Play food that's not an actual toy?

[LoveOurBabies]

What are some real foods that can be used for play food (as an alternative to purchasing wooden and felt playfood)? It can't rot, disinegrate or be a disaster to clean up.

So far all I can think of is:

Brown rice

Dried beans, peas and lentils (this would make a nice mix in a cute little tin, particularly if different colours are combined like green, red, yellow, white and brown)

???

Please help me brainstorm!

[Polliwog]

Whole flax seed is really nice but you have to keep it dry. Wet flax is a totally different experience.

We don't, however, use food for play at home or at school. Too many people are hungry in this country (and our town,) and I don't believe it's right to use it for play. Cooking is one thing, play is another.

[LoveOurBabies]

Originally Posted by Polliwog 

Whole flax seed is really nice but you have to keep it dry. Wet flax is a totally different experience.

We don't, however, use food for play at home or at school. Too many people are hungry in this country (and our town,) and I don't believe it's right to use it for play. Cooking is one thing, play is another.

Food for cooking and play are vastly different. Food used for cooking purposes has a time limit once it has been cooked. It is safe to say that there is far more wastage in cooked food as it is not always consumed before it becomes unsuitable, unless you make a conscious effort to do so.

Food for play is roughly the amount of 10 ounces combined (put in various small tins and jars), used everyday for educational purposes for months and doesn't contribute to our environments demise as much as 'toy' food does, provided the food purchased is organic and locally produced. I can understand not using real food in a school setting as the sheer amount of children would render any effort to keep the food dry and clean, void. I'm not sure if there was confusion regarding this, but we won't be using water with the play food - It is to stay dry.

I'd be proud to say that we use 'real food' in our play kitchen. My not using real food for play doesn't put an extra meal on someone's table - The 10 ounces of food replenished once every 3 months won't make an ounce (excuse the pun) of difference to anyone. You need 10 ounces three times a day to keep a person nourished.

We've experienced getting-kicked-out-of-your-house poverty, growing up, and I live in a low socioeconomic area by choice - I'm certainly not immune to implications of poverty. Thank you for your suggestion of flax seeds, but I really did not appreciate the moral disclaimer at the end.

There are real ways to tackle poverty locally (just in case anyone was wondering). From our personal experience: Buy extra bags or tins of food and give it to your struggling neighbour or local food bank. Invite your neighbours over for dinner when you know it's the critical time between a dwindling bank account and the next pay. If you feel your food won't be eaten in time, give it away to someone who can use it in time, even if it's only got another day or two left on it. Take advantage of the discounts of buying in bulk and split the food (instead of hoarding). Whenever you are blessed with excess, release it back into the world.

[kitchensqueen]

What about using empty containers - cleaned out yogurt containers, empty cereal and pasta boxes, etc? You could use cans too, if you have a can opener that leaves a smooth edge. 

[LoveOurBabies]

Originally Posted by kitchensqueen 

What about using empty containers - cleaned out yogurt containers, empty cereal and pasta boxes, etc? You could use cans too, if you have a can opener that leaves a smooth edge. 

Thanks for the ideas. Already preparing these!

So far I've got:

Haba peas and carrots tin (play food)

Small cellophane bag of multi-colored dried pasta spirals

Small cellophane bag of mixed dried beans (multi-colored)

Small (empty and cleaned) carton of milk

Small (empty) cereal box

My can opener sucks so I'll have to pass on the tinned stuff.

[Valval]

If you tightly pack the empty boxes and cartons with newspaper and then wrap them with with clear contact paper or packing tape you can get years of use out of them. 

I've had even the most careful children accidentally sit on boxes and squish them, not to mention the ones who enjoy stomping them.  This method also allows them to stand up to being rotated in and out. 

If you amass a big enough collection they can even make great building blocks. 

[LaughingHyena]

We've made a few things from salt dough. The dough I use is 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of salt and enough water to make it into a dough. Once you have made your models they need drying out thoroughly. I usually leave them in the oven on it's lowest setting but anywhere warm and dry should be fine.

After drying you can paint them, we just use our normal kids paint. If you want them to last well then a coat of varnish or something to seal them is a good idea. I sometimes add a bit of PVA glue to the paint if I'm not planning on varnishing them.

It's not great for making big things as they take too long to dry out and are quite heavy, however the kids have really enjoyed making gingerbread men, jam tarts, even cutting out plain circles and painting them as slices of tomato and cucumber.

[Youngfrankenstein]

We have used popcorn or field corn in a sandbox type way.  It shouldn't get wet obviously.  Maybe oats or lentils or dried beans?

[tbone_kneegrabber]

Whole spices?
Cinnamon sticks
Star anise
Nutmeg (although I saw on MDC one time something about nutmeg being dangerous if swallowed whole?)
Cloves etc
Coffee beans

Pasta
Rice (we use rice in the 'sensory' table at school)