Good Practice - Project
Nutrition-sensitive rural development: the ‘Make Smart Food Choices’ project from Portugal
Developing a community‑driven food education strategy that promotes Mediterranean, healthy and sustainable eating.
General information
RDP Measure
- M20: Technical assistance
Beneficiary type
- Local Action Group
Summary
The 'Make Smart Food Choices' food education strategy set out to empower consumers to make informed decisions about what they eat, drawing on the principles of the Mediterranean Diet. Its aim was to bring consumers and producers closer together, deepen people’s understanding of their food and highlight the significant influence that informed consumers can have in shaping food systems.
In the Algarve, rising levels of food insecurity and a noticeable decline in adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (considered by the WHO to be one of the healthiest and most balanced in the world) prompted the IN LOCO Association to act. In response, it launched a collaborative food education strategy that mobilised a wide network of partners. This approach inspired other territories to recognise the importance of strengthening food literacy as a key pathway to building balanced, sustainable food systems that benefit all actors involved.
Results
- Carried out 75 food education activities in the educational ecosystem involving 1 755 students, teachers, and school staff.
- Delivered 35 awareness-raising and training activities on food education for vulnerable groups and their caregivers, reaching 707 participants.
- Organised 36 public community awareness raising activities promoting the Mediterranean diet at open community events, involving 1 254 participants.
- Establishing a multi‑platform communication campaign, including an online collaborative platform with more than 11 900 new users and 47 000 views; extensive dissemination through Facebook and Instagram, reaching over 10 000 accounts and generating tens of thousands of visits, etc.
Promoter
Associação IN LOCO
Funding
Total budget 147 192.16 (EUR)
EAFRD: 116 281.81 (EUR)
National/Regional: 30 910.35 (EUR)
Resources
Context
Although elements of the Mediterranean lifestyle (recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity) are still present in Portugal, a gradual departure from its core principles has widened the gap between producers and consumers. This shift has contributed to a loss of knowledge about healthy and sustainable eating based on local and seasonal products, with direct repercussions for food security, public health, and the viability of local production systems.
Scientific studies conducted since 2017 confirmed both the worrying levels of food insecurity and the low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. At the same time, the research clearly indicated the way forward: strengthening food literacy across the community, with particular attention to children, older adults, beneficiaries of food aid programmes, vulnerable groups and the professionals who support them in close collaboration with producers, local authorities and other territorial actors.
The adopted strategy centred on a multi‑level communication campaign under the appealing name O Prato Certo (make smart food choices), complemented by an ambitious programme of practical food education activities tailored to each target group. Between 2019 and 2022, this strategy was implemented by a multidisciplinary team of nutritionists, chefs, social scientists, social intervention practitioners and communication specialists, surpassing all initial targets and reaching tens of thousands of people.
From 2023 to 2025, the strategy was further consolidated and scaled up nationwide through the national programme for a balanced and sustainable diet (PNAES), funded by the Portuguese CAP Network. New partnerships were established, bringing together all LAGs in the region and the regional association of municipalities, reinforcing shared methodologies in food education and strengthening proximity to local communities.
Objectives
The main objective of the Make Smart Food Choices project was to support vulnerable people and communities in making informed, healthy food choices in their daily lives. To achieve this, it was essential to provide accessible information on the local products available in each region and season, the producers who supply them and how consumers can purchase them directly. The project also focused on practical guidance: how to store food properly, cook it in healthy and sustainable ways, reduce waste, plan economical and nutritious weekly menus, and rediscover the social value of eating together. At the same time, participants were encouraged to deepen their understanding of the Mediterranean lifestyle and to share experiences with others in their community.
Activities
Between 2023 and 2025, with EAFRD support and in the Algarve region alone, the project’s Make Smart Food Choices partnership implemented a wide range of activities, including:
- Food education initiatives within the educational ecosystem that target students, teachers and school staff.
- Food education actions for vulnerable groups and their caregivers, tailored to their specific needs and contexts.
- Awareness-raising activities on the Mediterranean diet at public events open to the wider community.
- A comprehensive multi‑platform communication campaign, featuring:
- An online collaborative platform with a national, geo‑referenced database of producers, products, markets and food baskets;
- A national database of food education materials and sustainable production systems;
- Weekly menus, microsites for similar projects across the country, and hundreds of recipes, tips, and suggestions promoting local, seasonal, and sustainable eating;
- Dissemination through social media channels (Facebook and Instagram);
- Publications such as the O Prato Certo Food Education Guide and the book O Prato Certo: Tasty, Healthy and Sustainable Recipes and Tips;
- Participation in public events with practical demonstrations, from cooking shows to educational games.
This model was developed through extended partnerships working on similar initiatives across 20 NUTS II regions of Portugal, within the framework of the National Programme for Balanced and Sustainable Nutrition (PNAES), funded by the Portuguese CAP Network.
Main results
- Food education activities in the educational ecosystem: 75 actions carried out, involving 1 755 students, teachers and school staff.
- Food education for vulnerable groups and their caregivers: 35 awareness-raising and training activities, reaching 707 participants.
- Community awareness raising: 36 public activities promoting the Mediterranean diet at open community events, involving 1 254 participants.
- Multi‑platform communication campaign, including:
- an online collaborative platform with more than 11 900 new users and 47 000 views;
- a national geo‑referenced database of producers, products, markets, and food baskets;
- a national database of food education materials and sustainable production systems;
- weekly menus, 10 microsites for similar projects across the country, and hundreds of recipes, tips, and suggestions for local, seasonal, and sustainable eating;
- extensive dissemination through Facebook and Instagram, reaching over 10 000 accounts and generating tens of thousands of visits.
- Publications: 1 200 copies of the O Prato Certo Food Education Guide and 2 400 copies of the book O Prato Certo: Make Smart Food Choices Tasty, Healthy and Sustainable Recipes and Tips.
- Participation in public events: dozens of events featuring practical demonstrations, from cooking shows to educational games.
These results reflect the achievements of a single regional project. When considered within the national framework of PNAES, the overall impact of the programme is truly remarkable.
Key lessons
- The activities carried out in this project clearly demonstrated its strategic importance for building sustainable food systems. By promoting food literacy, strengthening links between consumers and local seasonal producers and encouraging Mediterranean Diet principles, the project helped foster healthier, more sustainable and more accessible eating habits. The variety of actions, audiences, and methods ensured a comprehensive and coherent approach that responded to the real needs of the communities involved.
- Combining education, technical training, community mobilisation and institutional communication proved essential for nurturing a more conscious food culture rooted in the territory and supporting health and well‑being. The active participation of partners, technicians, schools, municipalities and citizens reinforced the project's collaborative nature and demonstrated its capacity to generate positive impacts across multiple dimensions.
- Beyond meeting all its objectives, the project became a regional and national reference point. It contributed to strengthening skills, developing innovative educational materials, and effectively spreading key messages adapted to different contexts.
- Lessons for the future: The experience highlighted the need for systematic communication efforts for both target groups and the wider community. It also confirmed the value of a multidisciplinary technical team and strong local partners who can act as facilitators of food education processes. Networking at local, regional and national levels played a crucial role in improving methodologies and tools. Such an approach should continue to guide future work, always with a focus on continuous improvement.
Feeding is transmitting knowledge, culture and health!