How Stories Spark Healthy Habits Children Truly Enjoy – Exclusive Interview With Haifa Hamdi
- Brainz Magazine
- Sep 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 17
Haifa Hamdi, Ph.D., is a scientist and a storyteller on a mission to help parents make healthy eating fun, not a fight. With her background in immunology and holistic nutrition, she transforms science into magical adventures that kids actually want to join. Through her children’s book “The Secret of Sugarland”, she gives parents a powerful tool, no lectures, no battles at the dinner table, just stories and playful strategies that inspire kids to choose better. Her vision? A new generation that grows up seeing wellness as exciting, empowering, and part of everyday family life.
Haifa Hamdi, Scientist, Nutritionist and Author
Who is Haifa Hamdi?
I am Dr. Haifa Hamdi, a scientist, educator, and storyteller dedicated to making wellness fun and accessible for children. I hold a Ph.D. in Immunology from South Paris University and have spent years researching the immune system and chronic diseases. Later, I became certified in holistic nutrition, which allowed me to bridge science with practical lifestyle guidance.
At home, I’m a mother, a lover of herbal teas, outdoor walks, and long conversations with my kids. I enjoy reading, painting, cooking colorful meals, and exploring the arts of storytelling, whether through books, games, or simply creating stories with children. Something interesting about me, though I come from a rigorous scientific background, I believe stories can sometimes teach more than lectures. Children absorb play, imagination, and characters in ways that last. This is what led me to write “The Secret of Sugarland”, a tool that combines fantasy, fun, and health education.
What inspired you to blend your scientific background with storytelling for children?
In my years of research, I witnessed how profoundly early nutrition shapes health, affecting immunity, energy, and even learning. Yet, I also saw a gap, while scientific data existed, children and their families rarely received it in a format they could enjoy or remember.
That’s where storytelling came in. Storytelling makes science approachable, even magical. By turning concepts like sugar intake into tales of adventure, children become detectives and decision-makers rather than passive listeners. Instead of being told, “You have to eat this,” they are invited to explore, “What do you think happens in Sugarland when sugar takes over?” This shift sparks curiosity, not resistance.
How does “The Secret of Sugarland” make healthy eating fun for kids?
‘The Secret of Sugarland: Join the Sweet Rangers’ invites children into a magical land where their choices matter. The main character, Ellie, adores sweets until she faces a tummy ache and is transported to Sugarland Cloud. There she meets creatures who reveal the chaos caused by too much sugar.
The story introduces the concept of green, yellow, and red sugars in a playful way for kids to recognize which choices fuel them, which ones to enjoy in moderation, and which to approach with caution. Children don’t feel lectured. Instead, they feel empowered, almost like heroes deciding the destiny of Sugarland’s creatures.
It’s fun because it feels like a game full of glowing tunnels, sweet adventures, and characters who guide children through discoveries. Learning happens through excitement and play, not pressure.
In what ways can your books assist parents and educators in promoting wellness?
My books are tools, not lectures. They offer parents and teachers a fun way to start meaningful conversations about food and health without conflict.
For example:
After reading, parents can ask, “What color sugar was in your snack today?”, turning awareness into a game.
Educators can weave the story into class projects, role-playing, or snack-time activities.
Families can use the story to guide shopping, cooking, or even “Sugarland challenges” at home. This makes nutrition a shared adventure rather than a battle. Children feel responsible and proud when they make healthier choices, while parents and teachers enjoy smoother, more positive interactions.
How do you envision your stories impacting the next generation’s health choices?
I envision children growing up with a different relationship to food, one rooted in joy, balance, and self-awareness. If they learn early that their choices affect not only their bodies but also the “destiny” of the worlds they imagine, they develop both responsibility and empowerment.
A child who reads Sugarland might choose fruit over candy one day, inspire their siblings to play the “sugar color game”, or remind their parents to pick healthier snacks. Small ripples add up. My hope is that my stories will contribute to a generation that embraces wellness naturally, without fear or resistance, because it was planted early as something fun, creative, and part of who they are.
The Secret of Sugarland is more than a book, it’s an invitation. No lectures, no fights, just stories, imagination, and the chance for children to write their own path to wellness.
To enjoy “The Secret of Sugarland” in the best way, I suggest parents read it with their children one chapter at a time. The story has 9 chapters in total. The first chapter is longer, so you may want to start early or even split it over two days. Later chapters are shorter, so you can sometimes read two at once if you like. The chapter titles are fun and almost feel like riddles, so take a moment to enjoy guessing what might happen next! What matters most is keeping it playful, giving kids time to think, wonder, and connect the story to their everyday choices. Soon I’ll also be sharing short videos on my YouTube channel to go along with the book, so check my website for updates.
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