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Innovative teaching methodology of health friendly nutrition development and practice in pre-primary and primary education
Start date: Oct 1, 2016, End date: Sep 30, 2018 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The quality of our nutrition affects our wellbeing throughout our lives, but it has an even greater impact on children whose bodies and minds are still growing. As studies presents nutritional deficiencies can seriously damage a child’s neural development, possibly leading to lower IQ and even learning disabilities. The essential role nutrition plays for developmental, cognitive and behavioral outcomes in life’s early stages, unfortunately, is often not well understood and appropriately acted upon by schools and parents, as nutrition education program as well is not coherent and integrated into school curricula. If from a young age child health-friendly nutrition is taught, it is likely that these knowledge, understanding, habits will last a lifetime. This could contribute to obesity and other problems and diseases reduction across Europe. EU Strategy 2030, conferences responses, Framework for Action Education 2030 highlights the importance and education improvement needs in early childhood development as "education is one of the most potent ways of improving individuals’ health – and of making sure the benefits are passed on to future generations" in this way reaching the topic of well-being and health to which the project with its aims and results corresponds. Therefore within the project „Innovative teaching methodology of health friendly nutrition development and practice in pre-primary and primary education (HealthEDU)“ we seek to create comprehensive, unified education program for the children involving unified education as well for teachers, school staff and parents (educational institutions community). Within it to provide them with health-friendly education knowledge, correlation to schools achievements, eating habits, positive attitudes, to develop and promote understanding and health lifestyle principles and body awareness, to suggest health-friendly menus and dishes for children, to form correct food culture. Methodical material will contain trans-nationally formed educational activities for children, educational trips and visual explanations how food comes to the table and later on video material as persistent educational content provision. Material will be systematized, based on international good practice, knowledge gained during professional international training courses, experience, Eu countries working practice, content of health-friendly nutrition information including pedagogical point of view and importance for child education, schools improvement, as well which is necessary for humans to maintain health. All this will be prepared by thematic area specialists and in compliance with EU health policy, the World Health Organization recommendations, international researches. E-learning course based on created and evaluated by experts as well approved training program and its methodical material will be developed. As well providing created portal as Open Education Resources to public auditorium, teachers will be able to learn, provide lessons and use it as material and full e-course. We are going to suggest that course and teachers training (qualification development).At the end of the project in Lithuania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Greece final conference as strong dissemination event will be organized in purpose to invite together target group - educational communities, public bodies and local, regional, national authorities, experts for all the results, good practice, feedback from beneficiaries presentation, also workshops and round table discussion together. Conference will be leaded by practical shows of health-friendly food chefs.Project sustainability will raise awareness of such program usability in Europe. The project will ensure the spread of the information for the public and private sector educational organizations, networks, regional, local, national authorities, mass media. Created and developed non-formal education program based on the best European practice and achievements will be proposed and will be used for school curriculum as facultative or as well as integrated lessons to existed curriculum - this will improve school curricula, children knowledge and quality in education as well.Finalizing we could say, that inclusive education, encompassing child+family+educators could lead to qualitative education and correct understanding of each other, wish to learn together, foster motivation, make learning effective.
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