A significant step for nutrition education in schools: the results of Nutripiatto, the nutrition education programme that teaches children and families how to build balanced meals, were presented at the Ministry of Education and Merit.
Nutripiatto stands out because it is not just a theoretical project, but a real practical tool that guides parents, teachers and children in the preparation of balanced meals through a clear and engaging methodology. Thanks to an innovative approach based on interactive educational materials, educational fact sheets and playful activities, the project has already reached thousands of families and schools throughout Italy.
Nutripiatto is a wide-ranging project developed by Nestlé with the scientific contribution of the Campus Bio-Medico University in Rome and the Italian Society of Preventive and Social Paediatrics (Sipps). An achievement that confirms the importance of food education from childhood onwards, increasingly integrating it into school curricula.
Undersecretary for Education and Merit, Paola Frassinetti, welcomed the Nutripiatto initiative for its concrete contribution to the promotion of correct lifestyles and a conscious food culture, in line with national health and education directives.
Poor eating habits among children represent one of the main health and educational challenges today. According to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report, 29% of children between 6 and 10 years of age in Italy are overweight, highlighting the urgency of concrete actions to reverse this trend.
‘We need to have a greater impact on food education at school as well as in the family,’ said the undersecretary for Education and Merit, Paola Frassinetti, ’and I believe there is a need for greater social responsibility also on the part of companies involved in the food chain. For this reason I congratulate the ‘Nutripiatto’ initiative, which goes precisely in the direction of educating the youngest children towards an ever greater awareness of food choices‘.
‘We know that good habits are built from an early age,’ said President and CEO at Nestlé Italy and Malta, Marco Travaglia, ’and that is why we want to support families and teachers with concrete and scientifically validated tools. This recognition spurs us to further strengthen our commitment to bring nutrition education into Italian schools. The significant results obtained motivate us to continue with even more enthusiasm and dedication, aware that our growth, both as a company and as individuals, is profoundly linked to the social value we create every day with our work’.
‘Nutripiatto is a valid ally for encouraging children to take an active part in the choice of food and preparation of recipes,’ explained Laura De Gara, president of the Food Science and Nutrition degree course at the University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, ’bringing back the habit of eating varied and balanced meals in Italian families, respecting the seasonality of products and traditional dishes. Delighted to have been part of this project from the start, we hope that Nutripiatto can also contribute to teaching children and adults the importance of what we put on our plates‘.
The president of the Italian Society of Preventive and Social Paediatrics (Sipps), Giuseppe Di Mauro, emphasised that ‘paediatricians play a key role in educating families on nutrition, guiding parents towards conscious choices for the health and wellbeing of their little ones. This is why the Nutripiatto project, implemented with our scientific supervision, is a concrete support tool for child health professionals’.
‘Health starts on the plate,’ he concluded, ’and teaching the importance of balanced portions and a varied diet from an early age is essential to prevent childhood obesity and related diseases.
Thanks also to the Ministry’s recognition and the new partnership with WeSchool, Nutripiatto will be adopted in an increasing number of schools, becoming a reference for food education in Italian classrooms. A fundamental step forward to educate more aware and healthy generations.
