Nutritional Software for Kids

Free nutritional online games and websites make it easy for children to learn about, and become more involved in, healthy eating. Some are more comprehensive than others, yet all raise awareness about the importance of nutrition and making the right food choices. The sites are easy enough to navigate that children can educate and entertain themselves in a casual non-educational setting with or without family or teacher assistance. The overall message to children is that they can be faster, stronger, smarter and healthier by eating the right food. Children are empowered when directed to these sites.

Nutrition Exploration

• Nutritionexploration.org gets kids energized through animation and sound. Arianna, Little D and Mungo are the main characters in the games. The nutrition section, which also includes an interactive food group pyramid, teaches kids about food and nutrition combinations. Using games, recipes and shopping lists in the activities section, kids learn how to make healthy choices. The "kids panel" is a forum that lets real kids share what they eat and why nutrition is important to them. The "kitchen" section includes recommended nutritious recipes that are easy enough for kids to make.

Kidnetic

• Kidnetic.com is a comprehensive Internet site that relates well to children. Divided into four sections-- "Move", "Eat", "Talk" and "Learn", children are educated and entertained while learning about nutrition as a part of total health. The "Move" section has several games and challenges that promote physical fitness. The "Eat" section gets children in the kitchen making their own healthy and tasty snacks and meals. Children get an inside look at the human body in the "Learn" section and the unique "Talk" section lets kids send messages to their parents. A small library of articles about nutrition and fitness is available for viewing, printing or emailing.

Dole SuperKids

• Dole5aday.com features 6 SuperKids Heroes who are on a mission to save kids from becoming "super sized." Each hero represents a fruit or vegetable and there is a girl who owns the farm where they grow. They have 47 fruit and vegetable friends. The website suggests that kids think of themselves as super kids when they eat nutritionally. There is a body mass index calculator, recipes, a nutrition database and a fruit and vegetable encyclopedia. Kids are encouraged to use the tools to set goals for themselves. Games reinforce what the children have learned and extend their thoughts on nutrition to their friends and family.

Nutrition Cafe by the Pacific Science Center

• "Nutrition Sleuth", "Grab a Grape", and "Have a Bite Cafe" are different games at the Nutrition Cafe site: exhibits.pacsci.org. Based on the same rules as the game "Hangman", "Nutrition Sleuth" lets players find the missing nutrient for one of the cases. Sleepy Sue, for example, does not eat grains or meats, and the player's job is to identify the missing nutrient that will help her. In "Grab a Grape", the player is asked to select the correct question based on the answers. "Have a Bite Cafe" lets the player build a meal and get nutritional information about it.

Powerful Girls Have Powerful Bones

• Using games, and quizzes, girlshealth.gov teaches young girls why they need healthy bones and how to stay strong and active by eating right. Carla is a character they can identify with and follow as an example through her journal. Downloadable wallpapers, screen savers, calendar and instant messenger icons serve as daily reinforcement and reminders.