The Ministry of Education, Children and Youth has launched a new initiative to promote a healthier balance between screen time and real-life experiences.

As part of its Less Screens, More Movement, Discovery, Experience campaign, the ministry introduced GoodFoodLoop – an interactive programme designed to inspire young people to adopt healthier lifestyles.

The first edition of GoodFoodLoop took place last week at the Victor Hugo Hall in Limpertsberg, attracting up to 450 participants aged 12 to 18. Each day, students from different high schools took part in five engaging workshops focused on physical activity, nutrition, and well-being.

Workshops that inspire healthy living

The event featured five key workshops: dance, yoga, functional training, cooking, and skateboarding. Sophie Dirckes, co-organiser of GoodFoodLoop and a representative of the National Youth Service, highlighted the positive reception: "Each workshop had its own appeal. We noticed that expert-led sessions were especially well received. For instance, our dancer, Mammadu, was a huge hit – he even had a group of students who followed him to every session. Skateboarding also proved popular, as it connects with youth culture and street sports."

Functional training and yoga encouraged students to step out of their comfort zones and try something new. Dirckes added, "Those already active in sports enjoyed exploring alternative activities, while others with little prior experience in fitness were excited to give it a go. Some even said they would continue at home."

The cooking workshop was another highlight, teaching students how to prepare simple, nutritious snacks. One participant shared, "We made buns with bananas, cornflakes, and raisins – it was fun and easy!" The goal was to promote healthier eating habits alongside physical activity.

Each session concluded with a group dance, leaving students eager to return. The GoodFoodLoop initiative will continue in different locations across the country, with the next stop scheduled in Junglinster. Teachers interested in registering their classes can find all dates and details on GoodFoodLoop.lu.

Government support for healthier lifestyles

Minister of Education, Children and Youth, Claude Meisch, visited the opening event, emphasising the importance of balancing screen time with real-world activities: "In today’s digital age, it’s crucial to reconnect young people with movement, discovery, and social interaction. GoodFoodLoop offers hands-on experiences that encourage them to take care of themselves while having fun."

GoodFoodLoop is part of the broader Manner Ecran approach, which promotes active, creative, and social experiences to help children and teenagers find a healthy balance between digital and real life. By integrating physical activity, nutrition education, and engaging experiences, the initiative aims to instil long-term healthy habits among young people.

Next events

In the coming months, several events are planned across the country, so that as many young people as possible can benefit from GoodFoodLoop. The next meetings will take place at:

Junglinster: 23–26 Mar 25
Schifflange: 28–31 Oct 25
Limpertsberg: 11–15 Nov 25 and 17–21 Nov 25
Differdange: 27–31 Jan 26
Ettelbruck: 10–14 Feb 26
Kayl: 3–6 Mar 26
Junglinster: 16–21 Mar 26 and 23–26 Mar 26

The website goodfoodloop.lu provides detailed information about the upcoming editions, the objectives of the initiative and the methods of participation.