Nutritionists and students from NOVA Medical School are taking food literacy ‘outside the classroom’ through the project 'Comer Bem, Ajuda a Crescer', an initiative that originated in the parish of Ajuda, with the support of Novo Nordisk, with the purpose of helping children and their families adopt healthier eating habits, making them part of everyday life in a practical, fun, and accessible way.
The project is being developed within the framework of the international Cities for Better Health platform—which brings together more than 50 cities around the world—and involves the participation of NOVA Medical School, among other local and institutional partners, such as the National School of Public Health and the Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity (APCOI). Together, these entities seek to encourage and empower the community to make more balanced and conscious food choices.
The activities will take place on weekends until the end of May 2026 at Mercado da Ajuda, where nutritionists and students from NOVA Medical School will host healthy cooking workshops dedicated to topics such as: ‘Discovering the T-shaped Plate – Steps to a Healthy Meal’; 'Snacks and Breakfasts that are Good for You - and Taste Better!‘, 'From the Garden to the Table - More Vegetables, More Flavor’ and ‘Cooking with Legumes - Easy and Tasty’— practical sessions that always end with a family tasting.
At the same time, the project also reaches the real context of shopping, through food counseling visits to local supermarkets, where families learn to read and compare labels, identify sugars, salt, and fats, choose seasonal foods, and distinguish more balanced and sustainable options.
“This project is more than just a healthy cooking workshop—it is a space for sharing and empowering families in Ajuda to promote food literacy from childhood. NOVA Medical School is proud to be part of the Cities for Better Health consortium and to contribute, from within the community, to an innovative model for promoting health and sustainable eating”, underlines Marta Silvestre, Professor and Researcher at NOVA Medical School.
“Comer Bem, Ajuda a Crescer” operates in two complementary contexts:
-
In schools, through the Heróis da Fruta® (Fruit Heroes) initiative, promoted by the Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity (APCOI), which encourages children to eat fruit and vegetables in a fun and educational way.
-
In the family context, with practical activities involving parents and children in the preparation of balanced and simple meals, reinforcing the role of children as agents of change within their families.
With this participation, NOVA Medical School reinforces its commitment to promoting health, food literacy, and community well-being, contributing to making Ajuda a community where healthy eating is easier, more accessible, and more appealing.