MAKING FOOD

MODELS
 Making Food Models

Table of Contents

Vegetables & Fruit zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Page 3
Grain Products zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Page 7
Milk & Alternatives zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Meat & Alternatives zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Page 15

There are no recommended Food Guide Servings, or identified Food Guide

Serving sizes for Foods to Limit. Health Canada recommends limiting foods
and beverages that are high in calories, fat, sugar or salt (sodium).

To get copies of Canada’s Food Guide you can go to the Health Canada website at
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide or call 1-800-622-6232

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 Making Food Models

Vegetables & Fruit

1. Carrot sticks, diced carrots - pipe cleaner models

Materials:
• orange, wide pipe cleaners (also called wide chenille)
• scissors
• white glue
• acrylic plate

To Make:
Cut 20 pieces of orange pipe cleaner, each 6 cm (2.5 in.) in length to
represent one Food Guide Serving of raw carrot sticks. Stack together and
glue to plate with white glue. For diced carrots, cut pipe cleaner into 1 cm
(1/2 in.) lengths, enough to fill a 125 mL (1/2 cup) measure. Glue these
together on a place to represent 1 Food Guide Serving of diced carrots.
It takes about 6 pipe cleaners to make 1 Food Guide Serving of Vegetables & Fruit
as diced carrots.

1 medium carrot cut into 20 thin sticks = 1 Food Guide Serving Vegetables & Fruit
125 mL (1/2 cup) diced carrots = 1 Food Guide Serving Vegetables & Fruit

2. Green beans, zucchini sticks - pipe cleaner models

Materials:
• green wide pipe cleaners
• scissors
• white glue
• acrylic plate

To Make:
Follow same instructions as for carrot models, substituting
green pipe cleaners to represent green beans or zucchini
sticks.

1 small zucchini cut into 20 sticks = 1 Food Guide Serving Vegetables & Fruit
20 green beans = 1 Food Guide Serving Vegetables & Fruit
125 mL (1/2 cup) green beans or zucchini sticks = 1 Food Guide Serving Vegetables & Fruit

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 Making Food Models

3. Cooked corn, peas or carrots - dried beans model (Figure 8)

Materials:
• 1 litre (4 cups) or more dried garbanzo • spray paint – green, yellow and orange
beans (if making small amount, get smallest
• white glue can available)
• aluminum foil • acrylic plates
• measuring cups

To Make:
Measure out 375 mL (1 ½) or more of dried beans onto a sheet of aluminum foil. Spray paint
these green and allow to dry. Turn them over and spray paint again to colour all beans. Allow to
dry thoroughly. Measure two more batches of fried beans and spray paint yellow and orange,
following instructions as above. When dry, measure 125 mL of the painted dried beans. Glue to a
place to represent 1 Food Guide Serving of Vegetables & Fruits as cooked peas (green), carrots
(orange) or corn (yellow) [figure 8].

125 mL (1/2 cup) of cooked vegetables = 1 Food Guide Serving Vegetables & Fruit

Figure 8. Painted dried beans food model of cooked vegetables

4. Fruit or vegetable juice - sponge in tumblers model

Materials:
• metric measure or measuring cup
• 2 acrylic tumblers (one short and wide; one
tall and narrow)
• water soluble pen
• water
• dish towel
• yellow sponge

To Make:
Measure 125 mL (1/2 cup) of water into each tumbler.
Mark the level with a felt pen. Dry the tumblers. Cut
and place yellow sponge inside tumblers to the
marked points to represent 1 Food Guide Serving of Vegetables & Fruit as juice.

