Project “Take a look at the label”: the report of an experience in food literacy

Project “Take a look at the label”

Abstract

Objective: To promote food literacy through reading and analysis of labels, in Portuguese children attending middle school. Data synthesis: “Take a look at the label” was a project carried out within the subjects of Physical Education and Citizenship and Development, aiming a new approach for teaching food and nutrition. The diagnostic evaluation data revealed difficulties in reading and analyzing the information of the food labels that the students consume and buy regularly. The project took place over 5 weeks,
between April and May 2022, in a school of Vila Real city, in Portugal. Three teachers and 18 students participated in the activities. Initially, a pre-test was applied to assess the students’ knowledge about food labeling and, at the end, a post-test was applied to retest the students’ knowledge. The activities were diversified: inside/outside the classroom; individual presentations versus group presentations; theoretical and practical activities of label analysis, ending with a peddy-paper to apply the knowledge acquired during the project. Conclusion: The results indicate that the students were able to understand and apply the knowledge. The “Take a look at the label” project helped to increase food literacy and can be used in several curricular units as a good strategy to promote healthy eating.