Melissa and Doug Cutting Food Box Reviews

• Super toy - good for learning and for fun

  
  By A33LUK9GH347OP on 2002-05-24
  This was a gift from Grandma for our 18 month old. Our daughter figured out how to cut a few months later. It's perfect for age two and up. She loves to cut up all the fruits, veggies, and bread. It comes with two cutting boards and two knives so a friend can play along too. It keeps her entertained for a long time and, as others have mentioned, teaches her the names of a few fruits and veggies along the way. Everything comes in a nice wooden box with a slide-on lid, which is great for storing all the pieces and for the fun of "in and out" of the box. My only complaint is that the velcro stickers which hold the pieces together are not compeletly durable. I've reglued a few of them, which has been no big deal to do. Overall a great toy, well priced, and nicely made.
  
  

• Excellent choice

  
  By A13V8OUZSP4OPL on 2003-09-27
  I wanted to get my daughters some play food that wasn't plastic, and this turned out to be a gem. I have to say that the picture here doesn't do it justice -- the pieces are much more appealing in person. Originally I thought they would like one of the other 2 sets better (the pizza or the sandwich set), but after purchasing them, this is the clear favorite. These pieces are the most versatile. There is some bread, which can be fashioned into a sandwich. The veggies/fruits can be served as is or chopped up in a "stew", etc. The carrot can double for chunks of cheddar.....and on and on. We've counted pieces. We've played restaurant. And really, getting the cucumber back together so there is not a kink in the middle is almost a puzzle. There is something most satisfying about the crunching, slicing sound too.
  I do agree with the other reviewer about the paint smell though (but it does go away). And the red paint started rubbing off on the knife almost immediately.

  All in all, however, this will get played with A LOT.
  
  

• Who'd HaveThought?!

  
  By A11NOO384U6BTX on 2003-11-07
  Who'd have thought that wooden food would be so much fun? I don't know if it's just the cool cutting sounds these foods make when you "cut" them, or whether it's that kids love doing what Mom does, but these are really fun. Clever idea.
  
  

• Great Toy but BEWARE - Made in China

  
  By A2EFO8BQV85JZT on 2007-08-31
  My son loves this toy. However, I expected that for this high price it would be made in the USA where toy safety regulations are good. With all the recent lead paint scares in Chinese-made children's toys (even from respected manufacturers), I was VERY disappointed to see "Made in China" on the label.
  
  

• Lets Kids Use Their Imaginations! A Great Toy!

  
  By on 2003-11-17
  The picture above shows the OLD cuting food box that came with 2 knives and 2 cutting boards. Now it comes with 1 knife and 1 cutting board, so that this toy cannot be shared. I prefer it to have 2 boards and knives so that 2 kids can share it - otherwise fights do ensue.

  But I do love this toy. My daughter received it for her 2nd birthday and still loves to play with it (she is over 3 now). One problem is that the baby loves it too (17 months) but some of the pieces (carrot) are choking hazards - hence the age warning. We moved the toy to the 3 yr old's bedroom to keep it out of reach of the baby until she is older. I did not notice a strong paint odor upon opening the toy. The toy is of quality construction - I think this toy will last forever.
  
  

• Super fun, durable, better quality than plastic play food
  By A3SMR4HRFJARSC on 2002-10-27
  This is a great set that comes with fruit and veggies cut into slices and held together with velcro, dull wooden knives and a little cutting board. It comes in a wooden box with a plastic top that can be used to store the pieces when not in use. The kids love the cutting action and playing with them when they are assembled and whole.

  My only caution is to be somewhat diligent with keeping these together as a set or else they may scatter throughout the house (as happened with us). My kids got frustrated when they wanted a whole piece of food and they could only find half.

  Also great from this company is the new wood pizza which has pieces to "slice" and little wood toppings to construct a custom made pizza pie.
  
