DISH PROJECT – EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMMES FOR HEALTHY NUTRITION
1. Basic Information
Method Title: Education and Awareness Programmes for Healthy Nutrition
Author / Organisation: DISH Project Consortium
Country: Transnational Erasmus+ partnership (project website hosted in Portugal)
Theme / Topic: Sustainability; digital and innovative teaching approaches; civic engagement and active citizenship
Keywords / Tags: healthy nutrition, awareness-raising, youth engagement, sustainable habits, mentoring groups, social media, workshops, community action, peer learning
Website: https://dishproject.pt/
2. Overview
Short Description
This method promotes healthy nutrition among young people through education and awareness-raising programmes that combine interactive talks, practical workshops, mentoring groups, community collaboration and social media actions. It encourages learners to understand the link between balanced eating, wellbeing and sustainable choices, while also becoming active multipliers within their peer groups and communities.
Purpose of the Method
To raise awareness of healthy eating habits, prevent poor nutrition-related health problems, and encourage young people to become active agents in promoting healthier and more sustainable lifestyles in their schools and communities.
Learning Outcomes (Skills / Knowledge / Attitudes)
Participants improve their understanding of balanced nutrition and its impact on physical and mental health; develop communication, collaboration and peer-support skills; strengthen awareness of sustainable consumption; and adopt a more proactive attitude towards healthy lifestyle choices and community wellbeing.
3. Target Group
Target Group: Young people, youth learners, educators, youth workers, teachers, parents and carers involved in awareness and educational activities related to health and nutrition.
Age Range: Primarily teenagers and young people; adaptable for older youth and intergenerational learning settings.
Group Size: Small to medium groups (approximately 8–25 participants), with possible adaptation for whole-class or community formats.
Required Prior Knowledge: No specialist prior knowledge is required. Basic interest in health, wellbeing or community learning is enough.
4. Practical Details
Duration: Flexible. A single awareness session can last 40–60 minutes, while a broader programme can be delivered over several sessions or as part of an ongoing school/community campaign.
Setting (online / offline / hybrid): Offline or hybrid. The method also integrates online dissemination through social media and digital content creation.
Group Work / Individual: Mainly group-based, with opportunities for pair work, peer mentoring and individual reflection.
Materials / Tools Needed: Presentation materials, flipcharts or whiteboards, worksheets, cooking workshop supplies if relevant, internet access for digital activities, mobile phones or computers for social media content creation, and community partnership contacts.
5. Method Description (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Introduce Healthy Nutrition
Introduce the topic through an awareness session on balanced nutrition, explaining how eating habits affect physical health, mental wellbeing and long-term lifestyle choices.
Use interactive talks, questions and examples relevant to young people’s daily routines.
The discussion can also include affordable healthy food options and how participants can make healthier choices within a limited budget.
Step 2: Practical and Participatory Activities
Organise practical and participatory activities such as healthy cooking workshops, mindfulness sessions, group physical activities, or thematic discussions led by educators or invited experts.
Connect theory with concrete everyday actions.
Practical Workshop Examples
Example 1 – Build a Healthy Meal
Participants work in small groups and create an example of a balanced meal. They discuss which food groups are included and how the meal could be adapted to their everyday routines.
Example 2 – Healthy Food on a Budget
Participants discuss examples of affordable foods that can be used to prepare healthy meals. In small groups, they develop a simple healthy meal using affordable ingredients and compare their ideas.
Example 3 – Healthy Snack Challenge
Participants develop ideas for simple healthy snacks that could replace less healthy alternatives in their daily routine. Groups present their ideas and discuss which options are realistic and affordable.
Example 4 – Healthy Habits Discussion
Participants identify one eating habit they would like to improve. In pairs or small groups, they discuss simple changes that could make this habit healthier and realistic in everyday life.
Step 3: Community Involvement
Involve the wider learning environment by collaborating with schools, youth centres, community organisations, parents or carers.
Encourage learners to share messages, experiences and healthy practices with peers and the school/community network.
Step 4: Digital and Peer-Based Actions
Extend the learning through digital and peer-based actions: ask learners to create and share informative content on social media, launch healthy habit challenges, or form mentoring groups where they can exchange experiences, support one another and reinforce collective responsibility.
6. Pedagogical Approach
Methods used: Awareness-raising education, interactive talks, experiential learning, practical workshops, peer mentoring, collaborative learning, community-based learning and digital participation.
Why this approach is effective: The method combines knowledge, practice and peer/community engagement. It is effective because it moves beyond passive information delivery and helps learners apply ideas in daily life, support one another, and communicate healthy messages through channels they already use, including social media.
7. Inclusion & Accessibility
How inclusion is ensured: The method uses varied formats—talks, workshops, peer groups and digital tools—so learners with different preferences, abilities and confidence levels can take part. Collaboration with local institutions also helps adapt activities to the reality of the target group.
Adaptations for disadvantaged groups: Content can be simplified linguistically, examples can be tailored to local socio-economic realities, and practical low-cost healthy eating strategies can be prioritised. Mentoring groups and community partnerships can provide additional support for learners who need encouragement, guidance or a stronger sense of belonging.
8. Sustainability Aspect
Relevance to sustainability: This method strongly contributes to sustainability by encouraging conscious consumption, healthier food choices and greater awareness of how everyday habits affect both personal wellbeing and the wider environment. It also supports the development of sustainable communities through shared responsibility and the dissemination of good practices.
9. Evaluation & Feedback
Evaluation methods: Observation of participation, reflection during discussions, feedback from workshops, monitoring of peer/group engagement, and review of awareness outputs such as videos, posts or campaign materials.
Tools used (self/peer/teacher): Self-reflection, peer exchange in mentoring groups, and educator feedback during or after sessions.
10. Output / Result
Final outcome: Participants gain practical knowledge about healthy nutrition and become more confident in promoting healthy and sustainable habits. Tangible outputs may include workshop products, awareness campaigns, mentoring activities, or learner-created digital content.
11. Transferability
How can this method be adapted:
The method can be transferred to schools, youth centres, NGOs, community education settings and non-formal learning programmes. It can be scaled up or down depending on time and resources, and the digital element can be adapted to different platforms or levels of digital competence.
Discussions and practical activities can focus on affordable healthy food options that are relevant to the participants’ local and socio-economic context.
12. Additional Resources
- Project website: https://dishproject.pt/didacticunits
- Didactic Unit source: Chapter 4, Unit 1 – Education and awareness programmes
- YouTube resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmSinPMVU2U
- YouTube resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N14_XNH8Mqs
- YouTube resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7gBf8WE3i8
- Directorate-General of Health (Portugal): https://alimentacaosaudavel.dgs.pt/
- Manual PNPAS: https://alimentacaosaudavel.dgs.pt/theme/manual-pnpas/
- DGE – Food Education: https://cidadania.dge.mec.pt/saude/educacao-alimentar
- Healthy eating habits for teens: https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-eating-habits/healthy-eating-habits-teens