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15.05.2026
Healthy Nutrition in Kindergartens
Caring for healthy eating and developing appropriate dietary habits among children is an important part of the daily work of all employees in our kindergarten. We recognize that this is one of the key areas in which we can provide children with a strong foundation for a healthy life. The Kindergarten Curriculum places nutrition among everyday life activities that significantly shape children’s experiences across all age groups. Nutrition is therefore understood as a holistic and integrated activity that influences children’s well-being, health, and development, while also playing an important educational role. Through direct experiences, children develop eating habits and an understanding of everyday practices. With the revision of the nutrition guidelines, which emphasize a shift toward more balanced and higher-quality nutrition for children, we also began introducing changes in our kindergarten. The transition was easier, as we had already implemented many principles of healthy nutrition within the framework of the “Healthy Kindergarten” concept. Therefore, these changes did not pose significant challenges for either children or parents. Parents play an important role in the acceptance of new practices—their support and encouragement make a substantial difference, whereas doubts or negative comments can hinder acceptance. As part of the pilot project, we introduced changes gradually and thoughtfully; for example, when introducing whole-grain pasta, we initially combined it with refined pasta to allow children to adapt to new flavors over time. We first introduced the guidelines to staff, and then to parents, as the curriculum encourages close cooperation with families in shaping healthy eating habits. Within the activities of the JA PreventNCD’s pilot, we placed special emphasis on aligning nutrition at home and in kindergarten. To support this, we provided parents with recipe cards when introducing new dishes and encouraged them to prepare these meals at home. We also included these dishes regularly in our menus. Menus are accessible to parents via the kindergarten’s website, the eAsistent platform, and notice boards, which encourages discussions about food between children and parents. We observed that negative comments about menus gradually disappeared, while parents increasingly encouraged their children to try the listed dishes. Since the revision, menus have been designed in accordance with the updated guidelines, which are also followed in food preparation. This includes reducing added sugar and salt, increasing the use of herbs and spices, incorporating more fruits and vegetables (especially seasonal and locally sourced), emphasizing whole and minimally processed foods, and ensuring high-quality protein sources. Particular attention is given to fish, legumes, and lean meat, while desserts are offered less frequently and are less sweet. We promote water as the primary beverage. Food is prepared using healthy cooking methods such as boiling, steaming, and baking, and we strive to ensure that as many dishes as possible are freshly prepared on-site. Our cooperation with the Slovenian National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) has been highly successful for many years. A significant contribution comes from the regular monthly review of menus prior to publication, through which we receive professional recommendations for improvement. During the implementation of the guidelines within JA PreventNCD, experts also provided intensive support in organizing nutrition and scheduling meals. They conducted training for professional staff titled Nutrition in Early Childhood: Professional Guidelines and the Role of the Kindergarten. Educational materials in the form of leaflets were also prepared for parents. During parent meetings, we presented the key principles of healthy nutrition. We approach nutrition holistically at the level of the entire kindergarten. Kitchen staff work closely with the nutrition coordinator and educational staff. An important role is played by the Nutrition Team, which brings together various professional profiles (cooks, the nutrition coordinator, educational staff, and management). Until recently, the team also included a parent with expertise in nutrition. We recognize that not only the nutritional quality of menus matters, but also the way food is prepared and presented to children. Our goal is to encourage them to try and enjoy wholesome meals. We promote independence through self-service dining and support staff in sharing good practices and approaches to introducing new foods.We have also presented examples of good practice at parent council meetings and shared them with neighboring kindergartens in cooperation with NIJZ. Despite our achievements, we continue to address ongoing challenges in nutrition with the well-being of children as our priority. Ana Buhvald Pori Assistant Principal of Kindergarten Prevalje, Slovenia
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/healthy-nutrition-in-kindergartens/
20.08.2026
Meet the JA PreventNCD Stakeholder Group
