Painting with Vegetables

It's fun to play with your food when it creates such interesting patterns with paint.

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Jonathan Fong

August 4, 2022

I was chopping vegetables for dinner one night when a broccoli floret fell on the floor. Before my dog could grab it and scarf it down, I picked up the piece of broccoli, wondering if it qualified to be saved under the “5 Second Rule.” I decided not to include it in that night’s stir fry, and instead use it for painting. That’s right, painting. It’s fun to play with your food when it creates such interesting patterns with paint.

There are a few different vegetables that work well with painting. And worry not, it only takes a tiny piece, or even discarded scraps, to do the trick, so you’re not wasting food.

Just dip the vegetables in paint, and apply to paper. Perhaps this will inspire you to create art with other scavenged items from the kitchen. Think lemon peels, ends of carrots, apple cores, celery leaves or the empty shells of pomegranates..You’ll never look at your grocery list the same again.

Broccoli florets create a beautiful splatter pattern. Use it to paint delicate flowers that look like hydrangeas or baby’s breath.

Cauliflower florets create more solid splatter, perfect for leaves and an impressionistic version of flowers.

The cut ends of baby bok chop create rose shapes.

Use the stem of the broccoli floret to draw lines or details within the flowers.

Jonathan Fong is the author of “Flowers That Wow” and “Parties That Wow,” and host of “Style With a Smile” on YouTube. You can see more of his do-it-yourself projects at jonathanfongstyle.com.