Recipe for vegetable-based paint

Painting is an activity that children love from a very young age. It is fun, enjoyable, economical, and helps to develop creativity, imagination, and fine motor skills. You can offer this activity from as young as 12 months, depending on the child's interest.

Vegetable-based paint: what is it?

Made from fruits or vegetables, vegetable-based paint is very simple to make using what you have in the fridge. This homemade paint is also great fun because it can even be prepared with the help of your children, so they can take part in the activity from start to finish.

What are the benefits?

Vegetable-based paint is an excellent alternative to the conventional paint we all know. First of all, it is better suited to children — no need to worry if they put it in their mouths or get covered in it, as it will wash off very quickly. Next, from a zero-waste, ecological, and economical perspective, vegetable-based paint far outshines industrial paint. And finally, there is no need to rush to the shops to buy a particular colour — you can mix your own shades, experiment, and create, all while having fun!

Vegetable-based paint recipe

Depending on the colours you want to achieve, you will need various fruits and vegetables. Choose seasonal produce where possible, and use what you already have in the fridge so there is no expense involved:

- Pink paint:

You will simply need a beetroot, which you grate finely. Then place the grated beetroot in an old cloth and squeeze it over a ramekin to collect the juice. And there you have it — a beautiful beetroot-pink paint!

- Yellow paint:

You will need 2 peeled yellow onions, which you place in a saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of water and bring to the boil. Stir regularly until you achieve a yellow colour. The longer the mixture cooks, the more it will turn orange — stop when you are happy with the colour. All that remains is to strain the mixture and pour it into a ramekin.

- Tip for toddlers:

If you would like to introduce your child to the joys of painting but they are still too young to use a brush, try finger painting. You can melt a few squares of chocolate in the microwave to create a fun and tasty paint. Be warned, you will almost certainly need a bib...!