NOVA Medical School presents a new health program for the community, challenging companies to take care of their employees' hearts. Under the motto “A Heartfelt and Healthy Christmas,” these team-building sessions combine science and well-being with the promotion of healthier eating habits.
The activities are aimed at teams of 10 to 25 people and combine learning, practical cooking, and socializing. The challenge is to prepare a “Christmas dinner” without losing the flavor and festivity characteristic of the season, but using less salt, less saturated fat, and less sugar. The goal is to show how, in everyday life, small choices can translate into big gains for cardiovascular health, the leading cause of death in Portugal. Nutrition experts from NOVA Medical School monitor all sessions and ensure the application of good dietary practices.
“Taking care of employees’ health is also taking care of the heart of the company. In addition to practical knowledge of culinary medicine, our program also develops participants’ collaborative skills. If each participant applies what they learn here in their daily lives, our challenge will be accomplished,” says Mariana Nóbrega, Community Service Coordinator at NOVA Medical School.
This initiative reinforces NOVA Medical School's commitment to promoting health literacy and cardiovascular prevention, bringing scientific knowledge closer to people and organizations.
“We believe that public health begins with small choices and in the contexts where we spend most of our lives, such as our workplaces. By involving companies in this movement, we are creating more informed, healthy, and productive communities,” adds Mariana Nóbrega.
The sessions take place between the Kitchen Lab and the university's Espaços Nobres in Lisbon and last approximately three hours. They include a hands-on culinary medicine session, guided by nutrition and health professionals, and end with a get-together around the dishes prepared by the teams themselves. In addition to the culinary medicine workshop, it is possible to integrate dynamics focused on leadership, communication, and team cohesion, as well as offering nutrition consultations or health vouchers for employees.
According to data from the Directorate-General for Health, cardiovascular diseases are responsible for around 33% of deaths in Portugal. Aware that prevention begins with daily choices, NOVA Medical School translates science into practical health habits, promoting balanced eating routines and healthy lifestyles within the community.
For more information on NOVA Medical School's team building initiatives, see the LINK.