CURIOUS MINDS SOUTH AUCKLAND 2024 - PROJECT #10

Gamifying Eco-Nutrition to Support Planet-Friendlier School Lunchboxes

Manurewa Intermediate School

Over a period of 6 months, a group of around 60 students (aged 11–13) from Manurewa Intermediate School looked to tackle lunchboxes full of unhealthy snacks and wasteful packaging through game design.

Working alongside experts from AUT, Food for Thought and The Open Fort, the students explored eco-nutrition by analysing the contents of their lunchboxes and considering the implications for both food health and environmental impacts. 

The students turned this knowledge into action by co-designing prototype games designed to encourage their peers and whānau members to discover eco-nutrition for themselves. Twelve prototypes were presented and 'tested' at the Curious Minds Conference in October 2024. With plans for futher refinement underway, it is hoped that one or two games will be published in early 2025.