The NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) joined the launch of the project “Comer Bem, Ajuda a Crescer”, which took place on 25 October at the Ajuda Municipal Market in Lisbon. This initiative is part of the global platform Cities for Better Health and aims to promote food literacy, healthier eating habits and more inclusive communities among children and families in Ajuda.
The project results from the collaboration between NOVA NSPH and several partners, including the Ajuda Parish Council, Novo Nordisk Portugal and the Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity (APCOI), and involves interventions in both community and school settings. It also seeks to reduce barriers to accessing fresh and healthy foods, encouraging conscious choices in a practical and engaging way.
The project’s activities are organised into two main strands. In family and community contexts, healthy cooking workshops and food counselling actions take place at local points of sale, guided by nutritionists and students from the NOVA Medical School. In school settings, APCOI’s “Heróis da Fruta” initiative encourages the daily consumption of fruit and vegetables through games, stories and challenges for pre-school and primary school children.
The launch event presented the project’s objectives, methodology and planned actions, and included a discussion on the impact of collaborative interventions in promoting community health.
“It is with great satisfaction that NOVA NSPH joins this initiative, which promotes healthy eating through the active involvement of families in the parish of Ajuda. The assessment of the impact of this intervention will generate scientific evidence to support more effective public policies and sustainable community interventions”, emphasised Cristina Godinho, lecturer at NOVA NSPH.
The project includes Saturday morning sessions at the Ajuda Market and food counselling visits on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, enabling families to learn how to choose more balanced foods and integrate healthy habits into their daily routines.
This initiative reflects the commitment of NOVA NSPH to promoting health and equity through sustainable community projects that encourage lasting behavioural change, contributing to a healthier and more aware Ajuda.
