Families have diverse mealtime routines, yet many face common challenges that impact children’s relationship with food. Time constraints, preferences for familiar foods, and limited exposure to nutritious options were all recurring themes. Across the board, we saw an opportunity to use play as a catalyst for developing healthy habits. Children naturally connect with activities that involve hands-on engagement, which provides them with independence, confidence, and joy around food.

Based on these insights, we began developing a series of prototypes to explore how different play-based activities could influence children’s approach to food. Prototyping allowed us to test ideas quickly, helping us understand which elements of play were most effective at building healthy habits. We wanted to learn how children respond to playful experiences around food, what encourages them to try new things, and how these activities could fit seamlessly into family routines.

Each prototype addressed a unique aspect of nutrition education, from hands-on cooking kits that encourage family bonding to sticker rewards and food exploration packs that make trying new foods exciting. By blending play with nutrition, these prototypes encouraged children to approach food with curiosity and pride, while also making it easier for parents to guide healthy habits in a natural, supportive way.

Our research showed that play is a powerful motivator for healthy eating. Through structured, play-led activities, children were more inclined to try new foods and engage with mealtime routines. This approach goes beyond simple exposure; it helps children develop independence and pride in their choices, encouraging habits that last. By integrating play into the mealtime routine, we can create positive associations with food that lay the groundwork for lifelong health.

To expand HaruPlate’s mission, we also developed Haruboss, a custom AI tool that generates creative Play x Food ideas for educators, parents, and health advocates. Haruboss enables the HaruPlate team to create adaptable, play-based resources that bring nutrition education to life. From child-friendly recipes to interactive activity sheets, Haruboss supports scalable solutions that make it easier for families to nurture healthy habits through play.

By embedding play into nutrition education, HaruPlate is cultivating a foundation of healthy habits for children across Asia. Through a blend of prototypes, research insights, and the scalable support of Haruboss, we’re helping make nutrition an engaging, integral part of everyday family life. This collaboration is more than just about developing healthy eating habits—it’s about reimagining how families connect over food, creating joyful, lasting bonds, and empowering the next generation to take charge of their own well-being.

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Together, we’re setting the stage for a future where healthy habits are nurtured through play, where learning about nutrition is as fun as it is meaningful, and where mealtime becomes a moment of growth, curiosity, and connection.