Design Your 3D Printed Food Food Truck: Creative Printable Worksheets for Kids

You all know the saying, "sometimes life imitates art". This is certainly the case for Star Trek's replicator, a machine which synthesises reconstituted meals by a touch of a button. The writers in the popular science fiction series have been credited for predicting the future since 1966 and today we are coming one step closer to such a technology with 3D food printers.

Although seemingly far inferior to the fictional replicators, scientists are making good progress in realising this future. We now have 3D plant based steak printers, 3D vegetable composite shape printers and even a 3D pancake printers. What other types of food can your kids imagine they'll be printing in the future? Let's explore together!

Printable & Activity Objectives

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Age: 6 to 9 year olds, Activity Time: 1-2 hours, Items Needed: Colouring and writing pencils

In this activity, your child will learn about 3D food printing technology, the food truck phenomenon (and a little bit about Star Trek). They will combine their newly gained knowledge of both subject matters in a creative printable challenge to design and conceptualise their own "3D printed food" food truck.

It will help your child or student:

Gain exposure to new technologies which may one day revolutionise how we consume food.
Develop an openness to new types of food ingredients and food preparation.
Get creative with developing a forward looking dining concept using 3D food printing technologies.

Let's get printing. Bon appétit!

Classroom Resources

Simple steps to start:

Research a little about the current state of 3D food printing technology. Here's an informative video about different noteworthy 3D printing projects and where we are in 2022:

Here's another video about how scientists and inventors are working on interesting solutions to reduce food waste using 3D food printing technology:

Read up about the interesting world of food trucks. Here's a quick video about what it's like working and running a successful food truck in New York City.

Below is an idea for your child to improve this activity:

Watch this interesting video about how the science fiction writers of Star Trek in the 1970s through to the early 2000s predicted and depicted the technologies of the future (many of which now existing in reality).