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Rita Nunes Novo is a research fellow at the Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), an R&D Unit from the Polytechnic of Leiria (FCT/UI/05704/2020). She holds an MSc in Paediatric Nutrition from the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, and a BSc in Dietetics and Nutrition from the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria. Her research interests include pediatric nutrition, nutrition education, and pediatric feeding and eating disorders, with a particular focus on avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and pediatric feeding disorders (PFD). She contributes to the Veggies4myHeart Project, which promotes vegetable knowledge and consumption in preschool children through educational tools and school-based interventions. As part of this project, she has co-authored several national and international conference communications and supervised multiple undergraduate internships. Rita has participated in international research events, such as the RUN-EU Student Research Colloquium (Technological University of the Shannon, Moylish Campus, Ireland), and has served as an invited lecturer at the Polytechnic of Leiria in the field of Dietetics and Nutrition. She also supervises undergraduate internships in nutrition, contributing to the academic development of future professionals. Her outreach work includes invited talks in schools and community health initiatives, promoting health literacy among children and adolescents. She was awarded Best Scientific Poster at the 3rd Hospital da Luz Pediatrics Congress and 2nd place in Best Oral and Poster Communications at national congresses.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Rita Nunes Novo
Date of birth
1998/07/18
Gender
Female

Citation names

  • Novo, Rita
  • Novo, R.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
4F13-84DF-267D
ORCID iD
0000-0001-8105-5924

Email addresses

  • rita.n.novo@ipleiria.pt (Professional)

Addresses

  • Campus 5, Rua das Olhalvas, 2414-016, Leiria, Leiria, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Health Sciences - Nutrition, Dietetics

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2)
Education
Degree Classification
2022/09/16 - 2024/11/07
Concluded
 Master in Paediatric Nutrition (Mestrado)
Major in Pediatric Nutrition
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação, Portugal
"Prevalência e Caraterização de Crianças com ARFID entre os 2 e os 10 anos numa clínica privada do concelho de Leiria/Prevalence and Characterization of Children with ARFID between 2 and 10 years old in a private clinic in the municipality of Leiria" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 16
2022/06/09 - 2022/06/09
Concluded
 Nutrition and Physiology of Weight Loss: An Evidence-Based Approach (Outros)
Nutrition Academy, Portugal
2017/09 - 2021/06/23
Concluded
 Dietetics and Nutrition (Licenciatura)
Major in Health
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria Escola Superior de Saúde, Portugal
"Efects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Body Weight and Dietary Habits in Adults: A Narrative Review" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 15
2021/04/26 - 2021/04/29
Concluded
 Writing in the Sciences (Outros)
Coursera Inc, United States
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2023/02/13 - Current Researcher (Research) Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology, Portugal
Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology, Portugal

