Today, more than 2 billion people in the world are overweight or obese and 800 million are malnourished. Here in Trinidad and Tobago, while malnutrition is not endemic, recent studies indicate that obesity and overweight in students at schools has more than doubled in the last decade. Conservative estimates indicate that 23 per cent of primary school children are overweight and 25 per cent of students at secondary school are overweight.
Fighting this health epidemic is a key objective for Nestlé. The company believes that by helping new generations eat and drink better and move more, it will enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future.
Over 1000 kids participated in the 2018 Nestlé Unstoppable Kids Summer Camp
“We know that nutrition in early childhood lays the foundation for a child’s lifelong health and well-being,” says Nestlé’s Corporate Communications Manager, Denise d’Abadie, “and we also know that when individuals become parents, they change their purchasing and eating habits, striving to incorporate healthier foods and beverages into their lives. This means we have an opportunity to make change, and that’s what Nestlé for Healthier Kids is all about!”
Nestlé for Healthier Kids is a group-wide Nestlé initiative that federates all of the company’s efforts to support parents and caregivers on their journey to raise healthier kids. It’s all part of Nestlé’s Global Ambition to help 50 million children lead healthier lives by 2030 using an arsenal of tools from research to product development, from education to innovative nutrition and lifestyle services.
This includes the company’s annual Summer Camp for Children at its Headquarters in Valsayn. With the theme of unstoppable kids, children were taught the basics of portion control, nutrition, hydration and recycling, delivered through games and quizzes that delivered important information in a memorable way with an emphasis on physical activity.
Children participate in games encouraging and emphasizing the importance of physical activity
“Parents know that every day counts when it comes to preparing their children for a bright and successful future; they understand that nutrition and physical activity are key,” says Mrs. d’Abadie, “but many face challenges to make it part of everyday life. Nestlé wants to help. An activity like our Nestlé for Healthier Kids Summer Camp is just one of the many initiatives underway to help caregivers and children adopt healthier habits.”
Kids learn about recycling through an engaging recycling sorting competition