Nutrikid®

Obesity is a major problem in the western population and it’s alarming that even children are more and more affected. About 15% of school aged children nowadays are overweight and about 3% are clinically obese.

To prevent malnourishment and eating disorders as early as possible it’s our duty – and at the same time our chance – to help our children develop healthy eating and exercise habits.

To tackle this responsible duty, a non-commercial association was founded in 1999 to develop teaching materials for parents, educators and teachers. The association consists of the Swiss Association of Nutrition, the Museum of Nutrition “Alimentarium”, the Federation of the Swiss Food Industries (FIAL) and Nestlé Suisse S.A.. Nutrikid® is also supported by the Swiss Department of Health.

In 2001 the first module was successfully released for children aged 10 to 12.

Recently a new module for children aged 5 to 7 was published. The Nutrikid® module 5-7 is especially adjusted to the needs of preschoolers and first-graders. Therefore a methodically and pedagogically adequate concept was worked out with professionals.

The module 5-7 contains several games such as memory/quartet, a board game, a grocery-shop game and a song as well as a set of activity cards to discuss the following themes:

-         classification of the foods by different criteria

-         origin of different foods

-         recommended Snacks

-         importance of physical activity, sleep and recreation

-         health consequences of an imbalance between food intake and physical activity

The balance between nutrition, physical activity and recreation is important and playfully illustrated through the seven Nutrikids with whom the children can identify themselves.

Nutrikid® 10-12 is available in German and French, Nutrikid® 5-7 in a German, French and Italian version. For more information visit www.nutrikid.ch