Dr. Health'nStein's Body Fun

This week I've had several discussions about obesity. My doctor discussed how a recent vacation with his family in Colorado opened his eyes to the problem here locally. Around the office we joke as we snack on birthday cake. And at my gym, I chatted with a member who's "let himself go" as I soaked in the hot tub after a swim. Even throughout this week I've been writing a mini-grant to send our troupe to Louisville to perform obesity shows as a part of the Mayor's Healthy Hometown Movement.
Instead of harping on how we should eat healthier foods and get a ton of exercise, I want to share with you a really interesting application that I discovered when I was quite a bit younger. About 13 years or so ago, I was introduced to an interactive computer game called Dr. Health'nStein's Body Fun. As a kid, I just thought I was playing a strange, yet cool video game. Something recently brought this game back into memory. A simple google search brought me back to this activity. It's hosted by the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation. The game features mini-challenges in which your character is challenged to put together meals with the appropriate calorie intake, fat content, and fiber concentration. Other mini-challenges focus on exercise. There's even the consideration of peer pressure. The entire activity is developed very well as it is moderately challenging and highly educational without being overbearing. It seems like this could be an effective tool to reach children when paired with traditional teaching methods. I encourage my readers and any children of readers to give this activity a shot.