How to create the communicative content of digital games to help children make healthy food choices?

Irresponsible promotion practices of food marketing to children increases their consumption of unhealthy foods (Junk food), which causes some health problems like poor diet, weight gain and obesity. The previous studies showed that digital games and the usage of gamification as a marketing tool have a significant impact on children's attitudes, choices and preference of healthy foods which might lead to behavior modification. This study aims to draw a path for creating communicative digital game content that encourages children to make healthy food choices. Behavior changes theories and concepts related to communication and game design like social change communication will be used as framework to clarify outcome of the research. The study will focus on children from different cultural background "Turkish and American" between nine and eleven years old who play digital games and are familiar with using technological devices like smartphones and tablet. The interview will be done with their parents to gain basic information about the parents' perspectives of digital games and to know children's interests, eating habits and consumption of food and media (digital games). The study will also include a content analysis of the digital games which are designed to support healthy eating habits among children. The analysis will help us gain insight about used game elements of the preferred games.