GIANT LEAPS Interactive Food Challenge for Secondary School Students

As part of its educational activities, GIANT LEAPS has developed an interactive e-learning experience designed specifically for secondary school students. The GIANT LEAPS Food Challenge introduces young learners to the science and innovation behind alternative proteins, sustainable diets, and healthy food choices in an engaging and accessible format.

The programme invites students to explore how tomorrow's food can be tasty, sustainable, and nutritious. Through a game-based approach, participants discover how everyday food choices connect to broader environmental and health impacts, while building knowledge about alternative proteins and future-proof diets.

The GIANT LEAPS Food Challenge is structured as an interactive game in which students select a character and work through a series of challenges to earn a digital badge. As they guide their chosen character through different scenarios, students learn about topics such as protein sources, nutritional value, sustainability considerations, and innovation in food production.

Students can choose between three roles, depending on their interests:

• The aspiring chef: This character explores creative cooking solutions using sustainable protein ingredients, learning how to combine taste, nutrition, and environmental impact in everyday meals.
• The athlete: Through this role, students examine how protein quality and diet choices influence health and performance, while considering the sustainability aspects of different protein sources.
• The innovator: This pathway focuses on new technologies and scientific advances shaping the future of food, encouraging students to think about how innovation can support more sustainable food systems.

For each role, the learning journey follows a clear structure. It begins with an introduction to a central challenge or problem. Students are then presented with a series of 4–5 decision-based scenarios. Each decision both provides new knowledge and encourages reflection on how to improve current food practices. Throughout the process, gamification elements such as digital badges and achievements help maintain motivation and engagement.

By combining science-based content with interactive storytelling, the GIANT LEAPS Food Challenge aims to inspire the next generation to think critically about food, sustainability, and the role they can play in shaping a healthier and more resilient food system.