Learning from each other – what’s behind the ad?
High school students from Veles organized workshops where they explored together with their peers how the food environment influences what they eat
- English
- Македонски
From using bright colours and characters, placing snacks prominently in stores and on shelves, offering combo deals, to sending tempting notifications just after classes - food marketing uses many tactics to make sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods appealing to children and adolescents.
The team from “Kole Nedelkovski” vocational school in Veles decided to unpack these marketing tactics and share what they learned with their peers. As a bonus, they combined peer-to-peer learning with something they know well: preparing healthy food.
The students organized workshops where they explored together with their peers how the food environment influences what they eat. They looked behind the ads to identify common marketing tactics and how these can influence children’s choices and explored why healthier eating cannot depend on individual responsibility alone.
From discussion to the kitchen
The team then took the conversation beyond the classroom. Drawing on their culinary skills, the students prepared healthier food themselves, showing that healthier options can also be tasty, appealing and enjoyable to make.
By sharing what they learned, the students helped their peers recognize how marketing influences the food choices we make, encouraged them to question the food environment around them and speak up for healthier options.
How can children and adolescents take action
🤳 Join the challenge: Share what food and drinks are being sold in and around your school and add your voice to #WhatsToEat.
🥪 Choose healthier options: Bring nutritious snacks and meals from home when possible and encourage your friends to try healthier alternatives too.
🍎 Share healthy ideas with your peers: Exchange simple, affordable recipes and snack ideas that are tasty, nutritious and easy to prepare.
📚 Become a food environment advocate: Use the campaign's ready-made materials to help raise awareness among your classmates.
🏫 Speak up and get involved: Raise the issue with your school, student's parliament or municipality. Share your ideas for healthier food options and suggest improvements to the school food environment.
🎯 Lead student action: Work with classmates to identify challenges in your school food environment and propose solutions that can be presented to school leaders.
📢 Spread the message: Like, share and repost campaign content. Encourage your friends, classmates and family members to join the conversation about healthier school food environments.
💡 Show what's possible: Organize a healthy snack day, recipe exchange, tasting event or other student-led activity that makes healthy eating fun and accessible.
