The Spontaneous Plants’ Recipes Project for enhancing Mediterranean Diet profile change: A sustainable strategy for obesity prevention in childhood, and for contributing to biodiversity maintenance. An intervention of the Italian Food and Nutrition Public Provincial Service

Abstract

Since 2009 the SIAN is monitoring BMI and dietary habits of 5.220 children, (48.6% males) aged 3–14 years, providing a multi‐sectoral community‐oriented intervention. It was articulated with a core focus on Mediterranean Diet, a proxy of healthy nutrition recommendation. Traditional food and cookery recipes were collected and processed by children. Different types of cultivated and spontaneous plants are still a niche component of Mediterranean dietary profile and wild beet, chard (beta vulgaris), borage, chicory, fennel, cabbages and cardoons are still used in Mediterranean cookery: addressing children to recognizing, collecting, cooking and eating spontaneous plants is a strategic tool supported by the collaboration of teachers, relatives (grandmothers), parents and volunteers. Preliminary results. Initial prevalence of Obesity was 27.6%. At the second year of intervention, a significant drop to 21.27% was already reported with a concurrent increase of Mediterranean Diet Adherence. No such effect was observed by the current educational programs provided nationwide (Italy prevalence: 34.0%). Within the Spontaneous Plants’ Recipes Project at the third year of intervention there is a satisfactory adherence.ConclusionThis exercise allows a closer approach to natural environment, traditional food, green plants, fresh and cooked, and to a more active daily life, moving children in the countryside.