Food education: it's all in the Marmite!

If Assurancetourix put certain secret ingredients in his pot to make his famous magic potion, the Équiterre organization has made its Educational Pot a place where 400 activities related to food are listed.

Also supported by the Quebec table on healthy eatingan initiative of the Department of Health and Social Services, The educational pot is a virtual platform that brings together a host of educational tools and professional services related to food. It is intended not only for young Quebecers aged 0 to 17, but also for those who work with them, such as teachers, daycare workers, librarians, and those in charge of youth centres or summer camps.

Launched in October 2021, La marmite éducative aims to raise awareness among young people about quality food, but also to inform them about the way food is produced. According to Gaëlle Zwicky, project manager for food education at Équiterre, "the earlier we raise children's awareness of food, the more likely they are to maintain healthy habits."

From the earth to the plate

While La marmite éducative began with a market study in the spring of 2019 to see if such a tool already existed, the rest is history. More than 100 organizations are now listed, providing access to a variety of resources, from workshops to challenges to outing ideas.

Divided into four main sections - early childhood, school, summer camps and youth activities - the La marmite site is bursting with activities, starting with those concerning the school world. Some 260 ideas are offered, particularly to elementary and high school students, from various sources such as the Croquarium, Agro-Passion or Laval University and, of course, Équiterre. Équiterre. Moreover, the organizations present on the site come from all over Quebec.

The person in charge of the project explains that with the arrival of this new tool, Équiterre can now pride itself on explaining to young people and those around them the exciting journey of a food product, from the earth to the plate.

For all tastes

To illustrate her point, Gaëlle Zwicky gives a few examples of activities likely to interest various age groups. A mobile application like Tools for autonomy is intended for teens aged 12 to 17, while the virtual game Kasscrout is for 6 to 11 year olds. From Online interactive gamescreated by Dairy Farmers of Canada, will appeal to 4 to 5 year olds. Finally, an activity like The little Lab or the Molecular cuisine aims to awaken taste and sensory discovery and develop culinary skills.

Each sheet clearly indicates the age group for which it is intended, the objectives and a summary of the activity.

The educational pot is something to watch out for, as Obelix might even fall into it!