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Project Topic
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Mediterranean diet (MEDIET) is considered the world’s most evidence-based low processed eating pattern for promoting health and longevity while saving water/energy and conserving land. Unfortunately, due to the modern societal trends, adherence to MEDIET model is decreasing, while the consumption of takeout and ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPFDs) (having harmful impacts on health and environment) is exponentially growing, in all-ages, with alarming levels in many European-Mediterranean (EUR-MED) regions (e.g., UPFDs contribution to nutrient intakes ≈ 61% in Spain and 79% in Germany). Therefore, there is an urgent need for actions to tackle this rapid negative shift of dietary patterns from MEDIET towards UPFDs, and to scrutinise the resulting harmful impact on both population and ecosystem. The overall objective of “MEDIET4ALL” is to support the transition from UPFs culture to modern and sustainable MEDIET through the creation of transnational movement aiming at implementing best practices and innovative solutions to enhance the convenience, modernity, competitivity, and shelf life of MEDIET and the adherence to its lifestyle at all-age levels in modern societies. To achieve this overall objective, different multidisciplinary tailored approaches are proposed. Specifically, multicenter databases of MEDIET’s ingredients/food and their providers will be created to promote the accessibility to MEDIET. Additionally, a variety of highly nutritional and antioxidant-rich “Quick & Easy” MED-recipes that respond to modern trends while following the accredited MED dietary patterns and considering sustainability aspects will be developed. To promote the availability of MEDIET, these modern recipes will be communicated to hotels, canteens, restaurants and food production companies to provide on-site, takeout, delivered, packaged and/or ready-to-eat MEDIET meals. To preserve the eco-friendly (e.g., reducing food waste) and food safety characteristics and extend the shelf life of the MEDIET products, active bio-packaging will also be designed. Interestingly, databases of MEDIET’s products (e.g., ingredients, food, modern recipes, and active/bio packaging) and their providers will be uploaded to a strategic “MEDIET4ALL” platform and m-app to support farm to fork strategy, help construct multicenter MEDIET supply chains and obtain cheap ingredients, thereby improving the competitivity and sustainability of MEDIET. The integrative “MEDIET4ALL” platform and m-apps (a smart MEDIET and lifestyle coach) will also include a variety of MEDIET programs, physical exercise, and psychosocial recommendations as well as combined MED-lifestyle intervention tailored to each user profile (considering users’ health status, age, preferences, cultural and socioeconomic groups). Traditional and technology-based awareness and motivational campaigns with extensive marketing and advertising actions to promote MEDIET4ALL movement are also programmed and will also be included in the Platform and m-app. The acceptability and efficacy of these multidimensional approaches in promoting the (i) initial adherence to MED-lifestyle and (ii) the physical and mental health (e.g., BMI and mental wellbeing of smart-coach users) will be tested, at all age groups, during the collaborative research activities. Working under the concept of a multidisciplinary approach consortium, multiple impacts of MEDIET4ALL are expected including the promotion of (i) modern MEDIET guidelines and products, tailored to all-age, in attractive, accessible, affordable and durable formats, while preserving their low processing, high nutrition value, and eco-friendly characteristics (ii) MEDIET acceptability and the transition towards a healthy and sustainable MEDIET through extensive marketing and awareness campaigns, (iii) and Med people health (e.g., reducing obesity rate and other diet‐related non‐communicable diseases) by increasing their adherence to MEDIET and active lifestyle.
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