The project "Por una comida sana, tú decides", promoted by researchers of the University of Navarra and the Clínica Universidad de Navarrahas received the award NAOS Strategy (Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention) in the workplace, awarded by the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality.

internship The submission awards ceremony, held in Madrid, was presided over by Minister Ana Mato, who presented this award which recognizes initiatives that promote healthy eating habits and regular physical activity among the employees of work.

The project "Por una comida sana, tú decides", funded by the Mapfre Foundation, was started in 2011 by a team multidisciplinary formed by Alejandro Fernández Montero and Ana Rodríguez, doctors from area of Medicine at work; Susana Santiago, Itziar Zazpe and Roncesvalles Garayoa, professors of Human Nutrition and Dietetics; and Ana Sánchez Tainta and María Marques, dieticians-nutritionists from department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.

Its goal is to promote healthy lifestyle habits among students and employees of the University of Navarra through three strategies: educational actions, personalized health promotion in the medical enquiry and accreditation of catering services and vending machines that offer healthy food options within the academic center.

The award obtained, among the 140 projects presented in the different categories, is for Dr. Fernández Montero (researcher principal) "an excellent impetus to continue with the implementation of new activities at the other sites of the University of Navarra in Spain". In 2013, the initiative also won the first runner-up prize in the VI NAOS Strategy Awards in the workplace, and the Blue award for the Promotion of Health at work (Mutua Navarra).

Successful actions

After two and a half years of life of project, the university population (workers and students) with high adherence to the Mediterranean per diem expenses has increased significantly from 47.4% to 62.4%, according to a assessment elaborated by the team researcher with more than 1,300 participants.

Among the actions implemented were the creation of a web page and a forum for consulting doctors and dieticians-nutritionists; the preparation of a decalogue, to which the cafeterias and canteens of campus adhered; the organization of workshops to teach healthy eating; and the setting up of a tent on the occasion of Sports Day, where two nutritionists offered dietary advice and distributed more than 500 pieces of fruit and 30 kilos of dried fruit and nuts free of charge.

The last actions carried out consisted of signaling the Degree of adherence to the Mediterranean per diem expenses in the menus and dishes of the establishments participating in the campaign, adding and signaling healthy food and beverages to the offer of the vending machines of campus, elaborating a catering with a high adherence to the Mediterranean per diem expenses and celebrating the second edition of the"University of Navarra Healthy Eating Day".

At present, the cafeterias and canteens of campus in Navarra and food companies such as Nordisven, Autobar or ALDI are collaborating in the campaign.