– The health of children and youth is the responsibility of society as a whole – concluded experts at the 15th anniversary of the unique project Vrtim zdravi film. At the panel discussion titled ‘A Healthier Tomorrow Begins on the Plate Today’, representatives from the Croatian Institute of Public Health, the Croatian School Sports Federation, the public health initiative PETICA – playing for health, Nestlé, and the Kraljevica Elementary School, which has participated in the program from the beginning, gathered.
In its first year, Vrtim zdravi film started with only 570 seventh-grade students in seven Croatian schools, while last school year it was implemented in 185 schools. Over the course of 15 years, approximately 200,000 children have participated in the project, with more than 90,000 of them in the last four years. Thanks to the Vrtim zdravi film project and the engagement of all involved partners, more and more students today understand what a balanced diet means, what constitutes a proper nutrition plate, how many meals are needed daily, and why physical activity is just as important as healthy eating.
– Year after year, we are seeing progress – more and more children understand the concept of the proper nutrition plate, regularly have breakfast, and include fruit in their diet. Compared to last year, the average correct answers regarding proper nutrition after education in schools increased by more than 10 percent. Based on evaluations, we can confirm that the program is gradually changing children’s habits for the better – emphasized Dijana Mayer, head of the Department for Monitoring and Improving the Health of School Children and Youth at the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
How to Bring the Digital Generation Back to Playgrounds?
Although much has been achieved, experts warn of new challenges. New generations are growing up in a digital world, surrounded by screens that offer new ways of socializing. The yard has been replaced by a mobile phone, the school playground by a tablet, and sports competitions by video games.
– In professional sports, we achieve excellent results, but in recreational sports, there is still room for improvement. Therefore, through our activities, we want to teach children how to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives, so that movement becomes a natural need even in adulthood – noted Ivan Dujić, Secretary General of the HŠSS.
Public-Private Partnership is Key to Developing Healthy Habits in Children
– Vrtim zdravi film is an excellent example of a public-private partnership based on shared values. Our role is not just to be a financial part of the story, but also to provide appropriate content and methodology and reward the best schools in knowledge and implementation of the program. Nestlé is aware of the responsibility of creating circumstances in which we guide citizens to eat better. Primarily through the continuous improvement of our products with more desirable nutritional values, but also through educating citizens through initiatives like this one,” said the regional nutritionist of Nestlé, Koraljka Novina-Brkić.
