Just in time for the school holidays, Love Fresh Berries have created two fun-filled activities perfect for keeping the kids busy this Easter and making the most of any leftover berries.
With a handful of leftover berries that may have gone a little soft, you can keep children occupied and cut down on food waste. This Easter, put those leftover berries to good use with an edible slime sure to keep the little ones entertained for hours. Or parents and kids alike can revamp old clothes and give their wardrobe a refresh with a Tie Dye recipe.
Berry Slime
We all know kids have been obsessed with the slime trend this year, but have you heard about edible berry slime?
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons of cornflour
1 ½ cups of water
4 tablespoons of icing sugar
2-3 extra tablespoons of icing sugar (for your hands)
Food colouring (optional)
1 cup of berries (any berries you have left over)
Method:
● Place the cornflour into a bowl with the water and place in the microwave for 30 seconds.
● Stir and heat for a further 30 seconds
● Stir again and put in the microwave for a further minute, until you can see the mixture bubbling
● Stir in the food colouring and leave to cool
● Finally, knead in the icing sugar and the berries with your hands
And that’s it – you have your edible berry slime, perfect for play time.
Berry Tie-Dye
Love Fresh Berries have also devised a recipe using leftover berries to naturally tie-dye t-shirts, creating beautiful hues.
Ingredients:
1x white cotton t-shirt
Rubber bands (as many as you like)
Plastic gloves
Salt
Water
1 cup of berries (any berries you have left over)
Method:
● Tie the rubber bands around your t-shirt in whichever design you would like and place to one side
● Mix ½ a cup of salt with 8 cups of water and bring to the boil
● Simmer your t-shirt in this solution for 1 hour. Then pour under cold water and wring out some excess water. Place to one side
● Chop/break your berries up into small pieces
● Throw them into a pot and pour water over them (you need double the amount of water to berries)
● Bring the berry mixture to the boil and let it simmer for about an hour
● When your simmering is complete, strain your mixture into a large pot or container (large enough to fit your t-shirt in to)
● Wearing gloves, place your t-shirt into the dye mixture and allow it to sit for a while
● Once your top has reached its desired colour, pull it out of the dye and run it under cool water
● Remove the rubber bands and hang out to dry.
You should now have a stylish, naturally dyed tee to wear throughout the summer. What’s more, if you want to tie-dye even more items in your children’s wardrobe, socks, jumpers and tracksuit bottoms also work very well.
So, if you’re struggling with ideas to keep your children entertained over the holidays or occupy them whilst you try to work from home, some simple berry craft activities may be all you need!
Love Fresh Berries is a year-round campaign funded by British Summer Fruits.
British Summer Fruits represents UK and overseas berry growers, and works with industry experts and leading UK supermarkets and retailers to bring you the best strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and cherries.
The Love Fresh Berries campaign, which shares the latest information and facts with berry fans, is a year-round campaign funded by British Summer Fruits, the industry body that represents 95% of our berry growers.
Love Fresh Berries showcases the health benefits, versatility and all-round availability of berries in the UK with the objective of growing demand for fresh berries by introducing new consumers, and increasing the frequency of purchase.
