Lidl Portugal is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its "Unbeatable Class" educational program with a new edition dedicated to children's eating habits, placing school snacks at the center of activities aimed at raising awareness of healthier and more sustainable eating.

The initiative aims to involve schools, families, and municipalities in promoting more balanced food choices, using the principles of the Planetary Health Diet as a reference, which seeks to reconcile human health and environmental sustainability.

The choice of theme is framed by indicators on the eating habits of Portuguese children. According to the COSI Portugal 2022 report, coordinated by the World Health Organization and developed in Portugal by the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 31,9% of children between the ages of six and eight are overweight and 13,5% live with obesity.

The same study reveals that 24,1% of children consume sweet snacks four or more times a week, while 15,1% consume soft drinks with the same frequency.

Data from the "National Food and Physical Activity Survey and the Guide to Healthy School Snacks," from the Directorate-General of Health and the Directorate-General of Education, also indicate that snacks represent about 25% of children's daily energy intake, constituting a time of consumption with a high presence of ultra-processed foods rich in sugar, salt, and saturated fats.

Roadshow will visit 50 schools

The 2026/2027 edition, for which registration is now open, includes four initiatives designed to involve the school community. The first is the "Unbeatable Lunchbox," which provides activity booklets and mini-games to children in participating schools, with the aim of encouraging learning and family participation.

Between January and March 2027, the mascots of the Unbeatable Team will visit 50 Portuguese schools, conducting practical and interactive food literacy sessions.

The program also includes a traveling educational show, developed in collaboration with several municipalities, to address eating habits in a way that is accessible and adapted to children.

The main novelty is the creation of a competition aimed at parents' associations. The initiative will take place between January and February 2027 and aims to recognize projects that contribute to transforming school lunches.

Healthy eating and sustainability

Vanessa Romeu, Head of Corporate Affairs at Lidl Portugal, highlights the program's role in raising awareness within school communities. “ Over the past 15 years, the Unbeatable Team has helped thousands of children look at food and healthier lifestyles in a more conscious, fun, and relatable way. In this new edition, we wanted to focus on snacks, a time of day with great potential to inspire more balanced choices ,” she states.

The official adds that the involvement of schools, families, and municipalities seeks to promote nutritionally rich choices with a lower environmental impact, within the framework of the Planetary Health Diet guidelines.

Launched in 2011, the Unbeatable Team has already involved more than 200 children from over 2.800 Portuguese schools.