Family Matters
EarthTones
Dye Eggs Naturally with
Calley
With the Easter holiday approaching, many parents will be running to their local store to reach for a box of egg dye--filled with artificial colorants, whose safety in food has become a topic for debate in children’s health in recent years. Even though only the exterior shell of the egg is colored with traditional dye, some of the dye can still seep through the shell and onto the edible part of the egg. Instead of using dye tablets this year, make natural food coloring from fruits and vegetables. Older kids will enjoy the process of making the colors just as much as dying the eggs.
20
To begin, you’ll need to have your kitchen fully stocked with fruits and vegetables that will produce some beautiful colors, a bottle of vinegar, several pots for boiling, and eggs. The colors will set best if you boil the eggs in the same pot as the fruits and vegetables.
Which fruits and vegetables can you use? Anything that, when boiled, will leave some of the natural pigment in the water will work for coloring eggs. Part of the fun is experimenting with different fruits, vegetables, and even flowers!
Here is a list of some items that dye really nicely: • Yellow: lemon skins, chamomile tea, green tea, ground turmeric, ground cumin • Green: spinach • Blue: blueberries • Pink: raspberries, cranberries, beets • Violet: mix blueberries with one of the pink berries • Orange: carrots, chili powder, paprika • Brown: coffee grounds, tea, cocoa powder, onion skins