If your child came home from school excitedly telling you about helping friends convince the mischievous Mr. Harmster not to eat unhealthy snacks or about dancing in a flash mob right in the gym, it means their school hosted Healthy Eating Week.
The week took place from March 10 to 14 across seven schools in Kyrgyzstan and was dedicated to International School Meals Day. More than 400 primary school children explored the healthy lifestyle basics under the inspiring motto: Eat. Move. Live.
The following schools participated in the campaign:
Children spend 5–6 hours at school every day. So, what to choose: a rushed snack or a healthy breakfast at home; chips from the corner shop, or a hot, nutritious soup at school? These small things make a big difference — they affect concentration, mood, and even academic success. How do you explain that to a young child?
The organizers — the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Russian Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI) — found the answer.
The idea behind this lively, educational week was not just to talk about healthy foods, but to help turn knowledge into daily habits through play, emotions — and a bit of theater!
Day One: meet the heroes of health!
Monday morning didn’t start with regular lessons but with a theatrical performance. Schools welcomed some unusual guests: the charismatic Doctor Energy, the lively kids Aynura and Askar, and the funny Mr. Harmster. Through an energetic and entertaining show, the characters taught children about the importance of eating healthy and staying active.
Myrgul Sherova, a primary school teacher from Secondary School No. 38 in Osh, shared her impressions: "We absolutely loved the event format! The children were so enthusiastic, participating in the theatrical performances, quizzes, and quests with great excitement."
Children weren’t just watching — they were fully involved, joining in a lively dance flash mob and an interactive game where the actors demonstrated how different foods provide the body with energy and strength.
After the performance, each class took part in a special lesson called The Secret Laboratory Inside Us, where children discovered how food ‘travels’ through the body by watching animated videos and playing interactive games.
Day Two: searching for the Magic Health Salad
Why is breakfast the most important meal of the day? The children uncovered this secret during a classroom quest called In Search for Missing Ingredients. The young students turned into true explorers, eagerly solving riddles, collecting cards with healthy foods, and, in the final stage, creating a recipe for a Magic Health Salad made from apples, carrots, herbs, nuts, yogurt, and wholegrain bread. The recipe discussions sparked lively interest — the children shared ideas and suggested their own versions of healthy dishes.
What was most surprising? The kids easily distinguished healthy foods from unhealthy ones. They especially enjoyed a playful knowledge check when a candy suddenly appeared among the healthy cards. Each child went home with a set of cards to organize a mini-quest for the whole family, helping reinforce their new knowledge in a cozy, home atmosphere.
Day Three: movement is life
The third day was all about sports and active games. The school gyms transformed into true playgrounds of health as the children jumped over obstacles, raced against each other, and tested their agility.
While running through the Health Trail obstacle course, they answered questions about healthy and unhealthy foods. They also composed a Healthy Plate by sorting foods into the right groups and played Guess the Drink — blindfolded, they sampled kefir, dried fruit compote, and even celery juice, discussing why sweet soda can’t compare to kefir or compote in terms of health benefits.
One of the highlights of the day was the Guess by Touch game — a real adventure for curious minds. Children had to touch and guess the food item hidden inside the mystery box and explain whether it was healthy or not.
Day Four: festive finals
The final day of the week brought everyone together in the school assembly hall, now transformed into a vibrant space filled with laughter and excitement. Beloved characters — Doctor Energy, Aynura, Askar, and, of course, Mr. Harmster — welcomed the children. The lively and engaging skit used humor, dialogue, and games to remind everyone about the importance of caring for their health and making mindful food and lifestyle choices. The heroes encouraged the children to join the discussion, giving everyone a chance to learn something new.
After the performance, the children tackled the final quiz, Secrets of Health — Master Level. The teams dove into the challenge with enthusiasm, answering questions and recalling everything they had learned during the week. The celebration ended with a spectacular show featuring magicians and performers, followed by a bubble disco. Even Mr. Harmster eventually joined in the fun, admitting that a healthy lifestyle is cool.
Lessons for lifetime
The Healthy Eating Week is over, but its impact continues to grow within the families. Parents and children are now discussing good habits together, trying out new recipes, and making healthier food choices more often.
Today, the kids know for sure that caring for health isn’t just important — it’s also incredibly fun and exciting!
The week took place from March 10 to 14 across seven schools in Kyrgyzstan and was dedicated to International School Meals Day. More than 400 primary school children explored the healthy lifestyle basics under the inspiring motto: Eat. Move. Live.
