Gamification of Dietary Decision-Making

Build a nutrition game on a smartphone or tablet for elementary or middle school children to learn about the consequences of food choices. The goal of this app will be to prevent childhood overnutrition and obesity which affects 42 million children and 92 million at risk per year.

Problem:

The food choices children consume have considerable consequences for their health and sets adult habits.  

Background

School ­age children have more freedom over their food choices; many eat at least one meal per day away from home. School ­age children also are more aware of their body weight and shape than when they were younger.

Young children can regulate how much they eat, HOWEVER, they DO NOT know what is a well-balanced nutrition. Children rely on adults to offer them a variety of nutritious, developmentally appropriate foods for a well-­balanced diet.

The eating choices and behaviors of school­ age children may be influenced (positively or negatively) by friends, nonfamily members, and/or the media. Help parents balance potentially negative influences by increasing children’s understanding of nutrition and food choices.

In the establishment of healthy eating habits, the caregiver is responsible for providing a variety of nutritious foods; defining the structure and timing of meals; creating a mealtime environment that facilitates eating and social exchange; and recognizing and responding to the child's signals of hunger and fullness. The child is responsible for participating in food selection and determining how much is consumed at each eating occasion.

Opportunity:

Create a gamified tool

• To educate children about diversity of food
•  To educate children about nutrition and health by eating a diversity of food
•  To monitor and to quantify daily food intake

Considerations

• Most young children should be fed four to six times per day. Snacks are an essential component of the
  young child's diet.
• Appropriate portion sizes vary depending upon the child's age and the particular food
• Serving children portions that are larger than recommended for their age may contribute to overeating

Resources:

• Fostering Sustainable Nutrition Behavior through Gamification
• Existing technology for teaching kids about nutrition
• Mayo clinic dietary guidelines for children
• MyPlate: the current nutrition guide published by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.