  

• My daughter loves this!
  By AZK9CCTYQNRNL on 2002-03-28
  Play food - we love it in this house and this is a great set as my daughter (2.5 years) gets to prepare food for dinner just like Mummy. She can chop and cut with her knife to her hearts content and I don't have to worry about any sort of injury. She thinks she is so clever having her own food with a knife to cut up. She loves it. Great for role play. She shares out portions of the food to her dolls and baby sister. We have picnics or dinners on the loungeroom floor. A toy that is always played with in so many different ways. Wonderful for food recognition and hand/eye co-ordination.
  
  
• This is a great toy, a great gift!
  By A2OAJBYRF4918Q on 2002-10-29
  My babies (twins 2 year old girls) love love love this toy and could sit for an hour (and have!) cutting these well-made adorable vegetables and fruits and breads. They are held together by velcro and you cut through them with the two knives, on the two cutting boards (a bonus that we got two of each, so two kids can play at one time). The babies are starting to learn how to put a few of the veggies back together again so I don't have to do it every time, and that is a great learning experience. I have already purchased 2 more of these for gifts. They put a smile on my face, so colorful and such a cool idea, I like to keep them out because they are almost like a work of art! A fantastic toy...
  
  
• Fractions are whipped with this!
  By APW5UZF5GG61L on 2003-01-02
  The velcro attaches easily. This is a great toy to begin teaching counting and fractions. We also own the Pizza Party: Wooden Pizza Set by Lights, Camera, Interaction. We were initially introduced to these great toy products by my aunt who teaches violin. She uses these toys to explain musical notation and fractions. The utilization of this toy for introductory math has been invaluable for teaching our daughter. Sometimes we don't realize how much she understands these concepts. The parts hold up extremely well to the 2 1/2 year old age group, but I must reiterate - these are not for a family that doesn't not keep up with parts to games or toys. It is also a toy that is best used with hands-on adult expaination. The most educational experience can be derived that way (I guess, as with all things in life.)

  What is especially fun is when she mixes the 2 toys together and I get a slice of pizza with a carrot or watermelon slice on it.
  
  

• Excellent toy
  By A2SX1068IPJW5E on 2002-11-04
  I got this set for my (then) three year old last Christmas, and this has been an absolute favorite toy in our house since then. The food really makes a cool "crunch" sound when you cut it with the pretend knives, and my son (now 4.5) loves to "cook" the food and create all kinds of interesting pretend stews which he serves to my husband and I. He can literally play with these items for hours.

  I had two small complaints about this set. Firstly, the watermelon slices have very thin edges and are prone to being snapped off or "chewed" if you happen to have younger children in the house. My husband and I ended up putting the watermelon away pieces away for now. The rest of the food is durable and "chew" proof for the most part.

  We, however, live in a VERY dry climate, and all of the wooden food developed large cracks and splits within 2 weeks of being in our house. To their credit, the company replaced all the defective pieces free of charge and we have been "crack free" ever since.

  This is an EXCELLENT toy, and I highly recommend it.
  
  

• Worth the money
  By A4XNAT2T7G0DS on 2003-04-12
  I have two boys age 5 and 3 who love to pretend to cook. I bought this set 6 months ago and it continues to be a favorite on a daily basis. It has already outlasted many of the plastic or cardboard food sets I have bought. It is also an extra bonus that they have to figure out how to put the food back together so it looks right! It has been a big plus for me that it came with TWO wooden knives and a nice wooden stoage box. I will be buying this as a gift for many of my friends' kids in the future!
  
  
• generally good, but the paint was stuck.
  By A2DTOU6B71HFZH on 2007-09-11
  It looked good and educational when I was tearing the plastic wrap. However, the orange paint of wooden carrot was stuck to the natural wooden bread so badley. It seems that the paint was not adhered securely. If you have a kid who loves to put a toy to her mouth, please think this one more time.
  
  
  
• Love this toy!!
  By A1FEQVL8KMSVT7 on 2002-04-08
  My 2 1/2 year old daughter received this as a gift and loves it. It's durable, excellent for hand/eye coordination (and fruit recogntion). She can play with it for hours. Other kids who come over to play love it too; makes a great gift!
  
