Little chefs learn to cook and eat healthy at the Riga Food 2026

How to make your daily meals tasty and also healthy? Answers to this vital question were given to children from the Main Stage of Riga Food 2026 in Ķīpsala on 12 September during two exciting practical masterclasses. Nutritionist Viāna Kuļša taught little food connoisseurs how to assemble their lunch boxes according to nutritional guidelines, whereas chef and culinary expert Ina Poliščenko revealed the secrets to cooking healthy snacks.

Children who attended these masterclasses not only learned more about the core elements of healthy nutrition, but also how to choose ingredients and cook them. They, of course, also tasted them. Practical activities taught little chefs that healthy food can also be tasty, exciting and fun.

Smart lunchbox: what’s in it?
Lunchbox is a highly practical tool. You can put your food in it to go, and you can also use it to teach a child how to make smart and healthy choices from an early childhood. Viāna Kuļša, nutritionist, explored these dimensions together with little participants during her masterclass What’s in my box?. Children were offered to select ingredients from the selection prepared by Riga Food 2026 exhibitors, assemble their lunchbox and discuss their contents – the good and not so good choices – with the nutritionist.
“Lunchbox isn’t just about the food that you take with you; it is an opportunity to teach children to make smart choices. By involving children in planning of their meals, you form healthy eating habits for every day,” nutritionist Viāna Kuļša stressed.
Children were learning practical ways of assembling balanced lunchboxes, how to choose products and how to follow these guidelines on everyday basis. Each little participant was rewarded for their participation with a Tramontina lunchbox.

Healthy snacks can also be yummy
Meanwhile, masterclass Healthy snacks – energy balls with culinary expert Ina Poliščenko focused on delicious and highly nutritional snacks or sweets that are a healthy alternative to regular market products.
“Children who came to Ķīpsala and I made tasty energy balls to demonstrate that healthy treats can also be just as colourful, flavoursome and exciting as regular products. I hope that children will go home after the workshop and tell their parents, ”Mum, dad, make the snack we made at the fair”, Ina Poliščenko informed.
While preparing snacks, little chefs learned more about choosing ingredients that will fill the belly and give energy, how to add less sugar, and other tips and tricks for making healthy snacks at home.
Both masterclasses served as the environment where children learned the theory behind healthy nutrition and, more importantly, how to select ingredients, cook them and, of course, enjoy them by going through the process themselves.

Masterclasses were organised by BT1 and “Māmiņu klubs/Mummy club” with support of Tramontina, Fiteg2 Latvia, Very Berry, POPHOUSE, members of the Latvian Bakers Association and other exhibitors of the Riga Food 2026.