It’s not often that children’s toys and healthy eating are linked in the same article, but at Fiesta Crafts, we have created a new game, the 5 A DAY Reward Chart, which displays the Department of Health’s 5 A DAY logo, to encourage children to eat more fruit and veg.
As a company, we are delighted to be awarded a licence to display the 5 A DAY logo on the 5 A DAY Reward Chart. We fully support the 5 A DAY programme and are very confident that the chart will encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables and try out new ones. With the chart, our aim is to also encourage a change in behaviour, so children learn to consider fruit and vegetables as important, normal components in their daily diet.
Most parents know how painfully difficult it can be to persuade a child to eat healthily. Personally, I was fighting a losing battle at mealtimes with my five-year-old daughter and finding a solution was the objective behind developing the 5 A DAY Reward Chart.
The game is quite simple; it is a chart that rewards a child for eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. The child and parent choose a reward and each time the child eats a portion the appropriate piece is placed on the magnetic ‘plate’. A full plate in a day wins a star and seven stars earn the reward. It’s a completely flexible system. The seven days are not named so if a child does not achieve his five portions in one day, he or she can try again the next day, and the game is completely portable for when families eat out.
There are 40 different magnetic fruits and vegetables to choose from with some spare blank magnets for lesser-known items. This enables children to sit down and discuss with their parents which vegetables and fruit they are happy to eat, and discover new ones too. Giving the child some control is a tried and tested method of obtaining great results.
Once the concept was developed I tried it on my daughter who loved it. Yes, we still had the occasional tantrum but they tended to be much shorter once she was reminded of her reward chart. It has really improved her eating habits and introduced her to new types of fresh produce. Even my son, who is a really good eater, wanted to join in the fun.
Fiesta Crafts is also using the 5 A DAY logo on its website in support of the campaign to raise awareness of the importance of eating a variety of at least five portions of fruit and veg each day.
The 5 A DAY Reward Chart is not a magic cure for children’s eating habits but certainly a step in the right direction.
A French-language version of the chart is already going down extremely well on the continent. The chart will be available in the UK from next month. âóè
For more information please visit www.fiestacrafts.co.uk
