The initiative, which forms part of Lidl Portugal's corporate social responsibility programme, challenged pupils to rethink the future of food by designing a complete menu that was both nutritious and sustainable. More than 300 schools and over 20,400 pupils from across the country took part, with one winning class selected from each district of mainland Portugal.

Launched in 2011, the programme aims to encourage healthier and more sustainable eating habits among schoolchildren. Over the past 15 years, it has reached more than 200,000 pupils in over 2,800 schools.

This year's challenge asked children to create an "Unbeatable Menu" consisting of lunch, a snack and dessert, inspired by the principles of the Planetary Health Diet, which promotes both human health and environmental sustainability.

The winning menus demonstrated plenty of creativity while focusing on balanced nutrition. Among the ideas submitted were lentil and carrot burgers served in wholemeal bread with rice and peas, chia pudding with mango, and hummus sandwiches filled with fresh vegetables from the school garden.

Entries were assessed by a panel made up of Lidl representatives, nutrition experts and institutional partners, who judged each menu on its nutritional value, sustainability and creativity.

As part of their prize, the 18 winning classes took part in special educational visits to Lidl's Portuguese supplier partners. Known as the "Unbeatable Visits", the trips gave pupils the chance to see first-hand how locally produced food is grown, processed and prepared before reaching supermarket shelves.

The visits were designed to help children better understand where their food comes from, the importance of supporting local producers, how sustainable supply chains work and why reducing food waste matters.

Vanessa Romeu, Head of Corporate Affairs at Lidl Portugal, said the enthusiasm shown by pupils had been one of the highlights of the project.

"Seeing hundreds of classes from across Portugal actively thinking about what we eat and the impact our choices have on the planet is exactly what 'Turma Imbatível' was created to encourage. These children didn't just learn – they created, proposed ideas and inspired others. The Unbeatable Visits were our way of recognising their efforts and allowing them to discover where many of the products they use every day come from."

Winning schools

The winning schools from each mainland district were:

• Aveiro: EB de Travassô

• Beja: Colégio Nossa Senhora da Conceição

• Braga: Escola Básica de Guardizela

• Bragança: EB1 de Parada

• Castelo Branco: Jardim Escola João de Deus de Castelo Branco

• Coimbra: EB1 da Marmeleira

• Évora: Escola Básica Manuel Augusto Papança

• Faro: Jardim Escola João de Deus de Tavira

• Guarda: Escola Básica de Santiago

• Leiria: EB1 de Escoural

• Lisbon: EB Alto da Peça

• Portalegre: Escola Básica e Secundária de Gavião

• Porto: Jardim Escola João de Deus de Gaia

• Santarém: Centro Escolar Santa Maria

• Setúbal: Academia de Estudos do CSS Pinhal de Frades

• Viana do Castelo: Escola Básica de Vilarelho

• Vila Real: Escola Básica de Favaios

• Viseu: Escola Básica de Santar