Preventing non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancer requires collaboration across sectors, disciplines and levels of society. To support this, JA PreventNCD established a Stakeholder Group, bringing together 19 European and international organisations with expertise in public health, prevention and health promotion. The Stakeholder Group is part of JA PreventNCD’s wider approach to stakeholder engagement. The group provides a structured way to bring external perspectives into the work of JA PreventNCD, while also creating opportunities to share project knowledge and results through established European and international networks.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/meet-the-ja-preventncd-stakeholder-group/
03.08.2026
Strengthening what works: How JA PreventNCD is supporting breastfeeding across Europe
Breastfeeding can provide important health benefits from the very beginning of life and contribute to better health in the years that follow. But families need more than information about its benefits. They need skilled support, reliable guidance and environments that make breastfeeding possible. Supporting breastfeeding is therefore a shared responsibility across healthcare services, families, communities, workplaces and public policy. For World Breastfeeding Week 2026, JA PreventNCD is highlighting work taking place across Europe to strengthen breastfeeding support in healthcare services, communities, workplaces, education and other settings. The theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” closely reflects this approach: building on effective solutions and creating support that lasts beyond an awareness week. This year’s campaign will also highlight new evidence supporting investment in breastfeeding. On 4 and 5 August, WHO and UNICEF, through the Global Breastfeeding Collective, will launch an updated global investment case for breastfeeding. The event will examine the economic benefits of investing in breastfeeding support, which interventions have the strongest evidence behind them and what would be required to scale them up. Learn more and register for the webinar.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/strengthening-what-works-how-ja-preventncd-is-supporting-breastfeeding-across-europe/
29.05.2026
Coordinating Efforts for Healthier Living Environments in Pula, Croatia
Between 26 and 28 May, multidisciplinary and cross-sector teams working on the transformation of Healthy Living Environments across Europe travelled to Croatia to pool their efforts and share their insights in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The JA PreventNCD Healthy Living Environments annual meeting, held in Pula, Croatia, and organised by the Croatian Institute of Public Health (CIPH), opened with a clear and inspiring message: preventing cancer and other non-communicable diseases requires healthier environments, stronger policy action, and a shared commitment to making prevention part of everyday life. Over three days, participants discussed policies, interventions and research initiatives aimed at creating healthier places to live, learn, work and play. Through plenary sessions, thematic discussions and collaborative workshops, the meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and advance a shared European agenda for prevention.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/coordinating-efforts-for-healthier-living-environments-in-pula-croatia/
29.05.2026
New campaign to make prevention clearer and more accessible
JA PreventNCD is preparing to launch a new campaign aimed at policymakers, professionals, communities and the wider public, helping more people understand what prevention is about and why healthier choices must be made easier, fairer and more accessible for everyone. The campaign will be presented during the JA PreventNCD General Assembly in Rome, taking place from 9–11 June 2026 at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. The General Assembly will bring partners together to share project achievements, reflect on progress and discuss the way forward for strengthening prevention across Europe. The launch session, “Campaigns as a Strategic Tool in Today’s Attention Economy: Premiere of JA PreventNCD’s New Campaign,” will be presented by Live Bøe Johannesen from the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The campaign focuses on four major shared risk factors for cancer and other non-communicable diseases: alcohol, tobacco and nicotine, nutrition and physical activity. It uses clear, accessible and motivating messages to show how prevention is connected to everyday life, from what people eat and how active they are to the environments, products, policies and communities that shape health. To learn more about the thinking behind the campaign, we spoke with Thea Nørgaard Breili from the Norwegian Directorate of Health, project leader of the campaign, about its aims, messages and development process. Can you briefly introduce the new JA PreventNCD campaign and explain what it aims to achieve? "The campaign aims to put prevention of NCDs on the agenda for both stakeholders, policymakers and general public. We aim to increase awareness of the benefits of prevention, highlight accessible measures that can be implemented, and strengthen public support for potential interventions. Non-communicable diseases are often discussed using specialised public health terminology, but many of the risk factors are closely connected to everyday life. What people eat, how active