Playing with food.

 
Even picking them fresh from the garden didn't convince the boys that radishes were something they wanted to eat.  "Too spicy!" they claimed.   Inspired by this picture, this morning I pulled a bunch (or tw0) from the garden, sat down with a knife, and started carving.  Soon they showed interest and sat down to join me.
 
"French Breakfast" at left.  Yum.   "Reggae" at right.  Couldn't help but pick up a packet of these, based on the name alone.  They're pretty good, too, but not as good as the others.
 
 

E can sometimes be tough to engage in activities but even he mentioned, "This is really fun!" and stuck with this, carving faces, ghosts, pizza slices, potatoes, and onions out of his pile of radishes.
 
 

Boys and knives...   Too bad they can't seem to keep track of their own pocket knives, but I suppose that's pretty typical, too.
 
It's a little like carving pumpkins, only smaller!

I just couldn't help but serve up the mushrooms on this dish with an image from Elsa Beskow's Children of the Forest.

Guess what?  Now they eat radishes, and have even planted some in their own garden beds.

Proof that it IS good to play with your food!

Comments

[Mindy]

Now they're too CUTE to eat! But I'm glad to read that the boys are enjoying the fruits of their labors.

[Karen]

What a great idea! Cute mushrooms and cute boys!

[Beegirl]

I saw this on flickr this morning and it brought a huge smile to my face! Utterly wonderful!

[Melissa V.O.]

So fun! Oh, the endless saga of the misplaced pocket knife. And it's usually found in of all places....a pocket! I'd love to hear more about how you homeschool now that the boys are a bit older and how you engage the child who isn't always interested in the activities.

[Melissa]

I love the little mushrooms! I mean radishes masquerading as mushrooms. Too cute.

[sarah]

Siri, you crack me up. Lovely carving.. I had to take a double look.
Just popping in to wish you and your family Happy 4th from us, just the south of you.

[SmitoniusAndSonata]

Radishes with sweeping eyelashes . No , still don't like eating them ! But I think it's a brilliant way to get children interested in food of any kind .

[Carmen]

We have that same plate, and radishes in the garden. We may need to get out the knives and do some caving today!

[Ellen]

Love the little carvings - our radishes did not do well this year (again) and they're such an easy thing to grow.

[jenny]

You have the best ideas. I love this and so did my little boy. He chopped his radish up into a hundred pieces with my pocketknife. Jenny

[Anla]

Lots of Gardening fun! Have you used radishes to dye yarn?I was wondering how the color turned out.

[Maria]

so cool and fun, such special moments