“Build the plate, dodge the allergies, beat the clock.“
Everybody eats differently. Some people need extra protein, some avoid gluten or dairy, and others simply crave garlic bread. In Macro Mayhem, those differences become the puzzle. Players work together in real time to build plates for a lineup of quirky diners, each with their own macronutrient targets and dietary restrictions.
Macro Mayhem is a cooperative nutrition card game for 3–6 players, ages 13+. On each turn, the group flips a new Character Card that shows fiber, carb, protein, and fat goals, as well as allergies or lifestyle rules (such as gluten-free, vegetarian, or nut-free). Using Food Cards with real macro values and a handful of chaotic Superfood power-ups, the team races against a five-minute timer to assemble meals that are balanced, safe, and at least a little appetizing. Once the time is up, players tally their tokens to see how many plates they successfully served—and reflect on what it really takes to feed different bodies well.
Rather than focusing on dieting or “good vs. bad” foods, Macro Mayhem turns nutrition into a shared, low-stakes puzzle. Players use simple math, read allergy icons, negotiate trade-offs, and occasionally realize that their favorite snack is way more (or less) macro-dense than they thought. Future iterations of the game may add a budgeting layer, asking players to consider plate cost alongside nutritional balance and accessibility.
Learning Goals
After playing Macro Mayhem, players will be able to:
- Recognize how common foods contribute to fiber, carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
- Practice simple addition and estimation in a real-world context while building plates.
- Develop empathy and awareness for people with allergies and dietary restrictions.
- Reflect on trade-offs around nutrition, taste, and (optionally) cost and access.
Game Overview
- Players: 3–6
- Roles: 1 Shopkeeper (facilitator), 2–5 Plate Players
- Play Time: ~5 minutes per round (15–30 minutes per session)
- Format: Fully cooperative, real-time card game
- Win Condition: Complete as many plates as possible; more tokens = better service.
What You’ll Find on This Page
- The full Macro Mayhem Rulebook (PDF)
- A print-and-play deck of Character, Food, and Superfood Cards
- Reference Dictionary for Character, Food, and Superfood Cards
- Our slide presentation describing the game’s design and educational goals
- An Instructor/facilitator guide for classroom use
Credits
Game Design & Development
Macro Mayhem was created by Ben Lipper, Jeferson Lantigua, and Liang Liang as a final project for EDST 210 / IDEA 209 at Wesleyan University
Roles on the Project
- Educational Design & Reflection Prompts: All three collaborators
- Game Design & Mechanics: All three collaborators
- Art Direction & Visual Design: Liang
- Card Layout & Rulebook Production: Jeferson & Liang
- Research & Information Gathering: Liang & Ben
Tools & Resources
- Game prototyping with paper cards, print-and-cut decks, and simple tokens
- Nutritional information inspired by publicly available macro data and classroom materials
- Rulebook and presentation created using Google Docs, Google Slides, and Canva
