Matosinhos à Mesa

Food education action involved 220 students from Agudela Elementary School

The Agudela Elementary School, in Lavra, was the stage yesterday for the “Matosinhos à Mesa” food education action as part of the strategy that the Matosinhos City Council has been developing in several areas of awareness for the adoption of healthy lifestyles and eating habits.

Thus, with the aim of highlighting the importance given to nutritional education among the youngest children in the Municipality's schools and, specifically, to promoting fish consumption, at a time coinciding with the celebration of popular saints, the Matosinhos City Council organised a themed lunch with the provision of a dish prepared with fresh fish purchased at the local market (sardine cutlets) by Chef Hélio Loureiro, at Agudela Elementary School, involving this school community which is very close to the sea due to its geographical location.

The lunch was attended by 220 students from this school, in addition to members of the municipal executive, the Dr. José Domingues dos Santos and the school management.

It is worth highlighting that this is just another action implemented by the city government as part of its strategy to promote healthy lifestyle and eating habits. Other examples of measures in this area are school meals, school fruit and milk, healthy school buffets and the food education workshop in AEC (curricular enrichment activities). The City Hall is also responsible for managing all school cafeterias in the public network and providing around 9,000 meals a day, with a technical team of nutritionists who monitor this service in the field and prepare menus that are nutritionally appropriate to the needs of the school population, including those who, for health or religious/cultural reasons, require specific food. One of the main concerns when preparing menus is to promote the consumption of fish, whose nutritional benefits are recognised, especially when compared to meat, particularly with regard to the quality of the fat provided. In this context, fish is provided in our schools on an obligatory basis on alternate days.

Finally, it should be noted that, during the school year, Agudela Elementary School worked with its students on the "AMar o Mar" project, which aims to promote environmental education and sustainability, with a special focus on the preservation of marine ecosystems.