The starting point: Children today grow up in an environment heavily influenced by sugar. Sweets are often no longer the exception, but an everyday occurrence. Instead of issuing prohibitions, we rely on understanding and personal responsibility.

Our approach: "Smart Snacking" is an interactive experience that transforms nutrition into an adventure. We give children (8–12 years) the tools to understand what they eat, why their body needs it, and how enjoyment and health go hand in hand.

The heart of our project is a unique concept: the discovery of the microbiome. We explain to the children that their stomach is like a huge city populated by billions of tiny inhabitants (bacteria).

• Practical workshops: During our sessions in Zurich, Bern, Winterthur, and Lucerne, the children are not passive spectators, but active participants. They compare ingredients, analyze labels, and handle food themselves.

• Creative cooking: The highlight is the preparation of energy balls. Using natural, fiber-rich ingredients, the children learn that a "treat" can be high-quality fuel for the brain and muscles.

The project doesn't end with the workshop. Every child receives our illustrated adventure booklet (24 pages).

Through puzzles, games, and exciting stories, the child becomes a "health detective." This educational supplementary material makes it possible to share the knowledge gained with parents and playfully establish new habits in everyday family life.

Following the great success of our workshops at the Christmas markets in 2025, we are taking the next step this year: The program will now be made available for school lessons.

• For teachers: A turnkey module covering health and science objectives.

• For students: A dynamic learning break that will sustainably change the way you view your break snack.

Credibility is our top priority. The project is supported and academically supervised by the ZHAW (Zurich University of Applied Sciences).

Each workshop is evaluated and optimized using a mixed-methods approach (questionnaires and interviews with children). This ensures that our messages are not only scientifically accurate but also conveyed in a child-friendly manner.