A look at the different food groups and categories available in the 'Happy Diners' educational card game by The Nurts. — Photos: The Nurts
Happy Diners, a new card game from local creators The Nurts, transforms learning about healthy eating into an enjoyable, interactive experience for children.
Designed with young players in mind, it combines play and education, helping kids understand the basics of nutrition while having fun.
The game’s colourful design and simple rules allow players to collect a variety of food cards to assemble balanced meals, subtly introducing them to the principles of good nutrition and portion control.
Aimed at ages four and up, Happy Diners encourages players to compete by building the most balanced and nutritious meal each round.
This fun challenge not only fosters a spirit of healthy competition but also reinforces essential life skills, promoting an understanding of healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime.
The idea for Happy Diners, which is The Nurts’ third card game, came about earlier in the year.
The Nurts founder Rachel Tan recognised a significant gap in effective nutritional education after the Health Ministry (MOH) reported in November 2023 that 29.7% of children aged zero to four had experienced, or were currently suffering from, stunting, due to inadequate nutrition.
“All parents, no matter what, would want the best for their kids. And so creating this card game was my way of preparing my kids, as well as helping other parents in the community,” said Rachel, who has three children.
(From left) Ong, BookXcess head of marketing Dewgem Yen, Rachel and Adrian at 'Happy Diners' launch in Petaling Jaya.
The importance of a balanced meal
She emphasised that many children are unaware of the importance of balanced meals and how their food choices can affect their long-term health.
“We’re proud that Happy Diners can become an interactive tool that makes learning about balanced meals accessible and enjoyable for all ages. It’s not just a game; it’s a step towards healthier communities,” she added.
The game, designed by her husband Adrian Tan, was developed with a focus on balance, recognising that most people already have a basic understanding of which foods are healthy and unhealthy.
“By incorporating research-backed nutritional information into the gameplay, we’re happy to support making nutrition education fun and memorable,” said Adrian.
Playable by two to eight players, Happy Diners features food cards representing various vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins.
Players must carefully balance these components while also factoring in how different food preparation methods affect nutritional value.
The game offers two modes: “Simple Rules” for younger players and “Standard Rules” for a more challenging experience, ideal for adults.
“Steamed or fried? Baked or boiled? It’s amazing how much nutrient content changes with different cooking methods, and understanding this is key,” explained Adrian.
A family plays a round of Happy Diners at the card game's launch.
Handy tool
By blending entertainment with education, Happy Diners serves as a handy tool for teaching children – and adults – how to make smarter food choices in a way that feels effortless and enjoyable.
“I started by creating a detailed spreadsheet of all the food cards, then assigned traits and values to each. We were thrilled to work with a professional nutritionist to ensure the values were accurate and true to life,” he added.
The card game includes 76 Fruit and Vegetable cards, 38 Protein cards, 38 Carbohydrate cards, 18 Special Action cards, 10 Diner Profile cards, and 10 Dietary Conditions cards, covering a variety of modern eating habits.
Jessica Ong, a nutritionist with over a decade of experience in fitness training, offered her expertise during the game’s development.
While it’s uncommon for her to be consulted for a card game, her input was invaluable in helping Adrian determine the accurate nutritional values for the food cards.
“The game is a great step forward in helping children broaden their understanding of different food groups and the impact of properly balanced meals. The star rankings on each of the food cards (0 stars to 3 stars) have a significant psychological role, as kids will then be able to associate foods in real life with what they learned from the game,” said Ong.
The card game, available online and selected BookXcess outlets, also serves as an introduction for children to learn about various dietary conditions, such as lactose intolerance and food allergies.
“What constitutes balanced meals and good nutrition can vary for each child. It’s important for them to start learning from a young age so they can better understand their bodies,” concluded Ong.
Founded in 2023, The Nurts also has the card games Nasi Lemak The Game and the Nasi Lemak Rendang Expansion in its line-up.
