| The Food Aid and Promotion of Healthy Nutrition Program – (DIATROFI) | |
| Brief Description | The DIATROFI Program supports students of public schools in socioeconomically vulnerable areas throughout Greece against food insecurity and obesity. DIATROFI is implemented by the Institute of Preventive Medicine Environmental and Occupational Health – Prolepsis with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation as the funding donor. The Program provides a daily free meal to all students in participating schools, which includes a sandwich or other healthy goods, seasonal fresh fruit and white milk or yogurt with honey. The program also promotes healthy nutrition through educational material and activities for the students and their families. In order to avoid stigmatization, all students participate in the program. Educational materials with nutritional messages encouraging healthy eating practices and other healthy habits are distributed and health-promotion events and/or demonstrations are often organized. Throughout the school year, constant evaluation of the practice takes place through surveys, questionnaires and focus groups/interviews. Since 2012 12.8 million meals have been distributed to 90.000 students in 530 schools of the country. For the 2016-2017 school year the Program is implemented in 161 schools with 11,912 students, due to limited availability of funds. However, more than 2,090 school applications have been submitted, indicating the urgent need to expand the Program to serve a greater number of schools. So far, results indicate that in participating schools, food insecurity has decreased, the number of underweight, as well as overweight and obese children has decreased, and children’s eating habits have improved. Additionally, the Program has contributed to a reduction in school dropouts and strengthening of social bonds in the school environment. |
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| European Country/Countries | Greece |
| Field | Consuming: Healthy Consumption |
| Type | Intervention |
| Impact | Health, Equity, Environmental sustainability |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Target Group | Low socio-economic status |
| Evaluation | Yes |
| Level | Local, Regional |
| INHERIT Perspective | The DIATROFI program was included within INHERIT as it is considered to have positive impacts on health, the environment and vulnerable populations. Disadvantaged students, who experience food insecurity, receive free healthy meals daily, thus improving their health levels and wellbeing. Furthermore, educational activities during the program inform students about eating habits that are healthier and more sustainable (more fruit and vegetables than meat products). New learning experiences in waste management (waste created by lunch packs) are achieved while respect for food and social solidarity are reinforced. |
| Detailed description PDF filename | Download file |
| Relevant links | http://diatrofi.prolepsis.gr/en/ |
| Contact | Prolepsis – Institute of Preventive Medicine Environmental and Occupational Health 7, Fragoklisias street, 151 25, Marousi, Athens Tel: 2106255700 2106106810 Email: diatrofi@prolepsis.gr |