Teaching in Higher Education

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2025/02/17 - 2025/04/04 Invited Assistant (Polytechnic Teacher) Instituto Politécnico de Leiria Escola Superior de Saúde, Portugal
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria Escola Superior de Saúde, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2021/09/06 - 2022/03/04 Professional Internship for Access to the Order of Nutritionists Câmara Municipal de Leiria, Portugal
PICIE - Câmara Municipal de Leiria, Portugal
2021/03/01 - 2021/05/28 Curricular Internship Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology, Portugal
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal
2020/11/03 - 2020/12/16 Curricular Internship Câmara Municipal de Leiria, Portugal
2020/09/21 - 2020/10/30 Curricular Internship Vertente Direta, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2023/02/13 - Current Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology
UIDB/05704/2020
Research Fellow
Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. Novo, R.; Vieito, Leonel; Lages, Marlene; Dias, Sara; Guarino, MP; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. Corresponding author: Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Influence Of Vegetable Knowledge In Preschooler's Vegetable Consumption: Veggies4myHeart Project". Paper presented in 17th European Public Health Conference, 2024, Lisbon, 2024.
    Published
  2. Novo, Rita; Joana Edra; Vieito, Leonel; Simões Dias, Sara; Lages, Marlene; Guarino, MP; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Veggies4myHeart – educational project to promote vegetable knowledge and consumption in preschoolers". Paper presented in 17th European Public Health Conference, 2024, Lisbon, 2024.
    Published
  3. Novo, R.; Dias, Sara; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. Corresponding author: Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Prevalence of ARFID in Children Aged 2 to 10 Years: Cross-Sectional Observational Study". Paper presented in Conference of the 5th anniversary of ciTechCare | 1st decade of the Research Center of the Local Health Unit of the Leiria Region, Leiria, 2024.
  4. Novo, R.; Vieito, Leonel; Lages, M.; Dias, Sara; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. Corresponding author: Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Veggies4myHeart - Food education project to promote vegetable consumption in preschoolers". Paper presented in Conference of the 5th anniversary of ciTechCare | 1st decade of the Research Center of the Local Health Unit of the Leiria Region, Leiria, 2024.
  5. Novo, R.; Dias, Sara; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. Corresponding author: Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Preliminary Results of a Study of The Prevalence of ARFID in Children from 2 to 10 Years of Age". Paper presented in XXXVI Annual Meeting Of The Portuguese Society Of Gastrenterology, Hepatology And Pediatric Nutrition (SPGP), Porto, 2024.
  6. Novo, Rita; Joana Edra; Vieito, Leonel; Simões Dias, Sara; Lages, Marlene; Guarino, MP; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Assessment of the effectiveness of pedagogical tools on vegetable consumption among preschool children: results from the Veggies4myheart project". Paper presented in XXIII Congresso de Nutrição e Alimentação, Lisboa, 2024.
    Published
  7. Novo, Rita; Simões Dias, Sara; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Relação entre as práticas alimentares parentais e caraterísticas sociodemográficas e antropométricas". Paper presented in 5º Congresso Brasileiro de Nutrição Materno-Infantil, 2024.
    Published
  8. Novo, R.; Dias, Sara; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Prevalência e caraterização de crianças entre 2 e 10 anos com ARFID numa clínica privada do concelho de Leiria". Paper presented in Conferência Longevidade Saudável - A Urgência Na Inovação, Leiria, 2023.
    Published
  9. Borges, Mariana; Novo, R.; Rosa, Tiago; Vieito, Leonel; Dias, Sara S.; Lages, M.; Guarino, MP; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Impacto do Projeto Veggies4myHeart no Consumo de Hortícolas em Idade Pré-Escolar - Ano Letivo 2022/23 [Impact of the Veggies4myHeart Project on Vegetable Consumption in Preschool Age - School Year 2022/23]". Paper presented in 2º Congresso da Rede de Instituições de Ensino Superior para a Salvaguarda da Dieta Mediterrânica/2ª Conferência Internacional Dieta e Gastronomia Mediterrânicas, Évora, 2023.
Conference poster
  1. Novo, Rita; Vieito, Leonel; Simões Dias, Sara; Guarino, MP; Lages, Marlene; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Fatores sociodemográficos e o comportamento alimentar das crianças: um estudo transversal". Paper presented in Congresso de Pediatria do Hospital da Luz, 3ª edição, 2025.
  2. Novo, R.; Dias, Sara; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. Corresponding author: Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Influence of Anthropometric and Sociodemographic Factors on Eating Behaviors in Young Children". Paper presented in 3rd European Congress on Maternal and Child Nutrition (CEUNMI), 2024.
  3. Novo, R.; Braga-Pontes, Cátia; Dias, Sara; Marlene Lages. "Impact of the Veggies4myHeart Project on Preschoolers' Willingness to Try Vegetables". Paper presented in Science Cluster Conference: Prevention of Childhood Obesity, 2023.
  4. Borges, Mariana; Novo, Rita; Rosa, Tiago; Vieito, Leonel; Dias, Sara S.; Lages, M.; