Singapore — You never know where playing with your food can get you—just ask food artist Samantha Lee. The Malaysian stay-at-home mum started making whimsical plates of food to encourage her elder daughter to eat independently in 2008 and began sharing her creations on Instagram.

Since then, she has become an Instagram star with 735,000 followers, and she works with travel brands such as Turkish Airlines and AirAsia. Most recently, she partnered Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts to inspire kids to eat more healthily by transforming five dishes from the hotel group’s kids’ menu into food art.

To help parents encourage their kids to eat healthy on the road, Lee has also created how-to guides for these dishes. “Make eating exciting for kids by explaining the travel plan to them. This helps prepare them and set their expectations,” she advised. “I would usually map out our tour, including the food, and share it with them so that they look forward to the next thing planned. I find this (to be a) fun exercise to bond with both my kids.”

Q: As a mother of two, how else do you ensure your daughters get the proper nutrition when you travel together?

A: My daughters are seven and nine years old. When we travel, I will always prepare fruit in advance, like kiwis, especially for the first few days of the trip, so that they are able to get the right nutrients while adjusting to their new surroundings and food.

A: As a food artist, what sort of cuisine inspires you in your work?

A: I get inspired by cuisines using fresh, vibrant and colourful ingredients that I see or experience during my travels. In order to make the food art colourful, it is best to use only fresh ingredients.

Q: Besides Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, you’ve also done work for Turkish Airlines and AirAsia. What’s the best thing about working with travel companies?

A: I am really grateful I’m working with these travel-related companies because I am someone who gets inspired by architecture. By working with them, I’m able to explore new cities, gain more inspiration and share my passion with a wider audience.

Q: How do you think food art like yours helps connect across different cultures around the world?

A: I think food is a universal language. Everyone eats! So when I create something, it’s not only for myself but for others to enjoy—especially for my kids. Even when I do not speak or know someone else’s culture or language, I hope my food art speaks for itself; to relay the same kind of joy and message.

Q: Lastly, what do you look for in a hotel?

A: Safety, comfortable beds and clean sheets! If I’m travelling with my children, then it really helps if there are nutritious food options, such as the new Holiday Inn Kids Menu, available at the hotels. Serene Lim