Video games for healthy eating

by Nicole Weston, Posted Aug 1st 2006 @ 9:57AM

Video games and television are sometimes blamed for the "obesity epidemic" because kids (and adults) who sit in front of a screen are less active than their non-couchbound counterparts. Two new video games are being developed by a company called Archimage, and they aim to encourage children to make healthy choices in their diets, hoping to counteract the tendency of some to binge on snack foods while playing games. The games are called Nanoswarm: Invasion from Inner Space and Escape from Diab. Each is an immersive role-playing game that is supposed to help kids learn about how to make the food choices that will keep them healthy, modifying any unhealthy eating behaviors.

A demo of Nanoswarm is available online, blending sci-fi and action adventure in an attempt to disguise the semi-educational message of the game from kids who might be put off by the idea of learning something while playing. It still sounds like a good idea, and if even a few kids are playing this, making a few healthier choices, it seems like a worthwhile game.

Source

Filed Under: Cooking With Kids, Trends, Super Size Me, New Products
Tags: archimage, children, diet, eating, escape from diab, game, games, health, healthy choices, kid, kids, nanoswarm, obesity, super size me, videogame

Chew on This

Royal Wedding Cake Details Revealed! - YumSugar

Make Your Own Pop Tarts - CHOW
Denny's Introduces a Maple Bacon Sundae - Eater
Whole Foods Opening Bars in Stores - USA Today
Rules Of Bar Etiquette -- For The Bartender - HuffPost Food

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-01-2006 @12:21PM MJ said... Just send them outside to run around for a few hours. Those games are not good for anyone. Marraiges hvae broken up over them they are very addictive!
Reply