable Headband Craft template
- Color it.
- Cut and glue to assemble.
27. Mango Puppet Craft
Bring the sweetness of fruit into your classroom with this Mango Puppet Craft! Students transform a simple paper bag into a fun, smiling mango puppet, perfect for healthy eating lessons, fruit units, dramatic play, and tropical themes. This hands-on activity makes learning about fruits and nutrition exciting while supporting fine motor skills, creativity, and storytelling.
Materials:
- Mango Puppet Craft template
- Paper bag
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Print the Mango Puppet Craft template
- Color it.
- Cut and glue to assemble on the paper bag.
28. Pumpkin Puppet Craft
Celebrate autumn, Halloween, and harvest season with this Pumpkin Puppet Craft! Students transform a simple paper bag into a fun, smiling pumpkin puppet, perfect for fall, farm, or Halloween-themed lessons, dramatic play, and storytelling. This hands-on craft is fun, engaging, and educational, supporting fine motor skills, creativity, and imaginative play while tying into healthy eating, fall celebrations, and seasonal units.
Materials:
- Pumpkin Puppet Craft template
- Paper bag
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Print the Pumpkin Puppet Craft template
- Color it.
- Cut and glue to assemble on the paper bag.
29. Healthy Thanksgiving Plate Craft
This is not your average Thanksgiving turkey craft activity. In this craft activity, little learners will chose from a variety of options to create their own healthy food plate for thanksgiving. This can also be used as a Thanksgiving placemat. This craft will let your learners choose from what meats to what vegetables to put on their plate. They will also get to choose from a variety of plates. There is an in colour set of images and a B& W set of images. This activity can also extend to a discussion about healthy choices.
Materials:
- Thanksgiving plate template
- Pictures of different foods (meats, vegetables)
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Let learners choose from a variety of options to create their own healthy food plate for thanksgiving.
30. Alphabet Related Fruits & Vegetables Craft
Alphabet Related Fruits & Vegetables Craft Set with Coloring and Tracing Pages. You can make the learning experience more engaging by complimenting your lessons with this craft set. Kids can practice their skills with cut and paste version. You can also use tracing and coloring versions for different abilities and practices.
Materials:
- Alphabet Related Fruits & Vegetables Craft Set
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Kids can practice their skills with cut and paste version.
- You can also use tracing and coloring versions for different abilities and practices.
31. Strawberry Life Cycle Foldable
Explore the life cycle of a strawberry with this fun, foldable sequencing activity. A cross between a worksheet and a summer craft, children learn about the strawberry life cycle in a hands-on way, with differentiated options if required. Use to support learning about summer plant life cycles, in an interactive science notebook, or even as part of a healthy eating lesson.
Materials:
- Strawberry Life Cycle Foldable template
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Children color and cut the template.
- They put the life cycle stages from tomato seed to ripe fruit in order on their template.
- They then cut and fold.
32. Tomato Plant Life Cycle Foldable
Help your students understand and review the life cycle of a tomato plant with this differentiated sequencing activity. This resource is a printable PDF with cut-and-paste options. Children put the life cycle stages from tomato seed to ripe fruit in order on their template. They then cut and fold. The finished foldouts are ideal for an interactive science notebook. This activity could support learning about flowering plants, plant life cycles, plants we eat, or summer fruits and vegetables.
Materials:
- Tomato Plant Life Cycle Foldable template
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Children color and cut the template.
- They put the life cycle stages from tomato seed to ripe fruit in order on their template.
- They then cut and fold.
33. Watermelon Plant Life Cycle Foldable
Help your students understand and review the life cycle of a watermelon plant with this differentiated cut-and-paste sequencing craft. Children put the life cycle stages from watermelon seed to fruit in order on their template. They then cut and fold. The finished foldouts are ideal for an interactive science notebook. This activity could support learning about plant life cycles, plants we eat, or summer fruits.
Materials:
- Watermelon Plant Life Cycle Foldable template
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Children color and cut the template.
- They put the life cycle stages from watermelon seed to fruit in order on their template.
- They then cut and fold.
Additional Activities to Reinforce Healthy Eating
- My One-Day Food Diary: This activity sheet is designed for children to keep a record of everything they eat in a day. Once complete, they cut out the template and fold it to create a mouth that closes, then opens to reveal their food diary inside. Ideal for an interactive notebook.
- Nutrition Interactive Notebook: This is a Nutrition Interactive Notebook that includes patterns and worksheets for learning about nutrition. This notebook focuses on the five food groups of my plate: Vegetables, Fruits, Grains, Protein, and Dairy.
- Healthy Eating Fact Booklet: Included in this fact booklet are hands-on activities about different types of food and a research form that they can fill out.