The Creative Edible World of Foodbites’ Sine Siemkowicz
Sine Siemkowicz has shared the joy of edible art on her FoodBites Instagram since 2016. This interview offers a peek at some of her unique holiday treats and her perspective on the creative process.
Inspiration
GC: We’ve been fans since you shared the avocado squirrels holding the pits. Your creativity and attention to detail are unmatched. What inspired you to bring this level of fun to foods?
Sine: Thank you, that’s so kind of you to say. Making fun food was never really the plan. Foodbites was meant to be a journal of healthy meals, but over time I started posting more themed and creative food, and the response was so positive. So I changed my focus. For me, that’s a big part of content creation – being guided by your viewers in what they want to see.
GC: Does your brain just constantly look at fruits and veggies and see a fox or a hedgehog?
Sine: Not really. Sometimes I’ll get a random idea but for the most part I have to be in ‘brainstorm mode’. It doesn’t entail anything special, just me thinking quietly to myself and then sketching very roughly drawn ideas down on paper or in my free drawing app.
Perfection
GC: Watching your videos where every step isn’t completely perfect makes it seem much more doable. Do you get caught up in the details or just go with how they turn out?
Sine: I rarely redo a project because it doesn’t end up exactly as I imagined, so I definitely embrace how things turn out. If I’m not happy with a recipe I’ve made, I simply won’t post it. I hope they look doable (because they are), and also, I love the individuality there is in everyone recreating things their own way.
GC: The question every mom wants to know… how do you manage your work and family schedule?
Sine: Like all other parents, I can only do my best. I try to organize it so that I brainstorm, film, edit, write recipes, and work on my website while the kids are in school. Keyword here is ‘try’.
Real Life
What does dinnertime look like in your home?
I cook, and dinner is on the table between 6-7 pm. Sometimes, my kids will help out. I love those days!
What do you hope people will gain from seeing your creations?
Nothing makes me happier than receiving messages saying you love looking at my feed with your kids, or when you make one of my recipes for your friends and family and share that moment with me. I love it if what I do with FoodBites can bring people together that way.
Find all of Simone’s holiday treats (plus creative snacks you can make year round) at FoodBites. She also has pics, how-do videos, and a community on Instagram.
About Sweets in Moderation
Some of the snack ideas we share contain sugar, which always draws some criticism from our readers. While I was first drawn to Sine’s fruit animals and her Halloween veggie tray ideas, many of her winter holiday treats use chocolate and the occasional candy decorations.
In our family, a little sugar or dessert is OK as long as you’ve had protein to keep blood sugar balanced. Several of Sine’s recipes involve veggies or cheeses, which can help with that balance. And for the most part, I think it’s healthy to follow the 80/20 rule, barring serious health issues or allergies.
All that said, if your family doesn’t do sugar, that’s great! You can always just take inspiration from these ideas and work with what you have. We’re thrilled to see the results.
More Holiday Fun Ideas
Holiday Snack Boards
Eco-Friendly Gifts for Kids
Simple Tips for Holiday Hosting
