Giocampus in Academia Barilla: Parma as a food tutorial model

Academia Barilla hosted the Giocampus dietary nutrition program for children, teachers and parents

Parma opens a new chapter dedicated to schools focusing on food education.

Academia Barilla hosted the Giocampus dietary nutrition program for children, teachers and parents.

Barilla, together with the City and the University of Parma, created the Giocampus 2010 program.
Following the guide lines strictly dictated by the Ministry of Education and of the University and Research, the Giocampus School program has been defined by a panel of nutritional and scientific experts of the highest skills and values including nutritionists, doctors specialized in sports, child psychologists, educationists, paediatrician and auxologists.

Academia Barilla, thanks to its excellent organisation and its modern premises, hosted Giocampus Lab and was an important player for the success of the project where teachers, parents and children attended lectures and practical lessons on healthy eating and balanced diet regimes.

A healthy way of eating, integrated with a regular and adequate physical activity, is fundamental for a high quality of life. Our health is of a matter of fact improved and preserved primarily through meals: learning from an early age the importance of healthy good eating rules is essential!

The Giocampus 2010 school program is an innovative in-depth curriculum including 60 yearly hours of physical education and 20 yearly hours of alimentary education. 
Last week marked the kick-off for the nutrition program and was divided into two parts, actively involving in the first part schools and teachers, and in the second part parents and children.

“Giocampus Lab: Learn, Cook and Eat”

In the first part of the Giocampus project all the third grade teachers were involved in a learning course divided in 4 encounters at Academia Barilla where 4 different arguments were examined:

• the colour of food
• the importance of water
• the nutritional values
• the alimentary disturbances

In a first moment teachers diligently attended the nutritionists and the psychologist’s lectures in the Auditorium of Academia Barilla.
Afterwards they enjoyed preparing a full menu, in accordance with the lesson, in Academia Barilla’s Training Room, carefully coached by Academia Barilla’s Chefs.

The second part of the project involved parents and children in Academia Barilla from the 16th February to the 26th March, with three weekly meetings. While parents followed the dissertations by the University professors in the Auditorium, the children were involved in fun educational games with the Maestri del Gusto (the Flavour Maestros) from the Faculty of Gastronomical Science of the University of Parma.

At the end of each meeting parents and children prepared together tasty and healthy menus, with the assistance of Academia Barilla’s Chefs.

The Giocampus 2010 experience was very much appreciated both for the educational contents on healthy eating habits articulated by the professors and for the practical training in Academia Barilla’s kitchens where teachers, parents and children brought their learnings to life.

Everybody showed great interest and enthusiasm during the events, because, let’s face it, learning to eat well is fun!