“The aim of the project is not to impose restrictions, but to promote prevention through awareness and practical education. This is the only way we can help young people become protagonists of their own choices,” explains Pamela Fogliaro, nutrition biologist and coordinator of “A Leap Beyond Sugar”, the food education project supported by Como 1907 for the second year in a row, reflecting the Club’s commitment to promoting health and prevention among younger generations.
The initiative, part of the Club’s social responsibility programme, aims to transform pre-teens from passive consumers into aware individuals, capable of understanding and choosing what they eat. A change that begins at school but extends into family habits.
Throughout the project, students are guided through a practical and engaging journey combining classroom sessions and hands-on activities. The first phase explores the consequences of excessive sugar consumption, without demonising any food, but rather highlighting the benefits of a more conscious dietary approach.
Students learn to identify “hidden” sugars and understand their impact on energy levels, concentration and potential dependency. Through practical activities such as “conscious shopping”, they gain the tools to read nutrition labels and develop a critical approach to food marketing strategies.
The students’ reactions are immediate: surprise, curiosity and enthusiasm in finally feeling in control of their own choices. Encouraging autonomy during adolescence is crucial, as this is the stage when long-lasting healthy habits are formed.
At a time when excessive sugar consumption is increasingly widespread and linked to early health issues, the project promotes a tangible change that extends beyond the classroom and into the home. Young participants often influence their families’ food choices, actively taking part in grocery shopping and meal preparation.
The project also emphasises movement and physical activity, integrating practical exercises called “movement snacks”. Food is therefore presented as essential fuel to support bone and muscle development, as well as to provide the energy needed for sports performance and long-term health in young athletes.
“Como 1907 has played a central role in this project,” said Dr Gianluigi Spata, President of the Order of Doctors of Como and one of the promoters of the initiative alongside the Cultural Frame of Food Association. “As a sports organisation and a symbol of the local community, the Club has both the responsibility and the opportunity to speak to young people in a direct, credible and engaging way. Through sport, it is possible to promote a healthy lifestyle and convey concrete values such as wellbeing, balance and awareness,” Dr Spata concluded, highlighting Como 1907’s role in encouraging conscious choices and healthy lifestyles among younger generations.