Children (and adults) can learn more about fruits and vegetables while playing a new card game, developed in Australia.
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Based on a set of standard playing cards, the game features fresh produce available within Australia with each card showing the nutritional information for 100g of the fruit, vegetable or nuts.
The game can be played by players comparing the values of the energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat or dietary fibre in their hand of cards.
What's more, the game cards are free to download and print.
The brain behind the game was Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment assistant director - international capacity building plant systems and strategies biosecurity plant division, Carol Quashie-Williams.
Ms Quashie-Williams said the United Nation's General Assembly declaring 2021 as the International Year Fruits and Vegetables inspired her to think creatively when it came to engaging young people in order to raise awareness of the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health.
"Australia's horticulture industry produces premium and safe fruits, vegetables, nuts, flowers, turf and nursery products," Ms Quashie-Williams said.
"The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment supported the development of a PDF and the production of promotional packs of playing cards to provide the community with an educational tool to celebrate the #IYFV2021 and promote Australia's fruits, vegetables and nuts.
"I developed these special cards as part of a CSIRO STEM Professional in Schools "STAM" (Science, Technology, Arts and Maths) project with the commitment and fabulous artwork from Namadgi Primary School students and teachers, Mrs Kathryn Glanville and Mrs Julie White, a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation (SAKGF) school and Farrer Primary School students and teacher, Ms Kate Elliot, both in Canberra, and the support of DAWE staff and DAWE's CareerTrackers Indigenous interns 2020-21."
The card suits represent:
- Tropical fruits and nuts;
- Temperate fruits;
- Australian Indigenous fruits, vegetables and nuts; and
- Vegetables.
The playing cards will be launched during National Science Week 2021 (August 14-22) which has a theme of Food by Design to celebrate #IYFV2021.
They were also on display at Hort Connections 2021 in Brisbane.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are able to see their cultures reflected in the cards, which also educate the community and raise awareness of indigenous fruits, vegetables and nuts.
The information on the cards also link to the Health and Physical Education part of the Australian curriculum.
"I hope you enjoy playing the card game while learning about Australia's healthy and nutritious fruits, vegetables and nuts," Ms Quashie-Williams said.
- To download a PDF of the cards ready to print, click HERE.
Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
