Synopsis of the App: Food Explorer Club is described as an app for the parents of “picky” eaters.
Price and Platform: Free. Apple and Android
RDN Score: 3/5
Pros
Designed by and for parents, Food Explorer Club turns trying new foods into a game allowing kids to earn badges and rewards for making healthful food choices.
Parents define the badges and assign points and rewards for trying new foods.
Parents are in control of what the child sees in the app.
Users can create a profile for each child, allowing siblings to get competitive by watching who earns the most points.
Includes badges for different foods, vitamins and behaviors.
Parents can define and add different rewards and points, from simple rewards such as sitting in Dad’s chair to going to the zoo.
Includes fun and educational facts under each badge, such as “There are over 7,500 kinds of apples in the world” in the apple badge.
Cons
Requires family sharing and asks for an email address, names and birthdays that may be privacy concerns.
Setting up the rewards and badges can take some time and requires the child to access the app to view rewards.
Parents might walk a fine line to avoid vilifying certain foods.
Includes optional reward ideas such as “dessert,” which may have a negative impact on the child’s relationship with food over time.
App tends to freeze when transitioning from screen to screen.
Bottom Line: Food Explorer Club might work for parents who have a bit more time on their hands. Although the kid-friendly design is appealing, the point system may add a degree of complexity to the process of introducing new foods to children.
Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD, is based in Atlanta and specializes in culinary nutrition, communications and consulting. She blogs at marisamoore.com. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Synopsis of the App: Food Explorer Club is described as an app for the parents of “picky” eaters.
