From a young age: Saarland focuses on healthy nutrition - Saarland Invests €600K to Bring Fresh Fruits to Schools and Daycare Centers

Saarland is expanding its efforts to promote healthy eating among children and young people. The region has allocated nearly €600,000 to the EU School Fruit Scheme, ensuring thousands receive fresh produce weekly. A nutrition conference this year will bring together institutions shaping young diets, while new initiatives focus on training, education, and local sourcing.

Over the past year, 244 schools and daycare centers in Saarland took part in the EU school fruit programme. Each week, 32,200 schoolchildren and 1,680 daycare children from disadvantaged areas received 200 grams of fresh fruit and vegetables. An extra €50,000 was set aside to extend the scheme to these younger children.

The Saarland Nutrition Prize will keep recognising innovative projects that encourage healthy eating habits. Minister Petra Berg has highlighted the need for early habit formation, pushing for locally sourced meals and practical education. Her plans include training specialists, distributing educational materials, and running cooking classes.

The region is also backing the creation of school and daycare gardens. These gardens aim to teach children about regional food production while reinforcing sustainable eating. The total funding for the scheme combines €600,000 from Saarland with an additional €256,000 from the EU.

The expanded programme now reaches more children, with fresh produce delivered weekly to schools and daycare centers. Training for staff and new learning resources will support long-term changes in eating habits. The focus remains on sustainability, local sourcing, and practical education for healthier futures.