Rainbow Food Ideas for Easter or a Kid's Party

Rainbows are fascinating to children and serving rainbow food can be a good opportunity to teach kids how rainbows are formed. Let your kids help in making some of the rainbow food ideas in this article while you tell them some rainbows facts.

Here are some fun ways to teach them about these colorful creations while in the kitchen:

• Let them add the drops of food coloring into each bowl while explaining that rain droplets are an important part of how a rainbow is made.
• Let them take a toothpick and swirl the colors if you are making a cake with rainbow swirls. Explain to them how the sunlight separates the colors.
• Let them pour sprinkles on top of the icing for double the rainbow effect while you discuss with them about double rainbows and how they are formed.

What child doesn't like rainbows? I remember getting excited whenever I spotted a rainbow, no matter how big or small. It could be just a tiny one in a corner of our driveway after washing a car or one that filled the sky and could be seen from a far distance while we drove down the highway. Either way, I remember always searching for one after the rain cleared. It was also fun to think about what was at the end of the rainbow!

When kids see a rainbow, whether it be in the sky, a book or on a cupcake, it can spark a smile on their face. Parties are a place where you want to keep kids smiling, happy and actually wanting to eat the food!

So, why not add a swirl or a sprinkle of rainbows into the food for your next gathering with children? See the fun ideas below!

You can buy ready-made decorating icing or make your own buttercream icing.

You Will Need:

• 1 stick of butter
• 1/2 cup of vegetable shortening
• 4 cups of powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk or water, adding more if icing is too thick
• Vanilla extract for flavor
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix butter, vegetable shortening, water or milk and vanilla extract.
2. Stir in powdered sugar and salt until well-combined. It is easier to mix the icing using an electric mixer. Add in more milk or water, if necessary.
3. Separate icing into separate bowls and drop in a different color of food gel into each bowl. Start with one drop at a time and stir well until you achieve the desired color.
4. Put a different colored icing one at a time in piping bag. Squeeze out icing in a circular motion on top of cupcake.

Keep reading below for a white cupcake rainbow recipe.

Marshmallows are a favorite treat for kids. You can use marshmallows as clouds for your rainbow food. You can also sprinkle rainbow-colored sprinkles onto marshmallows for quick, colorful marshmallow pops. Try sprinkling one color of each sprinkle color onto marshmallows and color coordinate them into the rainbow spectrum.

There are multiple ways to eat the rainbow. In the video here, it shows a simple way to create rainbow pasta, a fun way for your kids to enjoy eating spaghetti for dinner or for you to serve at a party.

You do not always have to use food coloring to make rainbow food, however. Just get creative using:

• candy
• fruits
• vegetables
• sprinkles
• Jello powder

I recently discovered a pasta noodle substitute using the vegetable, squash. It is a healthy substitute and the different colors that squash come in can make a rainbow on your plate as long as you use a variety of squash. Here is a link to my blog post if you are interested in how to make this simple squash noodles recipe:

Easy Squash Pasta Noodles

I think rainbows are one of the most beautiful things that exist. They are a gift and seeing one is always a pleasure. Brighten up your next party or someone's day by making them a rainbow treat. Somewhere over that rainbow, whether it be rainbow spaghetti or rainbow cupcakes... there is sure to be a happy face!

©BNadyn 2014