Play With Your Food! 60 Fun Ways to Feed Your Kids

If it gets your kids to sit down for a healthy meal, we're all in favor of playing with your food! We've rounded up 60 ways to make eating enjoyable, even for the pickiest little palates. From breakfast to dinner, and everything in between, check out these great ways to make food fun!

01
Sail Away With Me
Instagram | idafrosk

Sail Away With Me

The wonderfully creative Ida Frosk thought of every last detail with this sailboat mural — check out the red-pepper seagulls!

02
Flowerpot Pancakes
Jim's Pancakes

Flowerpot Pancakes

Celebrate Spring with a flowerpot full of pancakes.

03
The Loch Ness Bagel Monster
Funky Lunch

The Loch Ness Bagel Monster

Set snack time into motion with this clever take on the Loch Ness Monster.

04
Happy Birthday to You!
Meet the Dubiens

Happy Birthday to You!

A cake-shaped cookie cutter makes it easy to whip up a birthday lunch surprise.

05
Banana Dogs
SpongeBob's Kitchen Mission Cookbook

Banana Dogs

There's more than one way to use a hot dog bun! Turn the ordinary bun into something fruity with this quick and easy banana dog recipe!

06
Heart-Shaped Kebabs
Martha Stewart

Heart-Shaped Kebabs

Pull out the heart-shaped cookie cutter, and get to work on thick slices of cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon for these healthy and fun kebabs.

08
My, What Big Teeth You Have!
Instagram | idafrosk

My, What Big Teeth You Have!

A fabulously detailed Little Red Riding Hood-inspired Big Bad Wolf!

09
Birds of a Feather
Crafty Moods

Birds of a Feather

Spaghetti and meatballs take a turn for the cute when they're arranged in a cozy nest!

10
An Octopus's Garden
Family Fun

An Octopus's Garden

This easy-to-make octopus is the perfect healthy after-school snack.

11
Golden Gate Bridge Pancakes
Jim's Pancakes

Golden Gate Bridge Pancakes

Travel to San Francisco before 9 a.m. with pancakes in the shape of the Golden Gate Bridge.

12
Ladybug Bento Box
Flickr user gamene

Ladybug Bento Box

Imagine their delight when they discover that their lunch bag has a ladybug's garden of rice and veggies inside!

13
Love Your Breakfast
Lisa Hubbard for Martha Stewart Living

Love Your Breakfast

Get comfortable with your pancake batter, and shape it into a heart — either freeform like Martha Stewart or using a cookie cutter as a mold.

15
A Sandwich Sub
Cute Food For Kids

A Sandwich Sub

Turning a standard sandwich into a submarine makes lunchtime fun for your little underwater explorer.

16
Sponge Bob Tiki Head Crepes
pongeBob's Kitchen Mission Cookbook

Sponge Bob Tiki Head Crepes

Turn the ordinary crepe into something a bit more kid-friendly with a little decorating. After Mama makes the filling, tots can add on some zucchini, tomatoes, and almonds to create Tiki Head Crepes.

17
Princess Pancakes
Jim's Pancakes

Princess Pancakes

Show her you think she's special with a pancake fit for a princess.

18
It's a (Veggie) Jungle Out There!
Michele Bell

It's a (Veggie) Jungle Out There!

Embark on a vegetarian safari with grains, fruit, and veggies.

19
Bacon 'n' Eggs Pancakes
Jim's Pancakes

Bacon 'n' Eggs Pancakes

From one breakfast favorite to another . . .

20
Monkeyin' Around
Funky Lunch

Monkeyin' Around

A few strategic turns of a knife turn a basic sandwich into the cutest monkey face!

22
Rice 'n' Beans Zebra
Michele Bell

Rice 'n' Beans Zebra

Kiddos love grazing on this

23
French Toast Nutella and Strawberry Hearts
Grilled Cheese Social

French Toast Nutella and Strawberry Hearts

Send 'em off to school with a smile on their faces thanks to Grilled Cheese Social's delectable french toast hearts layered with Nutella, strawberries, and a smear of mascarpone cheese. Yum!

24
Pancake Pac-Man
Instagram | idafrosk

Pancake Pac-Man

What a fun, fun way to start the day! Pancake Pac-Man with dried blueberry eyes.

25
Stop Monkeying Around!
Bentoriffic

Stop Monkeying Around!

It's a jungle out there . . . Rise to the occasion with a monkey-themed bento box.

26
Choo Choo
Michele Bell

Choo Choo

All aboard the grilled cheese and veggies train! Cut the fat by using a spritz of olive oil cooking spray and a panini maker instead of butter.

27
Heart-Shaped Egg Rings
Amazon

Heart-Shaped Egg Rings

Creating heart-shaped eggs is easy with Heart Pancake or Egg Rings ($9).

28
Frog Legs For Breakfast?
Instagram | idafrosk

Frog Legs For Breakfast?

He just may be a Prince Charming in disguise . . . This little froggy comes complete with a crown!