  
• Edutainment!
  By A2X0TJGPM2OWN5 on 2002-07-19
  This is a wonderful food set. My three year old is completely in love with it. She drags the box out and spends hours cutting what she calls her "salad toast." If you have a child who's learning to count or just likes cooking toys this is a must have!!
  
  
• Couldn't be without it!!
  By A36QLI1WJBTDX7 on 2003-06-16
  My 2 year is in speech therapy & occupational therapy. Two of her therapist use this toy to stimulate her. This is the first time that my daughter ever sat and completed a task for longer than minutes! She is learning to name the vegetables/fruits because she has so much fun "cutting" it! We are so thankful for the progress she has made and for actually getting a "break" because she is so entertained by this toy. We couldn't be without it! I have told everyone about this wonderful toy.
  
  
• A must for parents who want gross motor skills sharpened
  By A14O4464BXC36Y on 2004-02-14
  This product is a high quality product. This toy stimulates gross motor skills and the love for kitchen stuff. My daughter will play with it for hours and she loves the real cutting action and then velcroing them back together. This product is used by alot of Occupational Therapist with small children.
  
  
• MUST-Buy!!
  By A16GZDSUWA446M on 2005-11-26
  Kids LOVE this stuff!! I watch my 2 yr old son's dexterity improve right before my eyes every time he plays with this. The wood is of good quality and the paint has held up to rugged use. A super gift.
  
  
• Another triumph by Melissa and Doug!
  By AQSU58L0QIE2G on 2005-12-05
  Anyone who owns any Melissa and Doug toys knows that they are educational, fun and DURABLE! This cooking set is no exception. Kids love to "cook", and this is a great way for them to do it. It can be a super-helpful toy if Mom or Dad needs a minute to cook dinner and wants to occupy the children and keep them out from underfoot while they do it.... set them up at the table and let them "cook" their own dish! Heck, even let them throw it in a bowl and "serve" it with dinner.
  
  These toys are so worth the cost... which is relatively cheap, if you think about the fact that these will never break and they'll be played with for much longer than other cheap plastic toys. Treat your kids to this great playset made with quality long-lasting materials. Wonderful!
  
  
• BRAVO!!!!!!
  By A2PUXMUOS4SBTX on 2003-11-18
  Trying to Homeschool and keep twin toddlers busy is tricky. This set is wonderful. Much better than I expected. our set only has one knife, it must be a new version , we had no paint odor at all that the other reviews talked about. COmpletely worth every penny. very well made, a great high chair toy. We have both the cutting food and sandwich sets, both are great. This company makes well made hierloom quality wooden toys. We have many of their products.
  
  
• Fun for EVERYONE!
  By on 2004-03-29
  We got this for my 2 1/2 year old son for Christmas, since he always wants to help cook. Everyone played with it for hours, from adults to tweens to teenagers to toddlers. It really sparks pretend cooking and imaginary play. My son has created "sandwiches" and "stew" as well as many non-food "things" with the peices. I'd highly recommend it to anyone and plan to give it as a gift to many kids (and their parents!)
  
  
• My Daughter LOVES this set!
  By on 2002-03-05
  I bought this set for my daughter and she loves it. This is a quality toy. My daughter could sit and play with this for an hour (no small feat for a 2 year old). Not only does she have fun, but her coordination has truly improved since she started playing with this.
  
  
• Great concept!
  By A33LUK9GH347OP on 2003-04-07
  This is a great concept. All of the pieces are wood, nicely sanded and painted with no sharp edges. There are fruits, veggies, and bread, pre-sliced and reattached with velcro. The child takes a wooden knife and "cuts" the pieces apart. It even has a little cutting board. The pretend play that happens with this toy is fun to watch. There's the element of shopping for the foods, preparing the foods, serving the foods. And, one of my favorite parts, is that this toy is stored in its own box, and all the pieces fit into it easily!

  I highly recommend this toy for 3 year olds, although it's perfectly safe for younger children. THe only reason I didn't give it five stars for durability is that a few of the velcro pieces came unglued and I had to reglue them. No big deal.
  
