During the Food Boost Challenge 2025, ten MBO and HBO teams pitched their ideas to entice young people towards healthier, plant-based choices. This is urgently needed: in South Holland, 1 in 7 children and more than half of adults are overweight. The province wholeheartedly supports this initiative.
The winning idea – the Flatta, a vegetable flatbread full of fiber – won both the jury and audience prize during the final at the World Horti Center in Naaldwijk. The student team from Hogeschool Holland went home with a check for €3,000. Their surprised reaction: “We are incredibly happy! We would like to further develop our idea and are open to tips and collaborations. But first, we are going to celebrate this together!”
Healthy choice the easiest choice
The Food Boost Challenge perfectly aligns with the provinces policy to create a food environment where the healthy choice is the easiest one – with affordable and visible healthy food, especially in vulnerable neighborhoods. And where young people know how delicious healthy food is and where it comes from. Moreover, the Challenge shows that young people themselves know what works within their own living environment.
Mariëtte van Leeuwen, deputy of the Healthy & Wellbeing program emphasizes the importance of such a competition: “We learn from the ideas of young people how we can make healthy eating more attractive. Moreover, valuable collaborations arise between students and professionals from various fields. This broadens everyones horizon!”
Dream big!
The second prize went to a food truck concept in schools. The third place was awarded to the idea of arranging part of the supermarket so that young people can make healthy choices faster and easier. The intention now is to further develop (one of) these ideas together with young people and involved partners.
Van Leeuwen believes it is important for young people to make their voices heard. “Their ideas can really bring about change. Therefore, I give a big thumbs up for everyone’s efforts and creativity. Keep dreaming big and dare to innovate - together we will eat healthy!”
This third edition of the Food Boost Challenge is an initiative of HortiHeroes, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and Medical Delta, together with MBO Westland, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, and The Hague Hotel School, Stichting Goeie Grutten, and Regieorgaan SIA.