3D Printers Can Make Vegetables And Fruits More Appealing To Children Researchers Suggest
Millions of children in the US eat fast food and other junk food on a regular basis and many parents say that they find that trying to entice them to eat healthier food options can sometimes be a very difficult task.
A variety of creative methods might be employed to try and interest the child in eating something other than chips and candy, such as trying to present the healthier food in a more appealing way, but for some it seems like there is nothing that will work.
Researchers think that the solution might rest with 3D printing technology
A team of researchers with the University of Foggia, located in Italy, suggest that by 3D printing the vegetables and fruits, that it might be a better option for persuading the children to eat them. Why is that? Because the 3D printer would be able to create unique shapes with the vegetables and fruits.
They've detailed their results in the Journal of Food Engineering.
The team tested their idea out by blending beans, mushrooms, and a banana, with some milk, and then they poured that mix of ingredients into their 3D printer.
They were able to print a snack that resembled an octopus (see image above) and they think that this process might some day become commonplace in homes, schools, and other locations, all around the world.
There are many food items that children will turn away from, unless the item is presented to them in a more appealing way.
Could the 3D printer be used like a sort of Easy-Bake oven to create food that includes interesting shaped items with ingredients that the child might like but otherwise might not have tried?
Printing out food in this way, researchers suggest, is also a great opportunity for children to learn about different textures, forms, and flavors, that they can work and experiment with in order to come up with unique combinations.
3D printers have come a long way and made their way into numerous industries, with one of them being the food market. You can find 3D printers being used to create intricate chocolate designs, pizzas, cheese, being used in nursing homes to print jelly-like foods, and in many other settings.
Does it take a 3D printer in order to get a child interested in eating healthier? Maybe not. Previous research suggests that when children take part in the growing process of those fruits and vegetables, that they are going to be far more likely to try and enjoy eating them.
Pics:
Pixabay
3dprintingindustry
The Times via 3dprint.com/182077/3d-printed-vegetables-for-kids/
Willy Wonka via Giphy
Sources:
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-sn-fast-food-calories-kids-20150915-story.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/many-u-s-kids-eat-fast-food-every-day/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/vegetables-3d-printers-shapes-university-of-foggia-journal-of-food-engineering-a7855511.html
https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/11-food-3d-printers-36052/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/01/you-might-be-able-to-3d-print-food-but-would-you-eat-it
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jul/15/school-dinners-meals-kids-cooking-vegetables-marlborough-primary-school-cornwall
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/3d-printed-veg-to-tempt-fussy-kids-hrjfs5dfl
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0260877417302133
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The Creative Potential Of 3D Printing
https://steemit.com/health/@doitvoluntarily/the-creative-potential-of-3d-printing
3D Printing An Object Using Just Your Mind
https://steemit.com/technology/@doitvoluntarily/3d-printing-an-object-using-just-your-mind
3D Printers: Pizza, Chocolate, and Now Cheese.
https://steemit.com/science/@doitvoluntarily/3d-printers-pizza-chocolate-and-now-cheese
I was stunned when I understood, that 3D printers can even print houses :D
This is a great invention, it will help children to eat healthy food at the same time, they will like it, they will play with food and eat various crafts! Thanks, this is very interesting !! Greetings and more such kind articles!
As the father of a 2 year old, I can tell you, you can turn that broccoli into a walking talking Mickey Mouse, he's still not eating it!
lol!
I wasn't sure what to expect when I was reading this article, but that's actually pretty cool! I bet that will help quite a bit. :)
it think it's great methodology to attract the children towards healthy food like vegetables and fruits because now a days our kids are so choosy about food and they always like the junk food or fast food which is not good for our kids on regular basis if we consume these foods so to attract towards vegetables and fruits this 3d printing strategy is so good by making the favurite characters of our kids in the shape of ruits and vegs so that i hope they all will attract towards this and will eat with their heart and they can be healthy more than before , research is making so many things easy and this thing will be more beneficial for those parents who are so worried about the food and appetite problems of their kids, good initiative by researcher and so good to see this on steemit thanks for sharing this on steemit, steem on
It is amazing we have been raising kids all these years without 3D printed vegetables. I wonder how past children survived?
hahaha!!
I really want to eat dinosaur right now!! :D Great post.
3D printers are awesome! I dream about one, which can print me a pizza like this :D I heard this process takes only 4 minutes :)
hahah this is great.
Bringing processed foods the next level.
vow so amazhing ! follow and upvote , hope upvote me too . thanks !