A healthy lifestyle is invaluable for children, as their bodies are in a phase of rapid growth and development, accompanied by significant intellectual and emotional progress. Healthy habits and ways of living are established during childhood and remain throughout life as a guarantee of good health and a prerequisite for realizing each child’s full potential.

The Association of Chefs from Mediterranean and European Regions is implementing the project “I Want to Eat Healthy!” in the kitchen facilities of the ŠKMER Culinary Academy. This project has been organized since 2008 for children aged 6 to 14 from the Split-Dalmatia County. Through engaging methods, children are introduced to healthy ingredients and, together with professional chefs, prepare and sample interesting dishes. Many children try foods for the first time—ingredients they previously disliked or never had the opportunity to taste. The knowledge and skills gained at the workshops are then brought home; children involve their families in preparing healthy dishes they learned, often experimenting with new combinations.

The primary objective of the project is to bring healthy food closer to children in a creative and engaging way, encourage the inclusion of desirable ingredients in their daily nutrition, and reduce the intake of unhealthy (fast food) options. Additionally, the project raises awareness and nurtures the importance and beneficial effects of the Dalmatian diet, contributing to the improvement of participants’ health, the adoption of healthy habits, the development of a good work ethic, and a sense of personal responsibility in preparing quality, tasty, and nutritious meals, while also teaching the correct selection and combination of ingredients.

Throughout the workshops, children acquire practical skills essential for everyday life, such as speed, dexterity, precision, creativity, and resourcefulness. In this manner, the project aims to encourage children to further develop the skills and knowledge acquired, and to foster a love for cooking, presentation, and serving food—skills that may influence future career choices within the hospitality industry.

As part of this initiative, we have introduced a new activity—online video tutorials to which children can subscribe and learn to cook online. For this project, we have prepared 30 online workshops featuring 30 different meals (lunch and dinner), focused on preparing a variety of healthy dishes, which children can make independently or with their parents.

By doing so, we introduce educational and engaging content into children’s daily lives, where they often spend too much time on mobile phones, computers, and other technology. This approach provides them with resources that will help change their dietary habits and teach them how to live healthier lives.

The results of the project have confirmed that this method of presenting ingredients and direct participation in meal preparation motivates children to change their eating habits and lifestyle. According to surveys conducted after the project’s implementation, 40% of participating children now use ingredients from the culinary workshops in their diets at home and prepare a variety of dishes with their family members.

For applications to the “I Want to Eat Healthy!” workshops, please email info@skmer.hr. For additional information, contact +385 99 319 89 61.