bout
Fuityland
A
ruityland is the vision of a happy, wholesome place,
where children all ages can play, laugh, and embark
themselves in exciting adventures created specifically
for fun learning.
It is also a place where fantasy and realism meet to give children the knowledge about wholesome foods they need to help them grow healthy and happy; far from disease.
F
hrough the power of books that combine, fantasy and adventure, children find themselves gaining the value and knowledge of what is beneficial to their health. Thus, opening new ways to welcome wholesome foods and awaking the appetite and enthusiasm for different fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes, and the most precious drink; water.
Fruityland is the umbrella that encompasses an adventure book series, a board game, recipes, and a website.
T
Who created
Fruityland®
ruityland was created and developed by a mother and her daughter to inspire parents and children to fall in love with healthy foods that can provide everything they need to keep them healthy and prevent disease.
“Despite all of the challenges involved in running a startup and fighting for children’s health; what keeps us going every day is knowing that there is a solution AND it’s super simple AND super fun.”
F
Veronica (daughter) and Nydia (mother) working towards a healthier tomorrow.
Why learn nutrition
through fantasy
Nutrition is a complex study that takes years to learn. Most of this learning is done during the person’s adulthood. Perhaps, a little bit too late to change any unfavorable eating habits.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, instead, Oliver and Friends adventures offer your children a shortcut that is fun and simple. As a result, the beginning of a strong relationship with nutrition. And, while your child is embarked on any of these exciting adventures he or she will be learning about the following:
We know it’s frustrating to be asking your child to eat their veggies, or legumes, or fresh fruits every single day.
Instead, why not read a fun story where you two will be enjoying that moment with more promising results?
The following is not fantasy, but a true story that can answer one of our questions - Why children are not interested in wholesome foods?
I remember my mother asking me to eat my vegetable soup. I did it, but I didn’t really enjoy it. This lack of appreciation was because I didn’t know where broccoli or kale or any other green, or yellow things floating in my soup came from. I didn’t have an image of the plant or tree. I didn’t know about their vitamins or wonderful benefits. Just listening to my mother’s words: “You have to eat your vegetables because they are good for you” didn’t enlighten me.
Nutrition shouldn’t be another “must” subject to learn, but something that grows naturally as part of your child’s life. Giving them the confidence they need to make healthy choices when it comes to eating habits. Thereby, protecting their bodies from many diseases already seen in children and enabling them to live a healthy and happy life, and passing this knowledge from one generation to the next generation.
Where foods come from - Pasteurization
- How foods affect their bodies - Saturated fat
- About vitamins and antioxidants - Hygiene
- Fiber - How to include
- Protein wholesome foods in meals
- Sugar - Gardening
- Sugar - Learning to work as a team
Reviews - Amazon.com
We are happy to present some of the reviews on Amazon.com from mothers, teachers, and customers in general.
Natalie M. Hartman
As the mother of 3 children (ages 8, 7, and 6) I am always looking for an entertaining story with a positive message. This book has great nutritional information… My youngest keeps bringing it to me to read to everyone…We love it and highly recommend it!
NJG
I bought this book for my nephews and nieces, and I have to say it was a great gift. They get to learn about the importance of nutrition in a fun, sweet way. The book is one of those that are great to read together, parents and children, since it gives both generations the opportunity to become wiser about healthy food…More…
Jo-Marie Mlsek
It is often difficult to get a child to eat healthy foods. This book, Oliver & Friends Great Grape Adventure is an excellent way to accomplish this goal.
What brought us to
create fun games?
There is nothing better to educate children than using real images, especially when it comes to foods. This not only awakens their appetite for such foods, but children associate the foods that are on a board game with the foods at the food store, or at the dining table. Best of all, they are associated with having fun.
Frugivoro in Fruityland Board Game
True example that kept reinforcing our goal:
We had already developed a prototype game when I had a very enlightened experience with my nephew’s four year old son. He didn’t want to eat his string beans. After learning how the plant looked and helping to plant the seeds from the legume that he reluctantly didn’t want to eat, he came back with a new attitude and to my surprise he ate his string beans!
As you know, children respond better and learn faster when they are entertained or having fun. When we tested the prototype in schools, homes, and libraries the results were outstanding and promising. We observed the following including some of the children’s reviews:
-It awakens children’s appetite for the foods on the board like; grapes, carrots, spinach, almond milk, and more.
-It kept the group engaged and active.
-Children wanted to keep playing more and more.
-The desire to get a high score and find the right answer, kept the players excited.
-When children played the game, they helped each other vs adults who didn’t; 20 years old and older – (who just wanted to win)
-Children laughed and worked as a team.
-When Children learned about a particular vitamin and its effect, they showed a sense of accomplishment.
-They loved the heroes’ cape! Some wanted to keep it with them and even take it to school.
-Children wanted to have the game at home and at school. (Players were between 6 and 12 years old).
Students’ reviews:
“I think this is a great game and a great way to learn.” - Talena S., Age 11
“This game was really fun to play, this is just AMAZING.” - Kaitlyn H., age 11
“I loved Frugivoro. It was so cool and exciting.” - Noah., age 10
“There is always that card that makes everyone crack up!”
“It is educational and Realllly fun
“This game is great! I could play it all day with my siblings. Great way to learn.”
“When will it be available? – Hannah R., age 12
OUR INSPIRATION
My grandchildren and nephew they were and continue being our inspiration
About Veronica
Hi! My name is Veronica El-Showk and I am a visual artist and children's health advocate.
My background is in business and marketing and when I'm not working, you can usually find me making a big mess in our small kitchen, reading about psychology, traveling, and spending time with family.
Before starting Fruityland, Nydia Kastre worked in the field of diet and nutrition where she served as a wellness advisor, nutritionist, and technical dietician at multiple hospitals and clinics, including WIC, the Women, Infants, and Children's Clinic. At George Washington University, she conducted programs for the Women's Exercise Research Center and earned her degree in Health, Wellness and Fitness from George Mason University.
Throughout these years she felt frustrated that most of the suffering she saw could have been avoided through diet and lifestyle choices. An accumulation of these events kept reinforcing what she already knew: that prevention is more effective than any medicine and that the focus should be on treating the cause instead of the symptoms. This you could say was the very beginning of Fruityland, even though the first book wasn't written until years later.