they are, whether tobacco, nicotine or alcohol products are widely available, and how communities are planned all influence health. The campaign shows that prevention is not only about telling individuals to change their behaviour. It is also about creating healthier environments through policy, regulation, planning, services and community action." What are the campaign’s key messages? "The key message shared across the campaign is that through small changes, whether structural or personal, we can all contribute to better health, both in the short and long term. This applies to stakeholders, policymakers and the general public. The campaign shows that everyone has a role to play, from those shaping policies and environments to individuals and communities taking practical steps in everyday life." The campaign was developed in close collaboration with participating member countries. How did that collaboration shape the final concept and messaging? "The collaboration helped us see prevention from many different perspectives. JA PreventNCD brings together partners from across Europe, and that diversity has been important in shaping a campaign that can appeal to a broader audience. At the same time, the collaboration pushed us to define and prioritise a shared direction that all partners could support and work towards together. Through this process, we identified a set of unifying and important messages that strengthen both the collaboration and the overall communication of the project." How did you balance the need for a shared European campaign with different national contexts, languages and public health priorities? "JA PreventNCD has chosen to focus on four shared risk factors: alcohol, tobacco and nicotine, nutrition and physical activity. This gives us a common starting point that all partners can recognise and build from. Based on this, and in close cooperation with the thematic coordinators, we developed simple and important messages that are aligned with research and evidence, while still being easy to understand and motivating for the audience. Creating messages that are relevant across different countries and public health priorities can be challenging. But this process helped us lift our gaze and focus on the overarching messages that apply across contexts. To make the material more inclusive, we included different ethnicities, personalities and characters while keeping one clear storyline. The animated world also gives us more freedom in how we show the setting. It does not have to be one specific real place, or it could be anywhere. The film includes elements such as a city, suburban areas, trees, roads, parks and houses, with the idea that it should not be too clear whether we are in Northern or Southern Europe."
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/interviews/new-campaign-to-make-prevention-clearer-and-more-accessible/
20.05.2026
Putting Europe in motion
This article will be included in the Healthy Living Environment Newsletter. You can subscribe here to stay updated. Across Europe, a growing movement is redefining how physical activity is understood in public health. No longer seen simply as an individual lifestyle choice, movement is increasingly being approached as a collective, environmental and lifelong issue –shaped by schools, neighbourhoods, workplaces, families and local communities. Within the European Joint Action JA PreventNCD, innovative pilot actions that aim to make active living more accessible, inclusive and sustainable across all stages of life are being developed. From digital tools helping adolescents discover enjoyable forms of movement, to community walking initiatives for older adults, workplace challenges promoting team-based activity and local platforms connecting citizens with healthy opportunities in their area, the initiative reflects a shared European ambition: embedding movement into everyday life. Between 2010 and 2022, around 25% of the population in the WHO European Region was insufficiently active. Prevalence varies widely between countries, ranging from 8.4% to 51.6%, reflecting strong territorial and social inequalities in access to opportunities for physical activity. While progress has been uneven, 17 countries - mostly within the EU14 - have already achieved early the target of a 15% reduction in inactivity by 2030.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/putting-europe-in-motion/
13.05.2026
French Cities Improve Access to Healthy Food
This article will be included in the Healthy Living Environment Newsletter. You can subscribe here to stay updated. A new collaborative initiative launched under the European Joint Action JA PreventNCD is helping French cities share experiences and develop local projects aimed at improving access to healthy food for vulnerable populations. The initiative, coordinated by the French Healthy Cities Network, brings together municipalities and urban conglomerations working on programmes that combine food distribution with health promotion activities. The approach emerged following the strong interest generated by Strasbourg’s “Green Prescription” project, implemented between 2022 and 2023, which offered organic vegetable baskets to pregnant women alongside educational workshops.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/french-cities-improve-access-to-healthy-food/