From 28 February, the project “Eating Well Helps You Grow” enters a new phase with the launch of its second cycle of activities, reinforcing its commitment to promoting healthier food choices within the community. After engaging around 600 participants in the first phase, the initiative is now expanding its reach, with the ambition of involving an even greater number of children and families.
The initiative forms part of Novo Nordisk’s global programme “Cities for Better Health”, which brings together more than 50 cities worldwide, and has a clear purpose: to promote food literacy and empower children and families to make healthier food choices in their daily lives, demonstrating that a healthy meal is not necessarily more difficult to prepare, nor more expensive. At the same time, it aims to mitigate identified barriers related to the attractiveness of and access to fresh and healthy foods, through a practical approach focused on the needs of the community in which it is being implemented.
The project is based on an integrated intervention strategy, developed along two complementary strands: schools and families. In the school setting, it takes the form of a special edition of the programme “Heróis da Fruta”, exclusive to schools in the parish of Ajuda, promoted by the Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity, which uses playful and educational methodologies to encourage the daily consumption of fruit and vegetables among children aged between 3 and 11 years. The impact of the intervention is assessed by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Health (ISAMB) of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FMUL).
Within the family context, every weekend until next June, Mercado da Ajuda will host cycles of four workshops and two guided visits to the Pingo Doce supermarket in Boa-Hora, where nutritionists and students from the NOVA Medical School support families in interpreting food labels, selecting seasonal products and adopting informed dietary practices. The intervention is evaluated by NOVA NSPH – National School of Public Health.
The aim is to engage families with children aged 6 to 12 and to empower the entire household, demonstrating that simple, affordable and nutritionally relevant foods can be easily incorporated into everyday meals through balanced and flavourful preparations.
The project “Eating Well Helps You Grow” results from a partnership between Novo Nordisk Portugal, NOVA Medical School, APCOI – Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity, and NOVA NSPH – National School of Public Health, which, together with the Ajuda Parish Council, are joining efforts to ensure scientific rigour, community relevance and the effectiveness of the intervention model.
Further information and workshop registration: www.ajudaacrescer.pt
