Games to Work on Healthy Eating with Children

23 de October de 2024

The importance of healthy eating in childhood

Healthy eating is essential for children’s physical and mental development. It provides the nutrients needed for growth, improves school performance and prevents chronic diseases in adulthood. It is important to instil good eating habits from an early age so that children learn to make food choices that will benefit their long-term health.

Teaching children about the importance of eating fruits, vegetables and balanced meals can be challenging, especially with the influence of junk food advertising. Therefore, using educational games and activities can make learning about nutrition fun and effective. Through play, children can learn complex concepts in a simple and enjoyable way.

Games not only encourage learning, but also promote social interaction and the development of cognitive skills. Let’s take a look at some ideas for games that can help children work on healthy eating in a fun and educational way.

At Green Tree, your English nursery school, we embrace respectful parenting. Our caregivers care for the emotional, psychological and physical well-being of each child with tenderness and sensitivity.

Colour Play: Rainbow Fruits and Vegetables

An excellent way to teach children about the variety of healthy foods is through the colour game. This game aims to get children to identify and classify fruits and vegetables according to their colour. You can start by providing a large poster board with a rainbow drawn on it.

Each colour of the rainbow will represent a food group. The children will have to place pictures or figures of fruits and vegetables in the corresponding colour. For example, tomatoes will go in the red section, carrots in orange, spinach in green, and so on.

As the children place the foods, you can talk about the nutritional benefits of each. This game not only teaches about food variety, but also improves sorting and colour recognition skills.

The healthy market: Role play

Role play is a powerful tool for teaching children about healthy food shopping. You can create a small market in the classroom or at home, using toys that represent fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods. Cast children in the roles of sellers and buyers.

Shoppers will have to buy a specific list of healthy foods, while sellers can talk about the properties and benefits of each product. This activity encourages social interaction and allows children to ask questions and learn in a fun and safe environment.

You can add an additional educational component by asking children to create a healthy menu with the purchased foods. This will help them understand how to combine different food groups to create balanced meals.

The Food Pyramid in Action: Building Game

Building a food pyramid is a visual and practical way to teach children about the different food groups and their importance. Use blocks, cut-outs or even toys to represent each food group, such as grains, proteins, dairy, fruits and vegetables.

Teach children to place foods on the pyramid according to how often they are eaten. For example, grains and vegetables will be at the bottom, as they should be consumed more frequently, while sweets and fats will be at the top. This activity reinforces the concept of food balance and helps children visualise the right proportion of each group.

To make it more interactive, you can turn it into a team game where children work together to build the pyramid correctly. This not only teaches about nutrition, but also about teamwork and collaboration.

Variations of the game

To add difficulty and maintain interest, you can include questions and challenges related to each food group. For example, ask what vitamins are found in fruits or what is the right portion of dairy for a child their age. Correct answers can advance the pyramid.

Cooking together: Healthy recipes

The kitchen is a wonderful place to learn about healthy eating. Organising a cooking session where children are involved in preparing nutritious recipes is a great way to teach them about ingredients and cooking techniques.

Choose simple, healthy recipes, such as salads, vegetable sandwiches, or fruit smoothies. Be sure to explain the nutritional value of each ingredient as they cook. In addition to learning about healthy foods, children will develop practical skills such as measuring, chopping (under supervision) and mixing.

This activity also fosters self-efficacy and a sense of achievement, as children can enjoy the end result of their efforts. In addition, participating in food preparation can increase children’s willingness to try new foods.

Tips for safe cooking

Always make sure children are supervised while cooking. Use safe utensils and adapt tasks according to the age and ability of each child. For example, younger children can wash vegetables or mix ingredients, while older children can cut with safe tools or handle small amounts of heat under supervision.

Storytelling and drawing: Food Heroes

Using stories and drawings is a creative way to teach about healthy eating. You can make up a story where the main characters are healthy foodies who face challenges to promote health in a community.

After telling the story, ask children to draw the characters and settings. Through art, children can express what they have learned and create a deeper connection to nutrition concepts.

In addition, you can turn these drawings into an interactive book where each child contributes a page. This collective project provides a tangible resource that children can review and share with their families, reinforcing healthy habits at home.

Continuity and reinforcement

To maintain interest and reinforce learning, you can develop a series of stories where characters go on different adventures related to nutrition. Each new story can focus on a specific food group or eating practice, such as eating as a family or the importance of breakfast.

At Green Tree, we enhance the holistic development of each child through play, improving their emotional, physical, spiritual and intellectual well-being.

FAQ

How can I get my child interested in healthy eating?

One effective way is to involve your child in meal preparation. Let them choose fruits and vegetables at the market and participate in the cooking. Educational games and visual information can also make healthy eating concepts more interesting and accessible.

Is teaching about healthy eating from an early age effective?

Yes, it is very effective. Teaching children about healthy eating from an early age can help them develop good habits that will last a lifetime. The use of educational games and activities can make learning fun and memorable.

What do I do if my child resists trying new foods?

Resistance is common, but can be managed with patience and creativity. Try offering new foods alongside their favourite foods and without putting too much pressure on them. Transforming food into a fun experience, such as through games or interactive recipes, can make your child more willing to try new things.