125 mL (1/2 cup) of juice = 1 Food Guide Serving Vegetables & Fruit

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 Making Food Models

5. Baked Potato – salt and flour dough model (Figure 9-10)

Materials:
• 2 cups white all-purpose flour • paintbrushes
• cookie sheet • mixing bowl
• 1 cup salt • aluminum foil
• brown and gold acrylic paints • mixing spoon
• 1 cup cold water

To Make:
Mix together the flour, salt and water to make a dough and knead for 7-10 minutes until it forms a
smooth ball. Measure out approximately 200 mL of dough and shape into an oblong potato-like
shape. A few bumps and uneven areas will make it look more like a potato than an absolutely
smooth ball. Make the bottom fairly flat so the potato can easily sit on a plate.
On the flat underside, scoop out a shallow segment of dough so that the potato will not be as
heavy and will bake more thoroughly (Figure 9). Make a shallow cut cross-wise and another
length-wise at the top of the potato and spread apart slightly (Figure 10). Bake at low oven
temperature 90-110°C (200-225° F) until completely dry, approximately 4-6 hours. Shut the oven
off when the dough is completely baked and allow to cook in the oven.
When dry, paint the top surface and let dry. Wrap the bottom half of the food model in aluminum
foil. This represents 1 Food Guide Serving of Vegetables & Fruit as baked potato.

Figure 9. Scooping out excess dough from underside of Figure 10. Salt and flour food model of baked potato
baked potato food model

Option:
For quicker results, use air-hardening clay (such as DAS) to form the baked potato model instead
of salt and flour dough.

1 medium potato = 1 Food Guide Serving Vegetables & Fruit

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 Making Food Models
Grain Products Food Models

1. Crackers - corrugated cardboard squares (Figure 5)

Materials:
• corrugated cardboard
• pencil
• scissors
• ruler
• tack

To Make:
Cut 5 squares measuring 5 cm x 5 cm
(2 in. x 2 in.) each to represent soda
crackers. With a thick tack, poke holes
approximately 0.5 cm (1/4 inch) apart in
even rows over the top of each cracker (Figure 5). This will represent a 1 Food Guide Serving of
Grain Products as crackers.

5 soda crackers = 1 Food Guide Serving Grain Products

Figure 5. Corrugated cardboard food model showing 1 Food Guide Serving of soda crackers

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 Making Food Models

2. Pita Bread - beige felt model (Figure 6)

Materials:
• 20 cm (8 in.) square beige felt
• white glue
• scissors

To Make:
Using the template for pita bread (Figure 6), cut two half circles with a diameter of 15-20 cm (6-8
in.) out of the felt. Place a small amount of glue along the outer edge of one half. Glue two halves
together at the edges to represent one half piece of pita bread. This will represent 1 Food Guide
Serving of Grain Products as bread.

One half of a 15-20 cm (6-8 in.) pita bread = 1 Food Guide Serving Grain Products

Figure 6. Template for pita bread

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 Making Food Models

3. Spaghetti – yarn food model (Figure 7)

Materials:
• small skein ivory yarn (4 ply) or thin macramé cord
• scissors
• metric measure or measuring cup
• white glue
• acrylic plate

To Make:
Measure 250 mL (1 cup) of yarn. Make “spaghetti” bundles out of the yarn and glue to plate
(Figure 7). This will represent 2 Food Guide Servings of Grain Products as pasta.

125 mL (1/2 cup) pasta = 1 Food Guide Serving Grain Products

250 mL ( 1 cup) pasta = 2 Food Guide Servings Grain Products

Figure 7 – Yarn food model of spaghetti

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 Making Food Models

4. Dry Cereal - real cereal, weighed

Materials:
• 250 mL flaked cereal (e.g. corn flakes)
• 500 mL puffed cereal (e.g. puffed wheat)
• 60 mL granola cereal
• 75 mL dense cereal (e.g. bran buds)
• 3-4 acrylic bowls
• white glue
• glue gun and approximately 3 glue sticks per bowl
• weigh scale
• optional: small storage containers for pre-measured cereals

To Make:
Weigh out 30 grams of each type of cereal. Depending on the
type of cereal, the amount (volume) will be different.
Glue cereals into bowls. White glue will work with the granola
and flaked cereals, but will make the puffed cereal soggy. To
avoid this, use a glue gun. The most effective way to glue the
cereal into the bowls is to layer the glue and the cereal until 1/3
of the cereal remains. The remaining third should be glued on
top in a heaping style. These will represent 1 Food Guide
Serving of Grain Products as cereals.

