A workshop promoting healthy lifestyle habits was recently held at St Clare Primary School in Pembroke as part of the nationwide Caqlaq healthy living campaign.

The campaign’s aim is to highlight the importance of having a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and doing physical activity. It also makes children aware of the risks of not taking care of their body. The programme is conducted through a series of fun, comical and interactive workshops held in children’s classrooms.

During the workshops, a chef explained the healthy food pyramid in terms that can be understood by children, encouraging them to eat more fruit and vegetables. He then prepared a number of tasty and healthy smoothies for the children to sample.

Another character demonstrated how to become fit and healthy through exercising. He also performed the song I Need Vitamins and taught the children its choreography.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo and Middlesea Insurance president and CEO Alfredo Munoz visited the workshop held at the Pembroke primary.

During the visit, Mr Munoz said health is often described as the most valuable thing one can have, but unfortunately it is often neglected and this leads to a number of problems.

He mentioned as examples that conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol levels and type 2 diabetes are on the rise in Malta.

To reinforce the campaign’s messages, 10,000 books were distributed to students and schools. The campaign is being organised by the Institute of Prevention, Health and Environment of Fundacion Mapfre and is endorsed by the Education Ministry.

Middlesea Insurance, which forms part of the group, is coordinating the campaign with the help of animation group Generation Green.