Brussels, 16/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 May, the European Commission and Euro-toques International, the European Chefs' association, launched the website “EU Mini-chefs”, the objective of which is to help to fight obesity in children. At the “European Day for Healthy Food and Cooking”, on 8 November 2007, chefs across the EU will teach children how to cook and eat healthily, in schools and restaurants. The website also provides information about the drawing competition open to children aged 9-12 years, on the subject “The Pleasures of Eating Well in Europe”. The prize-winning drawing will be used as a poster to promote this day of food and culinary health.
“Each year more than 400,000 children become overweight or obese in the EU”. With these initiatives, “we want to encourage children, teachers and parents to develop good habits of healthy food”, commented European Health and Consumer Protection. Commissioner Markos Kyprianou. Amongst other things, the website will contain an interactive game so that children can learn by playing: http: //eu.mini-chefs.eu (lc)