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Koraljka Novina Brkić i Martina Miklečić
Episode · #770

RITAM POSLA Koraljka Novina Brkić i Martina Miklečić

Guest Koraljka Novina Brkić i Martina MiklečićHosted by Lidija KiseljakMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

Instilling healthy habits in children goes beyond textbook lessons or strict rules; it requires a sustained, engaging approach that involves the entire school environment. For 15 years, the 'Vrtim zdravi film' (I'm Filming a Healthy Life) initiative, a collaboration between Nestlé, the Croatian School Sports Federation, and the Croatian Institute of Public Health, has worked to do just that. Koraljka Novina Brkić, Nestlé's regional nutritionist, and Martina Miklečić, a senior advisor for health-oriented physical activity programs, describe how they've grown the program from a handful of schools to reaching thousands of students annually across Croatia. Their conversation explores the practical challenges of engaging students, re-educating teachers, and building a foundation for lifelong well-being in a world where children are increasingly disengaged from physical activity and balanced diets. You will walk away with a clearer understanding of what it takes to drive real behavioral change in young people, and why the 'how' of education often matters more than the 'what.'

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
The program started with just seven schools and around 500 students, but now reaches 185 to 190 schools and 16,000 to 18,000 children annually across all counties. This growth confirms that the societal need for such initiatives far exceeds the available resources, signaling a widespread demand for practical health education.
02
When schools apply for the 'Vrtim zdravi film' initiative, it's often a 'fastest finger first' situation due to limited funding. The competitive scramble for spots reveals that genuine interest in educational programs is not just passive acceptance, but an active, unmet need for resources.
03
The educator training isn't just for physical education teachers; it includes biology and nature teachers, and has even seen success with a librarian, focusing on how to engage today's students. Effective education for children often requires re-educating the educators themselves on *how* to adapt their teaching methods to modern attention spans and digital natives.
04
The program follows a scientifically proven method that emphasizes activating children through diverse tasks, because, as the guest puts it, "you can't just educate children ex cathedra anymore." Lasting behavioral change comes from active participation and hands-on experience, not just passive reception of information.
05
Schools get significant autonomy to adjust the 'Vrtim zdravi film' program to their specific environment, student demographics, and whether they have a school kitchen. A successful national program must allow for deep local adaptation, recognizing that a uniform curriculum often fails if it doesn't account for the varied realities of individual communities.
06
The program rewards not only schools that show the greatest knowledge gain in students but also teachers for their 'innovations' in engaging children. This focus on rewarding creative teaching strategies signals that the ultimate goal is not just information transfer, but lasting behavioral change and a genuine embrace of healthier habits.
07
The core message about nutrition emphasizes 'balanced eating' and 'conscious eating,' rather than simply labeling foods as 'healthy' or 'unhealthy.' Shifting the conversation from binary good/bad choices to a holistic view of balance and awareness creates a more sustainable and less judgmental framework for lifelong habits.
08
Targeting children in early adolescence, between fifth and seventh grade, acknowledges that this period is not just about physical changes but also about the critical "psychological and emotional" formation of attitudes. Focusing on this window allows the program to intercept and shape lifelong approaches to well-being.
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