Nutrition Quest: A Fun and Educational Board game

On March 9th, the Imperial Lates event showcased a variety of science-themed activities, games, and exhibitions including our board game called “Nutrition Quest”. Accompanied by other colleagues and students, Maria Valdivia-Garcia (Section of Nutrition) had the opportunity to host the game which combined entertainment and education to teach participants about healthy eating habits, as well as collaborating with other members of the Department.

The board game layout was colourful and visually appealing to attract people. Players moved around the board by throwing dice, and acquiring or exchanging cards that included interesting facts (for example antioxidant properties) found in foods that helped players make choices about what they eat. Did you know, for example, that one cup of kale contains more vitamin C than an orange? Or that the lycopene in tomatoes can help reduce the risk of cancer? At the end of the game, players had to “prepare” a healthy meal with the cards they acquired.

Overall, the Nutrition Quest board game was an effective tool for public engagement. It promoted health and wellness in the public by increasing awareness about the importance of knowing what is good in different types of food in a fun way and was enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds. The game's interactive and customizable design made it a hit at the Imperial Lates event, and it will be featured at the Innovation Rooms (White City) as part of dedicated public engagement activities for school children in the community over the weekends.

Do contact Maria if you are interested in participating in this activity over the weekends whilst gaining new skills alongside.

Special thanks to Kai Yee Eng, Cindy Sung (Jia Li’s Group); Ivan Serrano-Contreras (Nutrition); and Motasim Masood and Lamia Aboelnasr (Reproductive Diseases, Pathology) for helping to co-host the event.