During the visit, observations and discussions at childcare centers and an elementary school highlighted the feeding environment and the unique challenges faced by educators in Lisbon, providing valuable insights for refining the program’s approach. The EAT Family Style program’s modules, translated into Portuguese, are currently being implemented by the University of Lisbon.

Ana Isabel Gomes, a professor at the University of Lisbon, underscores the significance of collaboration among UNL Extension specialists and educators from diverse backgrounds in successfully developing and implementing such programs.

“While we know the worth of the program and the health benefits of making nutritional changes early in life, it was impactful to see the program be a catalyst for other parts of the globe working with the same mission in mind!” said Toni Wilson, an EAT Family Style program coach. “It was amazing to see how one program can be adapted for similar outcomes while following a different process that works for the culture and lifestyle of another country.”

Another EAT Family Style coach, Audra Losey, said, “During our discussions with the research team implementing EAT Family Style in Portugal, I realized how much we had in common despite our cultural differences. We were able to discuss, as new colleagues, challenges faced and brainstorm solutions or share what had worked in our own experiences.”

In addition to Applegarth, Losey and Wilson, Extension Educators Marusa Jonas, Thays Silva and Ann Fenton also participated in the trip to Lisbon. Dev joined them virtually from India.

The collaboration story begins with a Master’s students at the college of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Maria Isabel Brazão, who was conducting their thesis dissertation on early childhood responsive feeding years ago and shared the resource with their professors. During their research, she discovered Nebraska Extension’s EAT Family Style program online. Subsequently, the College of Psychology connected with Nebraska Extension and requested to utilize the program.

“The goal is to fully implement the EAT Family Style program and expand the reach within the broader communities,” stated Fernandes Gomes. Currently, the University of Lisbon has piloted the program involving 22 educators. Preliminary analysis has shown a reduction in the frequency of coercive feeding practices.

According to Dev, the University of Lisbon employs the same assessment tool developed by her research team at UNL — Mealtime Observation in Child Care (MOCC), which compares findings with Nebraska to facilitate broader implementation and future partnerships.

The EAT Family Style program comprises 66 interactive short videos filmed in real childcare settings, supplemented with quizzes, goal sheets, workbooks, and handouts. Coaching is available to support the intervention’s implementation.

Dev is exploring opportunities to extend the program to universities in India and beyond, aiming to benefit more communities with improved nutrition practices.

“The EAT Family Style online program is very comprehensive and adaptable to various environments and cultures, making mealtime easier, more enjoyable, and healthier for both children and caregivers, said Dev. “Every child worldwide deserves a nutritious and joyful mealtime experience.”

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