The aim of the "Frutta Snack" project is to encourage students to eat more fruit (and vegetables), providing them with healthy snacks which they can enjoy throughout the day at school. Alimos became involved in the project in 2005 and its work is based on three key considerations:

• We do not eat enough fruit and vegetables (to keep us in good health)
• The amount of fruit and vegetables we eat has fallen over the past few years
• The level of obesity and overweight in young people, even in Italy, has reached such alarming levels that we need to turn to preventative measures (an overweight/obese youngster = a sick adult).

The project involves direct action, support for schools, teachers and students involved in educational activities and entertaining presentations, a campaign to raise awareness and the production of informative material.

Following the positive results recorded in the provinces of Romagna, since the 2006/07 academic year the project has been "adopted" by:

• The Departments of Health and Education for experimentation on a national level
• The Emilia Romagna Region
• The Marche Region for experimentation at secondary schools and workplaces.

The pilot scheme involved schools, students, teachers, producers and vending companies with the common goal of encouraging youngsters to try healthy tasty snacks made with fruit and vegetables.

Thanks to the experience it gained with Frutta Snack, Alimos has the expertise to organise projects in the European School Fruit Scheme, providing concrete, competent support and working alongside the other figures involved in the different stages.

The School Fruit Scheme was created to initiate a change in unhealthy eating habits in the citizens of tomorrow: our children.

The aim of the scheme, which was set up by the European Commission, is to encourage children to eat more fruit and to raise their awareness so they will naturally eat fruit for the rest of their lives and, most importantly of all, to reduce the risks brought on by obesity and overweight in children.