The MUN-SI program, launched in 2008, is coordinated by CEIDSS and brings together the actions of municipalities with the initiative of Academia and researchers.

Its main objective is to slow the progression of the prevalence of child malnutrition (undernutrition, overweight, and obesity) in Portugal by engaging the community through activities that encourage healthy living. The program aims to involve municipalities in the fight against child malnutrition, integrating the principles of the National Health Plan, and seeks to play a decisive role in supporting political decision-making for the promotion and incorporation of health into community development activities. MUN-SI strives to offer an intervention-oriented and interactive response, based on continuous and sustainable actions over periods of 1–4 years.

MUN-SI is particularly targeted at children and their families within their community settings and is developed through a multidisciplinary approach, structured around six core pillars distributed across two basic levels of intervention: primary and secondary.

MUN-SI has already been recognized and awarded as one of the best health intervention programs at the school and local level, namely through the attribution of an Honorable Mention in the category of mobilization initiatives at the Food and Nutrition Awards (2015) and the 3rd prize in the “Municipalities” category of the Future Hospitals Awards (2012). In addition, it has benefited from sharing within prestigious European Networks such as the EPODE International Network (EIN), the European Public Health Nutrition Alliance (EPHNA), and the Youth Health Community, and it has had several opportunities to disseminate its activities and the importance of preventing childhood obesity through various communication channels, such as social media, television, and newspapers.

Composed of activities, practical sheets, tips, appealing images and all the information you should know about child nutrition, this book is a unique tool for the various audiences it is intended for: parents, teachers and students. With the Child Nutrition Manual the task of educators and students will be much easier and even more fun when it comes to talking about child nutrition.

An increasingly important theme in the growth of your children and students and during your learning process. 

A practical and fun book, essential for parents, teachers and students.

Get your Child Nutrition Manual here

• Alves C., Martins M.F., Gaspar M., Rito A. Perceived Factors by Parents Regarding Breakfast of Primary School Children – MUN-SI Program Oeiras 2023/2024. XXIV Congress of Nutrition and Food, Braga (2025).
• Martins M., Nunes M., Madureira E., Martins M.F., Figueira I., Rito A. Snacks and Physical Activity Practices of Primary School Children: Pre-intervention of the MUN-SI Program Oeiras 2020/2021, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. XXIII Congress of Nutrition and Food, Lisbon (2024).
• Baleia J., Pirata C., Mendes S., Figueira I., Martins F., Rito A.I. (2021). Changes in Food Consumption and Other Eating-Related Behaviors in Children During COVID-19 Lockdown in Portugal: MUN-SI Program Cascais 2019/2020. Epidemiological Bulletin Observações, 10(Suppl 13): 4–9.
• Figueira I., Martins M.F., Baleia J., Mendes S., Rito A. Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Snacking Habits of School-Aged Children: MUN-SI Program Oeiras 2020/2021. XX Congress of Food and Nutrition / II International Congress of Food and Nutrition, 2021 (online).
• Campff V., Baleia J., Mendes S., Rito A. Adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Child Nutritional Status – MUN-SI Cascais. XX Congress of Food and Nutrition / II International Congress of Food and Nutrition, 2021 (online).
• Rito A., Lopes D., Baleia J., Mendes S. (2020). Impact of a Decade of a School-Based Community Program on Childhood Obesity in Portugal: MUN-SI 2008–2018. Acta Portuguesa de Nutrição, 50–56. doi:10.21011/apn.2020.2111.
• Rito A., Baleia J., Pirata C., Santos D., Chiote I. (2020). Parental Overweight and Obesity and the Perception of Childhood Weight Gain During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Portugal: MUN-SI Program Cascais 2019/2020. 0874-2928, 2182-8873.

