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DELICIOUS: Combating Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Through the Mediterranean Diet, Education, Physical Activity, and Sustainable Gastronomy

DELICIOUS is a European project that aims to promote and spread healthy eating habits and options in the diets of children and adolescents aged between 6-12 and 13-17 years. The project will be developed through market studies, gastronomic research, promotion of physical activity, participation of children, adolescents, and their families, Life Cycle Analysis, technology, non-formal educational materials (toys/games), and school materials. The goal is to achieve greater adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, as well as better eating habits among citizens.

The Mediterranean lifestyle and diet are considered some of the healthiest. However, in recent years, overweight, obesity, and other related diseases have increased in the Mediterranean region. This problem also affects the child and adolescent population due to a greater inclination towards Western diets and less physical activity. DELICIOUS seeks to break this pattern and provide tools to children, adolescents, and their families to make healthier and more sustainable dietary choices already present in the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle.

The project will take 7 case studies from 5 different Mediterranean countries – Spain, Portugal, Italy, Egypt, and Lebanon – with some school interventions. Expert chefs will be responsible for developing healthy and sustainable snacks to offer these alternatives in school cafeterias. DELICIOUS will also create educational activities and tools for children and adolescents to evaluate the healthiness and sustainability of their menus. BCC Innovation will be in charge of PT4: Development of new healthy products and recipe optimization.

The consortium consists of 10 organizations from 5 countries: EDELVIVES (Project Coordinator) (Spain), AIJU INSTITUTO TECNOLÓGICO DE PRODUCTO INFANTIL Y OCIO (Spain), BCC INNOVATION, BASQUE CULINARY CENTER’S TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER IN GASTRONOMY (Spain), CONTACTICA S.L (Spain), LCI TECHNOLOGIES (Spain), ASSIUT UNIVERSITY (Egypt), PROVINCIA D’ITALIA DEI FRATELLI MARISTI DELLE SCUOLE (Italy), UNIVERSITÁ DEGLI STUDI DI CATANIA (Italy), CONGRÉGATION DES FRÈRES MARISTES AU LIBAN (Lebanon), PROVINCIA PORTUGUESA DA CONGREGAÇÃO DOS IRMÃOS MARISTAS (Portugal).

The project will last for 36 months and has received funding from the European Union’s Programme for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), under the Agri-food IA Section. For more information about the project, please visit the website: https://deliciousproject.eu/