View the
EFF Dissemination Event which took place on the 29th of May 2012.
With life-long habits being established at an early age; numbers of overweight and obese children in the EU rising; variable nutrition education and the need to ensure that young people become informed consumers based on factual information, the European Food Framework project seeks to establish a unique food, nutrition and lifestyle resource to promote healthy active lifestyles to children and young people (aged 5 to 16 years) throughout Europe.
This two-year project, started February 2010 was
co-ordinated by the British Nutrition Foundation and involved:
- the development of a pan-European food competence framework for children and young people aged 5-16 years which is culturally targeted into a number of key European
countries. The framework will provide a consistent, up-to-date and accurate (evidence based) consensus, supporting all involved in food education, whether part of the formal
school curriculum or not. The framework will focus on diet (food and drink), active lifestyles and energy balance;
- working with a range of European partners, starting with some members of the European Nutrition Foundations’ network (of which the NHF is a member);
- the creation of an expert Advisory Group (of which the NHF is a member) and three topic advisory groups to ensure scientific and educational rigour;
- engagement with young Europeans through an online survey focusing on their knowledge and beliefs of diet (food and drink), active lifestyles and energy balance, in order to help further develop the food competence framework;
- design and piloting of a series of tailored educational resources to engage young Europeans with the food competence framework in Year 2 of the project. Children, young people, teachers, health professionals, community workers and families from communities across Europe will directly benefit from these educational resources;
- communication of the pan-European food competence framework and support resources through a unique interactive website, supported in different languages, as well as regular newsletter updates.
Grant funding for this project was awarded by the The Coca-Cola Foundation, a philanthropic charitable organisation.
The work resulted in a consensus Framework about what children and young people should know (and be able to do) in three topics areas: diet, active lifestyles and energy balance. It was translated into a number of different languages. In addition, five pilot projects were undertaken to engage young people about the Framework. Results are available on the project website.
Top 1-3 groups that directly benefit
1. Young Europeans, aged 5 to 16 years. The pan-European food competence framework, and especially the young people facing resources, is of direct benefit to this group.
2. Teachers and educators throughout Europe.
3. Health professionals and community workers.
In-direct beneficences
1. National education/health governments and agencies throughout Europe. The food competence framework has the capacity to inform policy and working practices.
2. Education resource developers and publishers throughout Europe. The framework provides a consistent, up-to-date and accurate foundation.
3. European Nutrition Foundations Network. The programme raises the profile of these non-profit organisations throughout Europe, ensuring that their important work in communicating nutrition messages to Europeans is sustained.
For further information, go to
European Food Framework .
Contact: Roy Ballam, Education Programme Manager r.ballam@nutrition.org.uk