Andrea Innocenti Nutrition , health, and sustainability were the focus of two separate initiatives that brought together institutions, schools, families, and experts. In Messina, at the IIS "G. Minutoli," a meeting for students explored the relationship between tradition and innovation in the local food system; in Bologna, the Golinelli Foundation offered workshops and a discussion for families to address food selectivity and neophobia in children.
Both events focused on the educational role of the social context: schools as places where habits are formed, families as spaces where relationships with food are built, and institutions as entities capable of networking resources and skills to support healthier and more sustainable practices.
Messina: "Ancient Roots, New Ideas" at IISG Minutoli (October 23)
The meeting, titled " Ancient Roots, New Ideas. Messina Nourishes the Future, " featured representatives from schools, the municipal administration, and university and association experts to discuss the many aspects of food . After a welcome address from school principal Piero La Tona , Liana Cannata , Councilor for Environmental Policies, Ecological Transition, and Agri-food, delivered the administration's message, along with greetings from Mayor Federico Basile , emphasizing the importance of promoting a culture of conscious eating among young people.
During the session, the councilor explained how the Messina Urban Food Policy aims to develop a strategy that engages institutions, research, associations, and local producers to make the food system more equitable and sustainable. She also reiterated that schools are essential for disseminating knowledge and habits that impact individual well-being and the local economy.
Research interventions, associations and health services
Representatives from the BIOMORF Department of the city's university spoke at the event: Professor Giuseppa Di Bella highlighted the importance of accurate scientific information on nutrition, while Professor Rossella Vadalà explored the issue of food waste , proposing practices for maximizing available resources. Nino Mostaccio , of Slow Food Messina, linked memory and innovation in promoting local products as pillars for the future of food in the city.
A specific focus was on the psychological well-being of adolescents : Drs. Laura Profilio and Mariantonietta Faraone , speaking on behalf of the "Il Cerchio d'Oro" association, discussed the relationship between adolescence and new technologies, identifying risk and protective factors in situations of distress. Dr. Noemi Vacirca , a dietitian at the UOC SIAN of the Messina ASP, emphasized the need for collaboration between institutions, health services, and the community to promote nutritional prevention.
Bologna: "All Flavors Plus One" and workshops for children (October 24)
As part of its "Missione Scienza" program, the Golinelli Foundation offered an afternoon dedicated to children, featuring hands-on workshops and a scientific meeting for adults to provide useful tools for addressing food selectivity. The event was organized in collaboration with Ageop Ricerca for International Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month and took place at the Opificio Golinelli, located at Via Paolo Nanni Costa 14.
The meeting for adults, titled " Growing Up at the Table: Food, Health, and Relationships ," featured contributions from pediatrician Gennaro Pagano , nutrition biologist Livia Galletti , and psychologist Vitalba Lo Re . The panel discussed medical, nutritional, and psychological aspects to help parents and teachers understand the eating habits that emerge during growth and offer insights and practical tools.
Practical workshops to introduce children to food
The workshops promoted discovery through play and the scientific method: for the youngest children (4-6 years old), the activity “ Every fruit has its season ” used movement games and characters to help them recognize colors, shapes, and seasonality, while for children aged 7 to 11, the workshop “ Fruit and vegetables: a scientific adventure ” proposed experiments and observations to explore the physical and chemical properties of foods and introduce participants to the practice of the scientific method.
Both meetings were free, with reservations required, and reaffirmed the effectiveness of combining scientific knowledge and fun activities to build a positive relationship with food at an early age.
The Messina and Bologna initiatives offer two complementary models: on the one hand, an institutional and scholastic dialogue that connects urban policies, research, and associations; on the other, a workshop approach that engages families and children. In both cases, the common thread is the promotion of more informed, sustainable, and well-being-oriented eating practices for younger generations.