Nearly 20% of Swiss primary school children are overweight or obese due to lack of exercise and poor diet. There are few nutritional programs focused on the area of prevention, and cooking classes for kids are rare and often expensive. To tackle this phenomenon, since 2005, the Fit4Future foundation has been committed to promoting the health of children aged six to twelve in Switzerland, with a focus on physical activity, nutrition and mental health.   

Fit4Future launched its “Kinder Kochen (KikO)” program in 2019 to raise children's awareness of a balanced diet in an experience-oriented way through cooking courses tailored to their needs and led by experts. KiKo cooking courses take place after school, on weekends or during holidays and last between one and eight half days. Each course serves up to 14 children divided into small groups and cooking under the guidance of professional instructors, who are supported by assistants to ensure the children are well looked after.

In the cooking classes, children learn about food and dishes, where and when which vegetables and fruit grow, what seasonality and regionality mean in terms of nutrition, how food waste can be reduced, that a balanced diet is important and, of course, how to prepare healthy and delicious dishes. All courses apply a child-friendly, playful approach to engage and inspire the young participants, who in addition will receive a recipe booklet to take home.