FROM DIET CULTURE TO FOOD FREEDOM: A RETROSPECTIVE MIXED-METHODS PRACTICE EVALUATION OF INTUITIVE-EATING-INFORMED NON-FORMAL NUTRITION EDUCATION ACTIVITIES IN GREECE

Authors

  • Mema Lampropoulou Eutrofia Nutrition Practice, Patras, Greece
  • Markella Symeopoulou Eutrofia Nutrition Practice, Patras, Greece
  • Ilias Karachalios Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Technology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejfnsm.v7i1.275

Keywords:

intuitive eating, emotional eating, mindful eating, nutrition education, non-formal learning

Abstract

This retrospective mixed-methods practice evaluation examined participant feedback from a portfolio of intuitive-eating-informed, non-formal nutrition activities delivered in Greece between 2023 and 2026. The portfolio included a webinar on workplace stress and overeating, two in-person overeating workshops, in-person and online workshops on emotional eating, a five-session online support group and a mindful dining event. In total, 30 anonymous post-activity feedback records were reviewed. Quantitative feedback was summarised descriptively, while open-ended responses were analysed using a descriptive thematic approach. Overall, feedback was generally positive across formats. Respondents valued non-judgmental facilitation, peer exchange, reflective exercises, mindful and sensory eating activities, and opportunities to question restrictive food rules and food-related guilt. The findings suggest that the activities were acceptable to those who completed feedback and that the most meaningful elements were not limited to the provision of nutrition information. Instead, respondents valued the combination of experiential learning, self-reflection and group-based discussion. The findings should be interpreted cautiously. The dataset was small, feedback was voluntary, forms differed across activities, and no pre-post measures, follow-up data or behavioural outcomes were collected. Therefore, the study does not demonstrate effectiveness. Its contribution is more modest: it documents real-world practice, identifies participant-valued design features and provides a basis for developing a structured intuitive-eating-informed adult-learning programme with a stronger prospective evaluation design.

Author Biographies

  • Mema Lampropoulou, Eutrofia Nutrition Practice, Patras, Greece

    Mema Lampropoulou is a Clinical Dietitian-Nutritionist, MSc, CISSN, and co-founder of Eutrofia Nutrition Practice in Patras, Greece. Her professional work focuses on nutrition counselling, weight management, food relationships, non-diet nutrition education, intuitive-eating-informed practice and the design of experiential nutrition activities for adults, children and organisations. She has extensive experience in developing and delivering workshops, webinars, corporate wellness activities and group-based nutrition education formats. Her applied work emphasises a flexible, non-restrictive and person-centred approach to eating, with particular attention to food guilt, emotional eating, diet culture, mindful eating and everyday self-care.

  • Markella Symeopoulou, Eutrofia Nutrition Practice, Patras, Greece

    Markella Symeopoulou is a Clinical Dietitian-Nutritionist, MSc, CISSN, and co-founder of Eutrofia Nutrition Practice in Patras, Greece. Her professional interests include clinical nutrition, weight management, adult nutrition education, intuitive-eating-informed counselling, emotional eating, body respect and the development of practical tools that help individuals build a more balanced relationship with food. Through Eutrofia, she has contributed to the design and facilitation of experiential workshops, online and in-person group activities, educational resources and corporate nutrition programmes. Her work combines evidence-informed nutrition practice with participatory and reflective learning methods.

  • Ilias Karachalios, Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Technology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece

    Ilias Karachalios is a Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Technology, University of Thessaly, Greece, and a Senior Researcher at the Urban Water Management and Hydroinformatics Group, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. He holds a PhD in Environmental Education from the Hellenic Open University and has a multidisciplinary background in environmental engineering, environmental conservation management, education, sustainability and special education. His research interests include environmental education, education for sustainable development, non-formal learning, adult education, learning design, educational evaluation, sustainability competences, digital tools, gamification and stakeholder engagement.

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Published

2026-08-12

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

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