• Pinho Santos M., Crespo M., Afonso C., Rito A. MUN-SI Program. International Conference on Childhood Obesity, Lisbon (2017).
• Rito A., Garcia R., Alves E., Ferreira M. Evaluation of Local-Level Health Promotion Projects – The Portuguese Network of Healthy Cities. Congress of Nutrition and Food of APN, Lisbon (2015).
• Rito A., Melo da Bernarda L., Valente A. Does Family Income Interfere with Children’s Diet and Nutritional Status? MUN-SI Programme, Portugal. World Congress of Public Health Nutrition, Las Palmas–Gran Canaria, Spain (2014).
• Rito A., Alves E. Evaluation of Knowledge on Nutrition, Food and Nutrition Education Practices among Primary School Teachers in the Municipality of Oeiras. XIII APN Congress, Porto (2014).
• Rito A., Alves E. MUN-SI PORTUGAL: Childhood Health at Municipality Level. European Obesity Forum, Bucharest, Romania (2013).
• Bernarda L., Carvalho M.A., Rito A. Food Consumption, Family Income and Childhood Obesity in the Municipalities of Oeiras, Seixal and Viana do Castelo – MUN-SI Project. I Symposium on Food and Nutrition from 0 to 18 Years, Lisbon (2013).
• Doroana E., Silva A., Carvalho M., Rito A. (2012). Socioeconomic Characteristics and Childhood Obesity – The MUN-SI Project 2008–2011. Revista Portuguesa de Cirurgia – 16th Portuguese Congress on Obesity.
• Cunha C., Silva A., Rito A. (2012). Relationship Between Sleep Habits and Childhood Obesity – MUN-SI Project. Revista Portuguesa de Cirurgia – 16th Portuguese Congress on Obesity.
• Doroana E., Silva A.L., Carvalho M.A., Rito A. Socioeconomic Characteristics and Childhood Obesity in the Framework of the MUN-SI Project 2008–2011. 16th Portuguese Congress on Obesity. SPEO, Porto (2012).
• Cunha C., Silva A.L., Rito A. Relationship Between Sleep Habits and Childhood Obesity – MUN-SI Project. 16th Portuguese Congress on Obesity. SPEO, Porto (2012).
• Silva A.L., Ramos C., Carvalho M.A., Breda J., Rito A. Relationship Between Socioeconomic, Demographic and Environmental Dimensions and Childhood Obesity in Portugal in a Community Project – MUN-SI. X Congress of Nutrition and Food & II Ibero-American Congress of Nutrition, Lisbon (2011).
• Silva A.L., Ramos C., Carvalho M.A., Breda J., Rito A. Relationship Between Socioeconomic, Demographic and Environmental Dimensions and Childhood Obesity in Portugal in a Community Project – MUN-SI. X Congress of Nutrition and Food | II Ibero-American Congress of Nutrition, Lisbon (2011).
• Ramos C., Silva A.L., Carvalho M.A., Rito A. (2011). Relationship Between Family Socioeconomic and Educational Level and Childhood Overweight from a Portuguese Municipality-Based Study. Obesity Reviews, 12(S1): 99.
• Silva A.L., Coelho F., Ramos C., Carvalho M.A., Breda J., Rito A. (2011). Maternal and Child Variables and Childhood Obesity in the Municipalities of Fundão, Montijo, Oeiras, Seixal and Viana do Castelo. Nutricias, 11: 26–28.
• Silva A.L., Ramos C., Carvalho M.A., Rito A. (2011). Demographic Variables and Childhood Obesity in a Community-Based Program in Portugal. Obesity Reviews, 12(S1): 102.
• Silva A.P. (2011). Assessment of Children’s Nutritional Status in the Municipality of Seixal – MUN-SI Project. Repository of Universidade Atlântica.
• Silva A.L., Lopes S., Breda J., Rito A. (2010). Parental Socioeconomic and Educational Level and Child Overweight – Lessons from a Municipality-Based Study. Obesity Reviews, 11(S1): 415.
• Rito A., Silva A.L. Prevalence of Overweight and Childhood Obesity in Portugal. Municipality-Based MUN-SI Program. II National Congress of the NAOS Strategy at the Local Level, Salamanca (2010).
• Rito A., Silva A.L., Breda J. Prevalence of Overweight and Childhood Obesity in Portugal. Municipality-Based MUN-SI Program. “V THAO Meeting”, Santiago de Compostela (2010).
• Silva A., Lopes S., Breda J., Rito A. Assessment of Socioeconomic Level and Childhood Overweight in the Framework of MUN-SI – A Municipality-Based Program. 9th APN Congress of Nutrition and Food, Porto (2010).
• Silva A.L., Lopes S., Breda J., Rito A. Childhood Overweight and Socioeconomic Level of Primary School Children from Five Portuguese Municipalities – MUN-SI Project. III Forum of Obesity Prevention Projects, Lisbon (2010).
• Rito A., Santos S., Silva A.L., Breda J. MUN-SI: Integrated Municipality-Based Program for Surveillance and Management of Overweight and Obesity in Primary School Children. 3rd Congress on Food and Municipalities, Maia (2009).