Today, there is an increase on the demands of our time. Work, hobbies, family, friends and sports amongst others make the time we have run short and it can be a major challenge to juggle all these competing demands.  All of this has an impact on eating habits for adolescents as well as adults.  A balanced meal must often give way to a quick snack. Physical activity and exercise are neglected. Rest and taking time to relax becomes more and more rare.

However, these activities are very important for well-being, satisfaction and joy: Regular physical activity provides an Energiebilanz (energy balance). Eating meals with others have a great importance for the cohesion and solidarity. Healthy eating has a major impact on wellbeing. Rest periods give new vigour.

DOJ developed the project Kebab + to promote the health literacy of young people and help them to take personal responsibility for their health and wellbeing. Kebab + engaged young people to reflect on the current food culture and motivate and challenged them to a healthy diet, sensible exercise and valuable encounters with others.

Textbooks and dull theory were omitted from the kebab + projects. Instead, projects dealt with the issues in a fun way. A cooking group created a multicultural cookbook, a youth group invited people in the neighbourhood to lunch, another project offered a free lunch on the exercise bike - the imagination knows no boundaries.

The only conditions of the projects were at least three of the five elements "cook - eat - meet - relax - move" were used and each project was jointly developed with young people and carried out in a sustainable and effective way.

Kebab + is ongoing and continues to have a clear goal. The young people should be concerned about the current food culture and to deal with a healthy diet and sensible exercise, and recognise the importance of meetings and fellowship. In this way, the health literacy of young people will be encouraged and strengthened their ownership over their health and well-being.

Further information can be found here: www.kebabplus.ch and project examples here: http://www.kebabplus.ch/index.cfm?ID=C8CAD32C-BEF2-FC5F-740EB82276E98693