INTRODUCTION:

School meals represent a challenge for environmental sustainability and an opportunity to tackle food waste, while providing health benefits.

OBJECTIVES:

To describe and evaluate an intermunicipal intervention following a community-based participatory research methodology to tackle food waste in school canteens.

METHODOLOGY:

In two public schools in the municipalities of Sintra and Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, vocational education students were trained to conduct food education sessions for primary school students and participate in the evaluation of food waste in the school canteen. Food waste was assessed in 11 classes before and after the intervention, along with a process evaluation.

RESULTS:

The Good Food, Good Loop intermunicipal intervention involved 11 primary school classes (187 students), 4 vocational education classes (35 students), and 22 teachers. Plate waste was assessed before and after the intervention, with no significant differences (29.4% before and 30.1% after). Three assemblies were held, and an Activity Manual was developed. The majority of primary school students (60.6%) and vocational students (76.5%) believe they have reduced their food waste, and all teachers (100%) considered the intervention important, recommending its implementation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Plate waste of approximately 30% was identified. Reducing food waste in the school canteen is essential for both population and environmental health. Intermunicipal cooperation, collaboration between students of different ages, and active involvement of the school community are emerging as promising strategies for the future.

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