Playmobil Malta's healthy eating campaign

[playmofire]

When we visited the Playmobil FunPark in Malta in December 2007, we were introduced to the healthy eating initiative introduced in the cafe.  Playmobil had used the help of a child health nutritionist to produce an illustrated booklet on healthy eating for children, together with healthy eating options on the cafe menu, for example, brown bread for sandwiches rather than white.  The change had been met with a mixed reaction, the introduction of brown bread instead of white causing most comment with the result that white bread was reintroduced on to the menu.

We were given a copy of the booklet produced and given to parents, and I've scanned the booklet and here are the front and back cover and pages 2 to 7.

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Here are pages 8 to 15.

[LHAAP]

Thanks for sharing the booklet, Gordon. As I'm a catalogue collector this is very interesting - I haven't seen it before.

PLAYMOBIL has always been very aware of children's health and this was also one of the reasons why Horst Brandstätter created the FunPark in Zirndorf.

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We were also each given a special Playmobil mug. Because of the unusual design, I've had to take two pictures of each "side" of the mug, but I think you can follow the design. If not, the overhead shot in the next post will make things clear.

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Here is an overhead shot showing the shape of the mug, and a detail photo showing the attractive handle design.

The mugs are made of fine bone china, so they're not for every day use. Instead, we use them at breakfast on weekends when we have "proper" coffee rather than instant.

[kaethe]

thank you for sharing this, it speaks well for the genuine concern playmobil has for their consumer...the kids.  i am a nurse, and i volunteer in a free public health clinic and if we had nutrition material with theme toy advocates it would have a chance of being read by the families.  wonder if i can find a place to forward this to for disneyland, mattel, etc.  just think, barbie talking about nutrition instead of shopping.  actually, it could be fun, how does barbie keep her "wonderful figure".
kaethe

[Gustavo]

actually, it could be fun, how does barbie keep her "wonderful figure".

 

just think, barbie talking about nutrition instead of shopping.
...
kaethe

Interesting ...

...

We were given a copy of the booklet produced and given to parents, and I've scanned the booklet and here are the front and back cover and pages 2 to 7.

Thanks, Gordon; I'll take a look. In case you all don't know (uhm, actually you don't), I'm a very thin guy ... (Clint Eastwood style.)

Gus

[Timotheos]

Hi Gordon, that cup is really cool.  Maybe I can trick my spouse in buying in to a Malta Trip.  What else is there at the Fun Park?  As an adult, were you able to enjoy yourself?

Thanks Gordon for the interesting menu.

This following isn't directed at you:
As for Playmobil preaching nutritious eating, I have mixed views.

I grew up on white bread to no health or fitness detriment.  There is probably a marginal benefit to eating unbleached, whole grain brown bread, but eating in moderation and moderate exercise trumps all this hair-splitting.  I'm glad to hear people complained and got the white bread back. 

I'm just growing wary of the nannyism afoot in our popular culture.  Everything nowadays must "better us".  Even my daughter's story books all preach a silly lesson that I bet leaves a bigger impression on the adult's conscience than on the child's moral indoctrination.
　

[Sylvia]

What a lovely cup! The unusual handle design is really attractive.
(Btw, we have percolated coffee at weekends as a bit of a treat too. )

Thanks for scanning the healthy eating booklet too. I enjoyed looking at all the neat pics.

On page 4, are those small Playmobil accessories used to illustrate the pie graph? Cute idea!

[playmofire]

Hi Gordon, that cup is really cool.  Maybe I can trick my spouse in buying in to a Malta Trip.  What else is there at the Fun Park?  As an adult, were you able to enjoy yourself?

You can't buy the mugs.  The FunPark is only small, Malta is a small island, population about 300,000, but a very proud people.  I'll post some pics from our visit.

Thanks Gordon for the interesting menu.

This following isn't directed at you:
As for Playmobil preaching nutritious eating, I have mixed views.

I grew up on white bread to no health or fitness detriment.  There is probably a marginal benefit to eating unbleached, whole grain brown bread, but eating in moderation and moderate exercise trumps all this hair-splitting.  I'm glad to hear people complained and got the white bread back. 

I'm just growing wary of the nannyism afoot in our popular culture.  Everything nowadays must "better us".  Even my daughter's story books all preach a silly lesson that I bet leaves a bigger impression on the adult's conscience than on the child's moral indoctrination.
　

No, I don't see your remarks as aimed at me, and similarly mine are not aimed at you.  Healthy eating and exercise are issues in Malta, and elsewhere.  And, yes, I grew up largely on white bread, but nowadays more and more people eat more and more junk food and lead more and more unhealthy lives with less and less exercise, which the rest of the population pay for in one way or another. Surely, too, people bettering themselves is the American dream and morals to children's stories date back 200 years or more.