Proper Nutrition – A Foundation for Every Child’s Healthy Start

A two-day workshop on the implementation of the seventh phase of the “Eat Healthy, Grow Healthy” program was held on June 12–13 in Neum, organized by the Public Health Institute of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and supported by UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina. The workshop gathered 140 professionals from public health, early childhood development, and education sectors, including educators, decision-makers, representatives of local communities, and international partners.

“Child malnutrition—whether due to hunger or unhealthy diets—is a serious challenge even in upper-middle-income countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina. It threatens children’s growth, development, and future. The solution isn’t just in food, but in collective action. UNICEF in BiH is leading the way through strong partnerships with local institutions—including ministries of health, education, and science, public health institutes, municipalities, kindergartens, and schools. Together, we’re implementing initiatives such as Baby-Friendly Hospitals, breastfeeding support in health centers, standardized menus in kindergartens, and school nutrition programs. Today, 85% of communities in FBiH are involved in these activities, with dozens of accredited institutions and hundreds of trained experts. These partnerships turn strategies into real change and build the foundation for a healthier, more resilient future for every child,” said Alexandra Illmer, UNICEF Deputy Representative in BiH, at the opening of the workshop.

The workshop presented the goals of the program, emphasizing its main objective: improving the nutrition of infants, preschoolers, and school-aged children in the Federation of BiH and enhancing their nutritional status, growth, and development. Discussions focused on implementation strategies, highlighting the role of parents and educational institutions in ensuring proper nutrition—one of the key prerequisites for healthy development and the prevention of various childhood and adult diseases.

“This phase is not just a continuation of a successful public health initiative, but a concrete step toward implementing strategic documents and guidelines that define nutrition and healthy development standards for children. It is based on the Strategic Plan for Improving Child Nutrition in FBiH 2020–2025, Nutrition Guidelines for Institutional Settings—from nursery to school age—and on the application of international recommendations from UNICEF and the World Health Organization. I want to especially highlight that this cycle includes 38 local communities across the Federation of BiH, making it one of the most widely implemented preventive public health approaches in our country,” said Siniša Skočibušić, Director of the Public Health Institute of FBiH.

The seventh phase of the “Eat Healthy, Grow Healthy” program is being implemented by the Public Health Institute of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina, and numerous government and non-government partners at the local level.

“The ‘Eat Healthy, Grow Healthy’ program is one of the key projects connecting education and child health in FBiH. So far, six phases have been successfully implemented, and 18 educational institutions have gone through the accreditation process and had the honor of actively participating in the program. The goal is to continue the program beyond this phase and involve new institutions. Each school and kindergarten contributes in its own way, bringing a unique spirit to the program. The strength of this approach lies in this diversity. Schools and preschool institutions are the foundation of a healthy start to life for every child. Through collaboration with parents, teachers, and the wider community, we work to empower children to develop healthy eating habits and gain the functional knowledge they need to make responsible decisions,” said Jasna Duraković, Minister of Education and Science of FBiH.

Goran Čerkez, Assistant Federal Minister for Public Health, emphasized the Federation of BiH’s commitment to ensuring that every child receives nutrition aligned with national and international recommendations and standards, thereby improving children’s nutrition and health:

“Society as a whole—especially the health, education, and social protection sectors—plays a crucial role in creating optimal conditions for proper nutrition, growth, and child development. Our commitment is to give appropriate attention to children and their families, to promote and affirm practices that place the child and family at the center of attention.”

As part of the program, several guides were produced: “Healthy Nutrition Guide for Preschool Children – A Manual for Parents”, “Healthy Nutrition Guide for Preschool and School-Aged Children – A Manual for Educational Staff”, and “Healthy Nutrition Guide for School-Aged Children”. Educational and promotional materials presented at the workshop will be distributed to parents and educational staff throughout the Federation of BiH.