30 grams (1 oz.) dry cereal = 1 Food Guide Serving Grain Products

250 mL (1 cup) flaked cereal = 1 Food Guide Serving Grain Products (e.g. cornflakes)
500 mL (2 cups) puffed cereal = 1 Food Guide Serving Grain Products (e.g. puffed rice)
60 mL (1/4 cup) granola = 1 Food Guide Serving Grain Products
75 mL (1/3 cup) dense cereal = 1 Food Guide Serving Grain Products (e.g. bran buds)

NOTE: These foods are perishable. As a precaution, they should be kept dry and cool in a
covered storage container.

Option:
This takes a lot of gluing. So rather than gluing, you could just keep a measured portion of each
cereal in a covered container. Pour the cereal into a bowl for teaching purposes, then replace in
the storage container.

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 Making Food Models

Milk & Alternatives Food Models

1. Milk - sponge models in different sizes of tumblers (Figures 1-3)

Materials:
• 2 acrylic tumblers (one short and wide, • white foam sponge
one tall and narrow) • water
• water soluble felt pen • scissors or utility blade
• metric measure or measuring cup • dish towel

To Make:
Measure 250 mL (1 cup) of water into each of the tumblers. Mark the height on the outside of the
tumblers with felt pen. Empty the glasses and dry. Cut white foam (Figure 1) and place inside the
tumblers to the marked points (Figure 2). These represent 1 Food Guide Serving of Milk &
Alternatives as milk.

250 mL (1 cup) = 1 Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives

Figure 1. Cut the foam to fit into the tumbler

Figure 2. Place foam inside the tumbler Figure 3. Foam sponge food models of milk in tumblers

Note: Explain that amounts “look” different, even though they measure the same, because
different sizes of tumblers have been used.

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 Making Food Models

2. Processed cheese spread - clay model on a spoon (Figure 4)

Materials:
• air hardening clay (such as DAS brand) • tablespoon or 15 mL measure
• white glue • acrylic paints (orange and white)
• paint brush

To Make:
Measure 15 mL (1 tablespoon) of clay; mount onto spoon and allow to harden; paint the clay
model an orange colour. If the orange colour is too deep, tint with white until a “cheddar cheese”
colour is obtained. Glue the clay on the spoon to represent 1/3 Food Guide Serving of Milk &
Alternatives as processed cheese spread.

30 mL (2 Tbsp) of processed cheese spread = 1/2 Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives
60 mL (4 Tbsp) of processed cheese spread = 1 Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives

Figure 4. Clay food model of processed cheese spread on spoon

3. Firm Cheese - sponge model

Materials:
• scissors or utility blade
• orange sponge

To Make:
Cut a piece of orange sponge 7.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm
(3 in. x 1 in. x 1 in.) to represent 1 Food Guide Serving of
Milk & Alternatives as cheddar cheese.

50 g cheese (~ 1½ oz.) = 1 Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives

Option:
Using flour and salt dough or air-hardening clay such as DAS, you could also mould a one Food
Guide Serving size rectangle to represent firm cheese.

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 Making Food Models

4. Cottage cheese - styrofoam pieces in a bowl

Materials:
• white glue • mixing spoon
• 1 acrylic cereal bowl • Styrofoam chips, crushed finely to
• metric measure or measuring cup resemble cottage cheese curd

To Make:
Measure out 250 mL (1 cup) of Styrofoam chips (if too big, break them up using your fingers). Stir
the chips with the glue and allow to dry in the bowl. The white glue will wash off the spoon with
water. This represents ½ Food Guide Serving of Milk & Alternatives as cottage cheese.

500 mL (2 cups) cottage cheese = 1 Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives
250 mL (1 cup) cottage cheese = ½ Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives
125 mL (½ cup) cottage cheese = ¼ Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives

5. Ice cream - Styrofoam ball model in a bowl

Materials:
• 1 Styrofoam ball – 6.5 cm in diameter
• 2-3 large cotton balls
• white glue
• utility knife
• 1 acrylic dessert dish

To Make:
Cut a small piece of the end off one 6.5 cm diameter styrofoam ball. Stretch cotton balls around
the styrofoam ball and glue in place. Glue the stryofoam ball into a dessert nappy to represent ½
Food Guide Serving of Milk & Alternatives as ice cream.

