Pretend foods for the budding chef

The play kitchen is a favorite at our home, and it's well stocked with all sorts of pretend fruits, veggies and meats. Like most play food, they're big pieces--whole carrots, entire apples, etc. The large sizes were nice at first, since they didn't pose a choking hazard and helped little ones learn to identify different foods. But now that my eldest is past the choking danger stage, I've often thought it would be fun to have some smaller pieces kids could use to mimic what we grown-ups do in the big kitchen.

So I was excited to discover this stew tin, filled with a 26 piece assortment of carrot slices, peas, and cubed potatoes and meat. (Vegetarian families might prefer the pea and carrot tin.) The chunks can be cooked up as a stew or sorted into side dishes. Like all Haba toys, the hardwood pieces are painted with non-toxic finishes. And when cooking time is over, it can double as a counting/sorting game. Two toys in one!

$7 at our affiliate Clementine NW

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