Introduction
Food is not olny nutrition but also a bridge between cultures, traditions and lifestyles. The Mediterranean Diet is not only recognized for its health benefits, butt also embodies a way of living that values balance, sharing and sustainability. In this WebQuest, you will explore how the principles of the Mediterranean Diet can be creatively combined with national cuisines. Through this process you will discover how food connects people across borders and how culinary traditions can be adapted to promote more sustainable and healthier eating habits.
Task
You will design a three-dish menu consisting of a starter, a main course, and a dessert that blends elements of both the Mediterranean Diet and your national cuisine. As part of the Activity “Nutrition Traditions in Lifecycle and Time” you will work in transnational teams during a cooking workshop to prepare your dishes. Then your team will present the menu, explain how it reflects the principles of the Mediterranean Diet, and take part in a sensory evaluation activity.
Process
Step 1- Research and design the Menu
National teams from Nafpaktos (Greece), Acharnes (Greece), Slovakia and Turkey will create three-dishes menus with traditional food, based on the key principles of the Mediterranean Diet (e.g., fresh vegetables, olive oil, legumes, whole grains, moderate use of fish, limited processed foods). Add your menu and the related recipes to the shared Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FfXsw678chsIudRDVtHxApJOaYu3Uxzp_2t58nvGHqM/edit?usp=sharing
Useful links:
https://oldwayspt.org/explore-heritage-diets/mediterranean-diet
https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-weight/diet-reviews/mediterranean-diet/
Step 2- Cooking workshop
During the implementation of the Activity “Nutrition Traditions in Lifecycle and Time” a cooking workshop will take place.
- You will form transnational teams and cook the dishes of the Menu.
- Take photos and short videos to document your cooking process.
Step 3- Presentation and Sensory Evaluation
Present your dishes to the group, explain how they connect to the Mediterranean Diet and then sit together to enjoy the food you have created. Sharing a meal is part of the tradition; it is a moment to celebrate collaboration, culture and community. Use the sensory evaluation worsheet to assess your dishes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17O8da7nYkeiD_XGh2ThTf6-Tk3PusnEn/view
Step 4- Share your photos and videos
Upload photos and videos of your cooking experience to the shared padlet: https://padlet.com/meddiet4health/sharing-cultures-through-food-167v783sce5nsbv1
Evaluation
Webquest evaluation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOqL7p4q0yz60P0ZtyhxLXWG5YaT8avrySI2SYsfLrNjsb-A/viewform?usp=sf_link
Students evaluation will be based on the following rubric:
| Criteria | 5 - Excellent | 4 - Good | 3 - Satisfactory | 2 - Needs Improvement | 1 - Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menu Design & Research | Menu includes 3 traditional dishes fully aligned with Mediterranean Diet principles; recipes are detailed and culturally accurate. | Menu includes 3 dishes mostly aligned with Mediterranean Diet principles; recipes mostly detailed and culturally accurate. | Menu includes 2-3 dishes somewhat aligned with Mediterranean Diet principles; some recipe details missing or cultural connections unclear. | Menu includes fewer than 3 dishes or weak alignment with Mediterranean Diet principles; important recipe details missing. | Menu does not reflect Mediterranean Diet principles; recipes incomplete or missing. |
| Cooking Workshop Participation & Documentation | Actively participates in cooking; clear, well-composed photos and videos document all key cooking steps. | Participates in cooking; photos and videos document most cooking steps clearly. | Participates somewhat; photos and videos document some cooking steps but lack clarity or completeness. | Limited participation; photos/videos sparse or unclear, missing important cooking steps. | Does not participate or provide documentation of cooking process. |
| Presentation & Explanation | Presentation clearly explains how dishes connect to Mediterranean Diet with strong cultural insight; engages audience effectively. | Presentation explains connection to Mediterranean Diet and culture; mostly clear and engaging. | Presentation somewhat explains connection; some details missing or unclear; moderate engagement. | Presentation is vague or incomplete; limited explanation of diet or cultural connection; low engagement. | Presentation missing or irrelevant; no clear explanation of diet or cultural connection. |
| Sensory Evaluation Use | Uses sensory evaluation thoroughly and thoughtfully to assess all dishes; provides insightful feedback. | Uses sensory evaluation well; provides clear feedback on most dishes. | Uses sensory evaluation moderately; feedback is basic or incomplete. | Uses sensory evaluation minimally; feedback is unclear or lacks relevance. | Does not use sensory evaluation or feedback is missing. |
| Sharing Photos & Videos | Uploads high-quality photos and videos to Padlet promptly; content is organized and enhances project sharing. | Uploads photos and videos to Padlet; content mostly clear and relevant. | Uploads some photos/videos; content is somewhat relevant but lacks clarity or completeness. | Uploads minimal photos/videos; content is unclear or poorly organized. | Does not upload photos or videos to Padlet. |
Conclusion
By completing this WebQuest you will have experienced how the Mediterranean Diet can be adapted to fit different cultural contexts and culinary traditions. You will realize that food is not only about taste and health, but also about cultural exchange, creativity and sustainability. .
Credits
Teacher Page
This WebQuest was edited by teachers from Gymnázium Cyrila Daxnera vo Vranove nad Topľou, Slovakia, 2o Esperino EPAL Acharnon, Greece, 1st EPAL Nafpaktou, Greece and USGGED, Turkey, as part of the activities of the "Mediterranean Diet for Overall Health" (MedDiet4Health) Erasmus+ project (Project number: 2023-2-EL01-KA210-VET-000183592).
By engaging in these activities, students not only gain theoretical knowledge about the Mediterranean Diet and cultural food traditions but also build practical skills for careers in food technology, health and nutrition. They develop teamwork, communication, planning and creative problem-solving through transnational collaboration and menu design, strengthen culinary technique and organization in the cooking workshop and enhance digital literacy and presentation skills when documenting and sharing their work. The sensory evaluation develops core sensory analysis competencies by applying standardized tasting protocols, using hedonic and descriptive scales, recording and interpreting data, giving evidence-based feedback, linking sensory attributes to ingredients and techniques and reflecting on product quality, consumer acceptance and improvement.
This WebQuest reflects only the author’s views. The European Commission’s support for the production of this WebQuest does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.