1 Choose four categories to quiz your students on. Examples are: whole grains, fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, water, fruit and vegetables. Categories and questions should come from material that has been discussed in nutrition workshops.
2 Write each category on a Post-it note and position them along the top of a piece of poster board. The last column will be a bonus category, making a total of five columns.
3 Place four or five Post-its under each column. In ascending order, label each note with $100, $200, $300, $400, etc. Hundred-dollar questions should be easier than $200 questions, and so on.
4 Choose questions to ask students, such as: What vitamin is primarily found in citrus fruits? Name one function of fiber in the body. How much water should we drink in a day? Why is it important to eat carbohydrates? Name the two healthy fats.
5 Bonus questions are worth $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, etc., in ascending order. These questions are much more difficult, but still originate from material covered in the workshop.
6 Students can compete as individuals or in teams of two. If a team answers a question correctly, they receive points equal to the Post-it money. If they are incorrect, the Post-it stays on the board for the other teams to answer.
7 The team or individual with the most points at the end of the game wins!
Ally Wagner is a registered dietitian in Cincinnati.
Photo: Anne Kramer of Dance Etc. teaches students about healthy eating. (by Jorja Vornheder of In My Prime, courtesy of Anne Kramer)