Superchef and Supershopper: Interactive Games to Help Kids Eat
Healthy Food What you eat when you're seven makes a difference
when you're 27; people who eat healthier food growing up are
more likely to lead healthier lives later. Many of us don't
learn to cook until we're teenagers—when many eating habits have
already been ingrained. How can cooking be taught in a way
that's fun for younger children? Designers working with the
Netherlands Nutrition Center created two real-world games to
help: Supershopper, to teach kids how to shop for healthy food,
and Superchefs, to teach kids basic cooking skills for healthy
meals. As they started to work on the games, the designers
looked at research on why kids tend to eat unhealthy food. If
they're given a choice, kids won't eat fruits and vegetables, or
any foods they're unfamiliar with. They tend to associate
healthy food with their parents, and unhealthy food with their
friends, socializing, and having fun. Making healthier food seem
more fun (and making every recipe