Mother’s Day has passed, the weather is warming up, and Father’s Day is just around the corner. But nestled right in the middle of these family celebrations is a unique holiday that often flies under the radar. It is time to get your paintbrushes and glue sticks ready because May 21st is National Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day!
While getting kids to eat their greens (and reds, and yellows) can sometimes be a battle, getting them to craft with them is always a win. Combining art with nutrition education is a fantastic way to make healthy food feel familiar and fun.
In this guide, we are diving into 20 Fabulous Fruit Crafts for Kids. These activities are perfect for summer camps, classroom projects, or just a lazy Thursday afternoon. Let’s celebrate nature’s candy with some color and creativity!
What is “Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day”?
Before we jump into the crafting, let’s set the stage. Why does this day exist?
Started by the Dole Food Company in 2015, this holiday falls on the Thursday before Memorial Day. The goal was simple but urgent: obesity rates were rising, and families needed a reminder to prioritize fresh produce. The American Heart Association suggests filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables for optimum health.
Crafting fruit shapes doesn’t just keep hands busy; it sparks conversations about healthy eating. When a child paints a strawberry or builds a grape cluster, they are building a positive association with that food.
The Ultimate Crafting Supply List
To get started with these 20 crafts, you don’t need expensive equipment. You likely have most of these items in your “junk drawer” or craft bin:
- Paper Plates (The cheaper, uncoated ones work best for painting)
- Construction Paper (Red, Green, Yellow, Orange)
- Tissue Paper
- Bubble Wrap
- Egg Cartons
- Non-toxic Paint & Markers
- Glue Sticks & Scissors
- Popsicle Sticks
20 Juicy Fruit Crafts for Kids
We have categorized these crafts to help you find exactly what you need, whether you are looking for a quick paper plate project or a sensory-rich activity.
Category 1: The Paper Plate Orchard
Paper plates are the perfect canvas for fruit because of their round shape and textured edges.
1. The Classic Watermelon Slice Cut a paper plate in half. Paint the rim green and the center vibrant pink or red. The fun part? Let the kids use their fingertips dipped in black paint to stamp the “seeds,” or glue on dried black beans for texture.
2. The Handprint Pineapple This is a keepsake favorite. Paint the center of a whole paper plate yellow. Draw crisscross lines to create the pineapple skin texture. Then, trace the child’s hand on green paper, cut it out, and glue it to the top of the plate to act as the spiky crown.
3. Paper Plate Citrus Wheels Lemon, lime, and orange slices are synonymous with summer. Cut triangles out of the center of a plate to leave “spokes,” creating a wheel shape. Paint them bright yellow, green, or orange. These look amazing when hung in a window as suncatchers!
4. The Bitten Apple Paint a plate red. Once dry, cut a curved shape out of the sides to make it look like an apple core. Paint the center vertical strip white/cream and draw seeds. It’s a funny twist on the traditional apple craft.
5. The Fuzzy Peach Paint a plate with a mix of orange and pink to get that sunset peach color. To mimic the “fuzz,” you can gently dab a cotton ball over the wet paint or glue a layer of tissue paper on top.
Category 2: 3D and Upcycled Fruits
Teach sustainability by turning trash into treasure with these recycled material crafts.
6. Egg Carton Grapes Don’t throw away that egg box! Cut out the individual cups. Paint them purple or green. Glue them onto a piece of cardstock in a triangular cluster shape. Add a pipe cleaner stem. This creates a wonderful 3D pop-out art piece.
7. Toilet Roll Strawberries Take an empty toilet paper roll and paint it red. Once dry, use a black marker to draw little seeds all over. Glue green paper leaves inside the top of the tube. These can stand up on their own, making them great for play-pretend grocery stores.
8. Bubble Wrap Printed Corn & Pineapples Okay, corn is a veggie/grain, but this technique works perfectly for pineapples too! Cut bubble wrap into an oval shape. Paint the bubbles yellow and orange. Press it onto white paper. The bubbles create a perfect honeycomb texture that looks just like pineapple skin.
9. Balloon Fruit Garland Blow up small water balloons (don’t add water, just air) so they are round or slightly oval. Tape green paper leaves to the knot. String them together to create a “bunch of grapes” or a festive fruit garland for a summer party.
10. Sponge-Painted Melons Cut kitchen sponges into triangular wedges. Dip them in red paint and stamp them onto paper. Then dip the bottom edge in green paint for the rind. It’s a mess-free way for toddlers to create watermelon art.
Category 3: Fine Motor Skill Builders
These crafts require pinching, scrunching, and threading—excellent for developing hand muscles.
11. Tissue Paper Scrunch Apple Draw a large apple outline on paper. Give the child squares of red tissue paper. Have them scrunch the paper into tiny balls and glue them inside the lines until the apple is filled. This is great for patience and dexterity.
12. Fruit Loop Necklaces Edible crafting is always a hit! Give kids a piece of yarn with a taped end (to act as a needle) and a bowl of Fruit Loops cereal. Have them thread the loops to make a rainbow necklace. It’s a snack and a craft in one.
13. Button Art Cherries Draw a simple stem and leaf on cardstock. Have the child glue two large red buttons at the bottom of the stems. Simple, cute, and minimalist.
14. Perler Bead Pixel Fruit For older kids, using Perler (melty) beads is a great way to make retro, pixel-style fruit icons. They can make strawberries, watermelon slices, or bananas. Once ironed, glue magnets to the back for instant fridge decor.
15. Yarn Wrapped Bananas Cut a banana shape out of sturdy cardboard. Give the child yellow yarn and have them wrap it around and around the cardboard until it is completely covered. This wrapping motion is excellent for coordination.
Category 4: Creative & Keepsake
16. Origami Strawberries Using red origami paper, follow a simple folding tutorial to create angular, geometric strawberries. Use a green marker to color the top tip for the leaves. These look great glued onto handmade greeting cards.
17. Fruit Rock Painting Go on a nature walk and find smooth, round stones. Use acrylic paint to transform them into strawberries (red with dots), avocados (dark green outside, light green inside), or oranges. These can be used as paperweights or garden markers.
18. Paper Fan Watermelon Take a rectangular piece of red paper. Color one long edge green. Accordion-fold the paper (back and forth). Fold the whole strip in half and glue the center edges together. When you open it, it forms a semi-circle fan that looks like a watermelon slice!
19. Footprint Carrots & Strawberries Paint the child’s foot orange (for a carrot) or red (for a strawberry) and stamp it onto paper. Add green leaves at the heel. These make adorable memories to look back on as they grow.
20. Suncatcher Fruit Slices Cut the center out of a paper plate. Stick a piece of clear contact paper over the hole. Let kids stick squares of yellow and orange tissue paper onto the sticky side. When hung in the window, the light shines through the “citrus” beautifully.
Why Crafting Helps with “Picky Eaters”
You might be wondering, “How does gluing paper help my child eat broccoli?”
Psychologists and nutritionists agree that exposure is key. Many children refuse fruits or vegetables because they are unfamiliar with the texture or look. By handling representations of these foods in a low-pressure environment (craft time vs. dinner time), the anxiety surrounding the food decreases.
- Talk while you craft: “Look how bumpy this raspberry craft is! Real raspberries are bumpy too. They taste sweet and tart.”
- Color association: “We are using so much green paint for this kiwi. Did you know kiwis are fuzzy on the outside?”
Conclusion
This May 21st, on National Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day, take a moment to slow down and create something colorful with your kids. Whether you are stamping sponges to make watermelons or turning egg cartons into grape clusters, you are making memories.
These 20 fabulous fruit crafts are more than just busy work; they are a celebration of summer, health, and imagination.