29
Pigs in a Blanket — Two Ways
POPSUGAR Photography | Rebecca Gruber

Pigs in a Blanket — Two Ways

Peter Callahan's fun twist on pigs in a blanket offers tots and grown-ups their own versions of the popular party dish.

30
May the Force Be With You!
Instagram | idafrosk

May the Force Be With You!

What better way to show your Star Wars pride than with an avocado-covered Yoda?

31
An Edible Rainbow
Michele Bell

An Edible Rainbow

Take a few healthy items from the fridge, dice them up, and you've got a well-balanced meal of fruits, vegetables, and eggs in no time!

32
Salmon Love
Michele Bell

Salmon Love

Salmon, steamed rice, and a side of peas are sure to please. Make it even more nutritious by using brown rice.

33
Dinosaur Pancakes
Jim's Pancakes

Dinosaur Pancakes

A dino friend who looks almost too cute to eat!

34
Caterpillar Grape Kabobs
A Spotted Pony

Caterpillar Grape Kabobs

Feed your own very hungry caterpillar with these adorable (and oh-so-easy) grape kabobs.

36
Oink, Oink!
Bentoriffic

Oink, Oink!

This little piggy went to the lunch box . . .

37
Anna Banana Pancake
POPSUGAR Photography

Anna Banana Pancake

Start your wee one's day with a smile! An Anna Banana breakfast will keep them downing the fruit-topped flapjacks. Give your children an additional kick start by making the hotcakes multigrain.

38
Carb Carnival
Michele Bell

Carb Carnival

Break from the traditional carnival food with a healthy pasta and asparagus Ferris wheel. Use whole-wheat pasta to up the fiber factor.

39
Dinos For Dinner
Michele Bell

Dinos For Dinner

Take your tot on a trip back to prehistoric times with this dish of roaming dinosaurs.

40
The Least Scary Green Monster
Instagram | idafrosk

The Least Scary Green Monster

The perfect "fun food" project for amateurs . . . this green smoothie monster is hardly scary!

41
Babybel Angry Birds
Cute Food For Kids

Babybel Angry Birds

What Angry Birds-loving tot wouldn't like to be surprised with this snack-time treat?!

42
Under-the-Sea Pancakes
Jim's Pancakes

Under-the-Sea Pancakes

Explore the ocean — at the breakfast table — with an octopus-shaped pancake!

43
The Cow Jumped Over the Moon
Meet the Dubiens

The Cow Jumped Over the Moon

Turn an ordinary plate of food into a work of art with this nursery-rhyme-inspired snack.

44
There's a Batman on My Toast!
Instagram | idafrosk

There's a Batman on My Toast!

Your little superhero-in-training will be delighted to wake up to a plate full of Batman toast.

45
Skeleton Pancakes
Jim's Pancakes

Skeleton Pancakes

Translate a trip to the museum onto your breakfast plate. These pancakes are true works of art!

46
Nutella Bear Sandwich
Cute Food For Kids

Nutella Bear Sandwich

An awe-inducing bear bear of a sweet sandwich!

47
Gobble Gobble
Family Fun

Gobble Gobble

It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving to gobble down this fruit-filled turkey.

48
Snowman Doughnuts
A Spotted Pony

Snowman Doughnuts

Store-bought Hostess doughnuts are made special when they're turned into smiley snowmen.

50
Rice Krispies Apples
Michele Bell

Rice Krispies Apples

If you can make regular Rice Krispies treats, you can make these.

51
Seussical
Meet the Dubiens

Seussical

Pay homage to the beloved Dr. Seuss with a Cat in the Hat tortilla and a side of green eggs and ham!

52
Big Ben
Instagram | idafrosk

Big Ben

Say "cheerio!" to a most realistic Big Ben, London guard, and bus.

53
Beehive Pancakes
Jim's Pancakes

Beehive Pancakes

You won't get stung by these bite-size bees!

54
Peas in a Pop
Weelicious

Peas in a Pop

Steal a cue from the experts at Weelicious on how to sneak a little green into your tots' tummies.

55
Garden Variety
Instagram | idafrosk

Garden Variety

These "carrots" are actually papayas with kiwi stems — perfect in a yogurt parfait.

56
Whale of a Pancake
Jim's Pancakes

Whale of a Pancake

Breakfast turns into a whale of a good time with these special pancakes.

57
Noodle Head!
Annabel Karmel

Noodle Head!

Annabel Karmel's crazy-haired burger patty combines two kiddie favorites into one meal.

58
The Sweetest Hedgehog
Watermelon.org

The Sweetest Hedgehog

This Watermelon Hedgehog is ready to party!

59
Sand and Sea
Michele Bell

Sand and Sea

Your little fish is sure to think this tasty surf and turf recipe is delish! Whole wheat couscous will make the sand more realistic when topped with the flavorful shrimp and steamed broccoli.

60
Fluffernutters
POPSUGAR Photography | Rebecca Gruber

Fluffernutters

These scene-stealing fluffernutters are easy to make and a guaranteed hit!