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Mediterranean Diet as a sustainable dietary pattern: Mediterranean Diet and Food Waste

Dear students,

your work will be based on this webquest so as to discover how the Mediterranean diet’s zero waste practices can inspire your own creative solutions. You will  learn to transform leftovers into tasty dishes, create art from legumes and share your work with peers.

 

Historical Context of Food Reuse

Food waste is a significant global issue, with substantial environmental, economic and social impacts. In many traditional diets, including the Mediterranean diet, there are practices and values that naturally minimize food waste. 

Zero food waste focuses on using every part of food to minimize waste and conserve resources. Food leftovers can be creatively repurposed into new dishes, reducing food waste and maximizing the value of ingredients. The Mediterranean diet, characterized by its emphasis on fresh, seasonal produce, whole grains and lean proteins, inherently supports sustainable and waste-reducing practices.

Review the following presentation on ''Zero Waste practices in the Mediterranean Cuisine'' to find out how the Mediterranean approach aligns with zero waste principles, particularly through the reuse of food scraps.

https://view.genially.com/66a7f27b310c3c11d6c1ae48/presentation-zero-waste-practices-in-mediterranean-cuisine

Create a Recipe with Leftovers

Now it is your turn to create a Mediterranean inspired recipe that incorporates common leftovers. This could be a dish that includes vegetables, grains, or proteins that might otherwise go to waste. 

Add your recipe to the e-CookBook including the following details:

1. List the leftovers and other ingredients you'll use.

2. Provide instructions on how you prepare your dish. 

3. Include any tips for maximizing flavor or texture when working with leftovers.

4. Take a photo of your final dish.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1R5J-obNrr4AY-jONZWjhCMdSWQaYGR1qAtOewObKDLU/edit?usp=sharing

Create Art with Legumes

1. Collect a variety of dried legumes (such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc.), glue, and any other art supplies you might need. 

2. Using the legumes, create a piece of art. This could be a mosaic, a sculpture or any other creative design. Think about how you can use the colors and shapes of different legumes to enhance your artwork.

 

Exhibit your artwork

1. Take a photograph of your artwork and write a short description (100-150 words) explaining your design and the inspiration behind it in the following padlet:

https://padlet.com/meddiet4health/exhibition-legume-creations-art-beyond-the-plate-5enww2hec8pq03o1

2. Comment under the artworks of two peers.

 

3. Exhibit your artwork to the school community durring the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) to raise awareness about Food Waste Reduction.

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