375 mL (1 ½ cups) ice cream = 1 Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives
175 mL (3/4 cup) ice cream = ½ Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives

6. Chocolate Milkshakes
Materials:
• 1 tall acrylic tumbler • white glue
• metric measure or measuring cup • dishtowel
• 15 cm square (6 in.) tan coloured felt • water soluble felt pen
remnant • water
• scissors

To Make:
Measure 250 mL (1 cup) water into a glass and mark the level with a felt pen. Empty the glass
and dry. Cut felt to fit around the inside of the glass and up to the marked level. Glue to the inside
of the glass to represent 1 Food Guide Serving of Milk & Alternatives as a milkshake.

250 mL (1 cup) commercial milkshake = 1 Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives

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 Making Food Models

7. Strawberry yogurt - sponge model in a small bowl

Materials:
• 1 acrylic bowl
• 1 large pink sponge
• scissors or utility blade
• water soluble felt pen
• metric measure or measuring cup
• water
• dish towel

To Make:
Measure 175 mL (3/4 cup) of water, pour into bowl and mark the height on the outside of the bowl
with a felt pen. Empty the bowl and dry. Cut the pink sponge and place inside the dish to the
marked point. This represents 1 Food Guide Serving of Milk & Alternatives as yogurt.

175 g or 175 mL (3/4 cup) yogurt = 1 Food Guide Serving Milk & Alternatives

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 Making Food Models

Meat & Alternatives Food Models

1. Peanut butter - clay model

Materials:
• air-hardening clay (such as DAS brand)
• medium brown acrylic paint
• paintbrush
• tablespoon or 15 mL metric measure
• butter knife

To Make:
Measure out 15 mL (1 tablespoon) of clay, shape and
allow to dry; paint and glue to butter knife to represent
a ½ Food Guide Serving of Meat and Alternatives as
peanut butter.

30 mL (2 tablespoons) peanut butter = 1 Food Guide Serving Meat & Alternatives

15 mL (1 tablespoons) peanut butter = ½ Food Guide Serving Meat & Alternatives

2. Baked Beans – dried beans model

Materials:
white glue
cereal bowl
175 mL (3/4 cup) dry kidney or navy beans
aluminum foil
brown spray paint (shoe spray in the shade of “bark” works well)

To Make:
Measure out 175 mL (3/4 cup) of dry beans onto a piece of aluminum foil. Spray paint one side
and allow to dry. Turn the beans and spray paint the remaining side. Let dry thoroughly. Glue into
bowl to represent one Food Guide Serving of Meat & Alternatives as baked beans.

175 mL (3/4 cup) baked beans = 1 Food Guide Serving Meat & Alternatives

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 Making Food Models

3. Egg – flexible foam model

Materials:
• 2 flexible foam sheets*, white
12 cm (5 in.) square
• 2 flexible foam sheets, yellow,
5 cm (2 in.) square
• scissors
• white glue

*NOTE: Colorful, thin flexible foam sheets

can be cut to any shape

To Make:
Cut a 10 cm (4 in.) x 7.5 cm (3 in.) piece of white foam into an irregular cooked egg shape. Cut a
4 cm (1 ½ in.) circle from the yellow foam for the yolk. Glue the yolk to the white piece to
represent 1 Food Guide Serving of Meat & Alternatives as an egg, sunny side up.

2 eggs = 1 Food Guide Serving Meat & Alternatives

4. Meatballs – painted Styrofoam balls model

Materials:
• approximately 3 Styrofoam balls, 4 • white glue
cm (1 ½ in.) diameter • acrylic plate
• medium brown acrylic paint • tooth picks
• paint brush

To Make:
Insert tooth pick into Styrofoam ball to hold them while painting. Paint the Styrofoam balls a
brown color. Glue to plate with white glue to represent 1 Food Guide Serving of Meat &
Alternatives as meatballs.

75 g (2 ½oz.) meatballs = 1 Food Guide Serving Meat & Alternatives

3- 4cm (1 ½ oz.) meatballs = 1 Food Guide Serving Meat & Alternatives

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