GO, SLOW, WHOA – A simple nutrition game

This article will help you recognise the foods that is the better choice. You will learn how to differentiate between healthy food and unhealthy food and make smart food choices every day. You can cut the paper and post it on your refrigerator at home or take it with you to the store when you shop.

COLOUR CODES

I have used colour codes using the familiar scheme of the traffic light and categorises them as GO (green colour), SLOW (yellow colour), or WHOA (red colour). Using a selection of GO, SLOW, and WHOA through colour codes, you will easily learn to identify healthy food choices and GO, SLOW, and WHOA foods.

THE GOAL

The goal is to eat more GO foods than SLOW foods, and to eat WHOA foods only in very small amounts. Grilled chicken – GO, Fried chicken – WHOA, Broccoli – GO, Mashed potatoes – SLOW, Baked potatoes – GO, Potato chips – WHOA, Low Fat Milk – GO, Sugar free ice cream – SLOW, Strawberries – GO, Low fat yogurt – GO, Apples – GO, Deep fried crispy vegetables – WHOA

Tip for food preparation:  

It is important to note that the way you cook food ultimately decides whether a food is GO, SLOW, or WHOA. For example, roti is a GO food, but if you add lot of ghee, it becomes a SLOW food.

Important note:

This activity is designed to help people think about the categories of foods they choose to eat and does not focus on serving and portion sizes, which are also important for making healthy choices. Refer to the Estimated Calorie Requirements to determine how much of these foods to eat to maintain energy balance.

Source: Adapted from Co-ordinated Approach to Child Health, 4th Grade Curriculum, University of California.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and are not in any way endorsed by the newspaper.