One Picture - 1000 Words

We discovered an advertising company in the Netherlands, SIRE, with a powerful way to address the issue of childhood obesity. They use images that make us think. This is an easy way to use your creativity to add to our collection of 10,000 digital projects made by kids for kids. Imagine the image and the message that image should communicate. Take the picture and send it to us in a small jpeg or gif file. We will add your efforts to our collection - we can all make a difference one project at a time.

For more from SIRE, click here. E-Mail us any questions.

Creative Kids Re-invent ExerGames

It may be the default way to play most video games - slouched on the couch or in a chair, but Get Outta My face has become the home of kids creating new ways to play their games. Sure, any game can be an "exergame" and provide rich ExerLearning benefits. Who better to deliver unique and effective ideas - kids aged 8-18!!! Take a look at the contest and forward this link to creative gamers you know.

FatWorld - Inventing Food Fun

Take a look at our blog about FatWorld or go right to their FatWorld website if you want some online game FUN while you learn about the economics of food and a lot about food choices YOU make! It's FREE to download.





It's easy to turn your game play into a digital project for Get Outta My Face. Simply download the game to your PC (the MAC version will be here soon). Set up your character, buy a houseand get started creating your menu. As you begin your year in FatWorld you might like to:

1. Write a game review and send it to us to post


2. Take a video of you actually shopping after you learn about food in FatWorld - post the 1-2 minute clip on YouTube and send us the link


3. Add a recipe and let us know the recipe you added and why it is healthy and yummy


4. Invent an idea for a healthy food or fitness game and send it to us - who knows someone may want to build that game


5. Go to the SCRATCH website and program a game with a healthy mission like FatWorld has

If you are really into programming and games, you may want to visit our blog at DigiForce G (for gamer kids and their great ideas)

Vending Fitness - why not?

This is from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

Marketing of Unhealthful Foods Pervasive in U.S. Schools

In 2004–2005, researchers at Arizona State University's Commercialism in Education Research Unit designed and conducted the first national survey of commercial food marketing practices in public schools. The study found that advertising in schools is pervasive and dominated by corporations that sell foods of minimal nutritional value that are also high in fat and sugar. The national survey reports that schools make little money from their participation in food advertising, and most schools’ programs would not be reduced if this advertising were eliminated. For the full article, click here .

SOLUTIONS?

• 4th graders at McCall Elementary School in Redmond, OR sell fitness instead of any sort of snack. There are lots of creative options, kids are eager to make a difference.


• Take a look at PUNKDAJUNK and join the momentum


• Let us know what you've heard about schools and more positive vending/funding concepts.

Design Our T-Shirt

We are looking for the best design for our Get Outta My Face t-shirt. It's easy for you to enter your ideas and be the shirt we select. We will be using the online t-shirt design site THREADLESS. http://www.threadless.com/

It's super cool. All you need to do is upload your design on their website and send us a link to it. We'll add your link to our website and encourage tons of kids to vote. Take a look at our current favorite, SKIP DESSERT.

The Easiest Project of All

Sitting in front of most any kids' TV show is a sure fire way to be hammered with ads for stuff posing as nutritious breakfast and snack food. A quick look at the labels will show you that a teeeeeeeny half or 3/4 cup serving has 12 g (the "healthy stuff") or more sugar.

Have YOU ever measured how much you toss in a bowl when you're hungry?

Anyway, people have been making fun of kids' cereal for a long time. Even the cartoon shows like the TICK or THE SIMPSONS have fake cereal in thm - all for a laugh. Look at this collection.

THE EASIEST PROJECT EVER goes like this: Grab a high sugar product or one that PRETENDS to be natural like a 100% "natural" fruit juice with high fructose corn syrup in it, and re-invent the ad.

1. You can make fun of the ad with your own drawings, Photoshop additions, or by pasting on warnings. You get the idea. Scan your final project and e-mail it to us for our project collection



2. You can use the layout of an existing ad and re-invent the product so it REALLY IS HEALTHY. Instead of an ad for "super sugar breakfast bars" you could invent a product loaded with real fruit and whole grains with a cool cartoon character. The BIG ADVERTISING guys do this, like having Shrek on the label, or Spiderman.



3. Make a commercial of your own. Here's a sample of a TRIX commercial...now can you re-invent the script and throw out the sugary stuff (keep a funny cartoon character or person) and put it up on YouTube...we'll link to it



4. Would you pay $26 to roam through a "cereal commercial amusement park?" Look at this. Now can you invent a healthy food amusement park? Write your ideas down, send them to us and THAT'S A GET OPUTTA MY FACE project.



5. Making fun of ridiculous junk food and un TURTH in advertising is our way of PUNKDAJUNK action!

Send us your completed project by scanning it (e-mail) or making a color copy (mail to PO Box 6955, Bend OR 97708). You can send the original but we can't return it.

Links for Ideas:

Cereal Ads - General Mills Kellogg's Post Quaker Oats Nestle and Nabisco

Sam and Max: Smart Choices Heroes??

We're sure that when Sam and Max (from Telltale Games) ventured into their world of gaming adventure, smart choices and healthy eating were not foremost on their minds. Just the same, a cool tool from Telltale Games can be used to spread our message in a fun way.

If you're aged 9-22 (or a teacher ofkids that age) start by going to the COMIC CREATOR PAGE

Use the three panel strip to add characters, action, dialog and your very creative message relating to smart choices for food, beverage or being active. You'll be published - and we'll add a link to your cartoon from our website if you send us the link.

Vote for our first entry now, then make your own