University extension and nutritional food education: simple experimental activities and workshops in the community

Abstract

This article presents university extension initiatives centered on Food and Nutrition Education, implemented through simple experimental activities and workshops conducted across various educational institutions in Santa Fe, Argentina. Adopting an innovative pedagogical approach, the study underscores the university’s potential to contribute meaningfully to food education by offering accessible, interdisciplinary, and socially contextualized didactic strategies.Three specific case studies are examined: Food Detective, Chemistry in Food, and Labels Under the Magnifying Glass. These initiatives were designed to promote healthy eating habits by engaging students in the exploration of scientific concepts relevant to everyday life, including food chemical composition, basic separation techniques, and the critical analysis of nutritional labeling. The activities targeted students at various educational levels and were characterized by their practicality, requiring no specialized laboratory facilities and utilizing common, everyday materials. The article highlights the university’s role in fostering collaborative relationships with social actors and educational institutions, thereby advancing the integration of extension, teaching, and research. Beyond the transmission of knowledge, these experiences facilitated its recontextualization in light of local realities, promoting meaningful learning and critical thinking. The findings demonstrate that university extension, when understood as a pedagogical tool, can effectively foster food awareness, cultivate critical citizenship, and support inclusive and transformative educational practice.