The Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity (APCOI) has opened registrations for the 2026/2027 edition of the school program "Fruit Heroes," aimed at preschool and primary school classes across the country, including the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores. Created in 2011, the project has already involved over one million students and is presented by the association as the largest nutrition education program developed in a school setting in Portugal.
The opening of registrations follows the publication of an independent study in the European Journal of Nutrition, conducted by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Health of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon. According to the results, there was an increase of 44.6% in the number of students who now meet the recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and 52.8% of children who consumed little or no fruit at school started doing so regularly. The study also recorded a reduction in the consumption of industrial and ultra-processed snacks in school snacks in at least half of the participants.
The "Fruit Heroes" method was developed by a multidisciplinary team of nutritionists and educators, aligned with the guidelines of the World Health Organization, the Directorate-General for Health, and the Directorate-General for Education. The classroom application includes activities lasting between five and 15 minutes daily, over 25 working days, corresponding to five weeks, using songs and educational-play materials to encourage daily consumption following the "5 a day" rule.
Registrations are free and run until October 31, 2026. Classes from public or private establishments may participate, including kindergartens, school clusters, out-of-school care centers (ATL), combined care and leisure centers (CATL), and school sports associations (AAF). In the 2026/2027 edition, all participating classes that complete the five-week challenge will be entitled to prizes.
