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Making small healthy lifestyle changes can really help us to feel healthier and happier — as Laka Kassi and her daughters discovered when they took part in our 12-week Beezee Families programme.

Laka and her children Benedicte, 9, and Emunach, 4, joined our programme in April 2024. Laka learned of the programme when Benedicte’s school shared a link about joining a health workshop.

Unsure whether this was something that her family would benefit from, Laka initially ignored the option of joining.  

She explained: “I wasn’t sure what to expect but after speaking to other parents, I found out that the programme is about making healthy lifestyle changes and nutrition — so even though we missed the first two weeks, it was really easy to pick up and start learning.”  

The weekly sessions became an eagerly anticipated occurrence for the whole family.   

Laka continued: “The programme was great. It was social, fun and you learn so much. We took part in group sessions each week, where we learned about essential topics such as calories, portion sizes, sugar intake, food labelling and transforming bad habits into good ones.

“The programme delivery was really flexible and accessible for everyone, for example if there was a week when you couldn’t attend in person, you could attend a virtual session via Teams.”

Laka noticed significant changes in her own habits. She became more conscious when shopping, paying more attention to food labels, opting for less junk food and more nutritious options to keep the family fuller for longer.

The family also increased their water intake and adjusted their children’s portion sizes according to their age and size.   

In addition, having external validation during the sessions helped Benedicte and Emunach understand that their parents’ advice were guidelines for a healthier lifestyle and not just random rules.

Cooking from scratch also became a new norm for Laka, giving her a better understanding about the nutritional contents of each meal produced.  

Laka reflected: “You learn that the cheapest isn’t always the best option. Sometimes paying a little more can offer better nutritional value without the added calories and unhealthy additives.  

“Benedicte now drinks more water and willingly eats more vegetables. Both girls understand that snacks are okay in moderation.   

“We all enjoyed the social aspect of attending the Families programme, and I would absolutely recommend the programme to others as it is a great way to learn more about making small changes for a healthier lifestyle.

“As a family we really enjoyed the experience. We learned valuable lessons about nutrition and have also built lasting friendships.”

Find out more about Beezee Families.