Yeongdeungpo-gu Provides Seasonal Fruits Twice Weekly to 442 Children at Local Childcare Centers

Monthly Nutrition Education for Healthy Eating Habits in Growing Children
Proven Improvement in Fruit Intake and Nutrition Knowledge

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will operate the "2024 Kids, Let's Eat Fruit" project to help vulnerable children in the area develop healthy eating habits.

"Kids, Let's Eat Fruit" is a public-private cooperative project that provides fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables twice a week to vulnerable children with limited access to seasonal fruits, promoting their health.

This year, 15 local community child centers will provide 1 to 2 types of seasonal fruits and vegetables per child to a total of 442 children. In particular, the district is working with Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation, Hope Sharing Market (a nonprofit organization), and six wholesale market corporations including Seoul Cheonggwa, Nonghyup Economic Holdings Garak Market, Jungang Cheonggwa, Donghwa Cheonggwa, Hanguk Cheonggwa, and Daeya Cheonggwa to supply fresh fruits with origin labels through public-private cooperation.

Additionally, as health issues such as nutritional imbalance and childhood obesity caused by improper eating habits increase among growing children, the district provides nutrition education once a month. A nutritionist from the district health center visits the centers directly to conduct education on topics such as ▲ eating a variety of foods evenly ▲ developing healthy eating habits ▲ maintaining a healthy weight.

A survey conducted on 14 community child centers that participated in last year's project showed that the number of children who consumed fruit daily increased from 23.6% to 31.4% before and after participation, with children, guardians, and institution staff all expressing high satisfaction with the project.

Furthermore, 76.3% of participating children responded that they "like fruit more than before," and 65.7% said their "interest in eating habits has increased." Awareness and utilization rates of nutrition labeling also increased, demonstrating the positive effects of the nutrition education.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, "I hope this project provides a good opportunity for children to frequently encounter fresh seasonal fruits and develop healthy eating habits," adding, "We will continue to do our best to discover projects that promote balanced and proper lifestyle habits for children."