The following schools participated in the campaign:
- Bishkek – Chyngyz Aitmatov Secondary School No. 5
- Osh – B. Alykulov Secondary School No. 38
- Kara-Balta – Secondary School No. 5
- Jalal-Abad – Secondary Gymnasium No. 4
- Issyk-Kul Province – Chyngyz Aitmatov Secondary School No. 5
- Naryn Province – Professor A. Idinov Secondary School
- Batken Province – T. Madaripov Secondary School
- Talas Province – Asylkan Borubaev Secondary School
Children spend 5–6 hours at school every day. So, what to choose: a rushed snack or a healthy breakfast at home; chips from the corner shop, or a hot, nutritious soup at school? These small things make a big difference — they affect concentration, mood, and even academic success. How do you explain that to a young child?
The organizers — the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Russian Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI) — found the answer.
The idea behind this lively, educational week was not just to talk about healthy foods, but to help turn knowledge into daily habits through play, emotions — and a bit of theater!
Day One: meet the heroes of health!
Monday morning didn’t start with regular lessons but with a theatrical performance. Schools welcomed some unusual guests: the charismatic Doctor Energy, the lively kids Aynura and Askar, and the funny Mr. Harmster. Through an energetic and entertaining show, the characters taught children about the importance of eating healthy and staying active.
Myrgul Sherova, a primary school teacher from Secondary School No. 38 in Osh, shared her impressions: "We absolutely loved the event format! The children were so enthusiastic, participating in the theatrical performances, quizzes, and quests with great excitement."
Children weren’t just watching — they were fully involved, joining in a lively dance flash mob and an interactive game where the actors demonstrated how different foods provide the body with energy and strength.
After the performance, each class took part in a special lesson called The Secret Laboratory Inside Us, where children discovered how food ‘travels’ through the body by watching animated videos and playing interactive games.
Day Two: searching for the Magic Health Salad
Why is breakfast the most important meal of the day? The children uncovered this secret during a classroom quest called In Search for Missing Ingredients. The young students turned into true explorers, eagerly solving riddles, collecting cards with healthy foods, and, in the final stage, creating a recipe for a Magic Health Salad made from apples, carrots, herbs, nuts, yogurt, and wholegrain bread. The recipe discussions sparked lively interest — the children shared ideas and suggested their own versions of healthy dishes.
What was most surprising? The kids easily distinguished healthy foods from unhealthy ones. They especially enjoyed a playful knowledge check when a candy suddenly appeared among the healthy cards. Each child went home with a set of cards to organize a mini-quest for the whole family, helping reinforce their new knowledge in a cozy, home atmosphere.
Day Three: movement is life
The third day was all about sports and active games. The school gyms transformed into true playgrounds of health as the children jumped over obstacles, raced against each other, and tested their agility.
While running through the Health Trail obstacle course, they answered questions about healthy and unhealthy foods. They also composed a Healthy Plate by sorting foods into the right groups and played Guess the Drink — blindfolded, they sampled kefir, dried fruit compote, and even celery juice, discussing why sweet soda can’t compare to kefir or compote in terms of health benefits.
One of the highlights of the day was the Guess by Touch game — a real adventure for curious minds. Children had to touch and guess the food item hidden inside the mystery box and explain whether it was healthy or not.
Day Four: festive finals
The final day of the week brought everyone together in the school assembly hall, now transformed into a vibrant space filled with laughter and excitement. Beloved characters — Doctor Energy, Aynura, Askar, and, of course, Mr. Harmster — welcomed the children. The lively and engaging skit used humor, dialogue, and games to remind everyone about the importance of caring for their health and making mindful food and lifestyle choices. The heroes encouraged the children to join the discussion, giving everyone a chance to learn something new.
After the performance, the children tackled the final quiz, Secrets of Health — Master Level. The teams dove into the challenge with enthusiasm, answering questions and recalling everything they had learned during the week. The celebration ended with a spectacular show featuring magicians and performers, followed by a bubble disco. Even Mr. Harmster eventually joined in the fun, admitting that a healthy lifestyle is cool.
Lessons for lifetime
The Healthy Eating Week is over, but its impact continues to grow within the families. Parents and children are now discussing good habits together, trying out new recipes, and making healthier food choices more often.
Today, the kids know for sure that caring for health isn’t just important — it’s also incredibly fun and exciting!