  

• Awesome!
  By A25YXFDDMMJRJ0 on 2003-10-22
  I agree with the poster about the strong paint odor upon opening, but I found that it went away fairly quickly.
  My 2 year old daughter LOVES this!! This has kept her entertained for 2 days ~ she is constantly playing with it.
  I bought this as a Christmas gift but had to open it because my daughter loves to help me cook. I'm glad I didn't wait!
  This is totally worth the price.
  
  
• Simple pleasure!
  By on 2004-05-16
  We got this for our 2 yr old but her 4 yr old sister enjoys it also. We have several other food type toys with plastic food but none of them are as well liked or stimulates so much interactive play. The other plastic toys are handed to you if you ask but with this set, the kids insist on telling you what they are going to give you and enjoy separating each piece for service. Also can use to attach pieces that don't belong to get the kids to work on sorting and motor skills. I thought the velcro might wear out too quickly but it is still going strong after 6 months of heavy play. Also nice that the food items are really health choices, no meat or cookies. Very simple and well made and surprisingly loved!
  
  
• Dinner Time
  By A2NXPS620UFA0A on 2005-09-29
  This play food is so real like that my little girls play for hours. This has also encouraged them to spend a little more time in the kitchen with me.
  
  
• One of the best "cutting food" items for kids
  By A1C4ABLK8753TL on 2005-10-24
  I have two boys who have thoroughly enjoyed using this wooden fruit set. The wooden food, cutting boards and knives are sturdy and can be held well by little hands. The fruit is held together by velcro and makes a great sound when cut by the knives. My two boys have enjoyed "cutting and cooking" with this set. This is why I have given it as a gift many times to children ages 2 and up.
  
  
• Creative fun
  By A1ELMSZ1ZEVBB on 2006-08-06
  My daughter received this as a third birthday present and few of her toys have got as much playtime! She loves to chop the food, make salads and pretend to cook. Our eighteen month old is similarly enchanted, one of her ongoing missions is to pull all the food apart and carry it around in the box.
  
  The construction is solid and durable. The pieces are beautifully painted and despite nine months of being gummed and played with daily have not even chipped. I don't know how but even the Velcro tabs that hold the pieces together are as good as new.
  
  I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a beautiful, high quality, stimulating toy!
  
  
• Warning, dont add water
  By AMHSGWER7PV0E on 2008-07-16
  My 2 and 4 year olds got this for Christmas, and decided to make vegetable soup. And whats vegetable soup without a little (or lot) of water. 30 mins later, the paint is peeling off all the tomatoes and carrots and the whole box has to be thrown away. Im suprised this hasnt come up in any of the 100+ reviews, maybe I have the only kids who extensively use water when they're playing with food. They rinse, they boil, they wash and these pieces cannot handle water.
  
  Im sure this is a great quality toy, but not for the way my kids play. Also, the pieces are heavy and hurt when dropped on toes.
  
  
• You can't go wrong with this
  By on 2003-01-09
  This is a wonderful set. I got it for my 1 and 3 year old for Christmas and they love it. Because it's wood, it really stands up the the abuse of toddlers well. The plastic velcro food is much cheaper but won't last like the wood food will. It's easy for little hands to hold and cut. And best of all, it comes with two cutting boards and two knifes! No fighting for a turn:)
  
  
• a little too freshly made
  By ADX1FG2VSCYVF on 2003-09-24
  I am torn over this set, because, while it is a great toy that my 18 month old daughter gets to both `pretend' with and use as a shape sorter/puzzle (it is her favorite toy right now), the quality was a little disappointing. The wood work itself is both safe and nicely done (I almost stole the little cutting boards to use myself), but when I opened the box, the smell of fresh paint hit me so strongly that after just a few minutes I had a headache. It had obviously been packed while still wet, because there was bits of orange paint from the hot dog permanently scraped onto other pieces as well as the bottom of the box. In addition, the large sticker placed on the clear plastic top was impossible to get off without scratching up the plastic. Toys get beat up anyway, and smells fade, so these things wouldn't be enough to stop me from purchasing it again, but if you are going to buy this toy, I suggest you open it and air it out before you present it to a child who will breath the fumes, nontoxic paint or no.
  
  

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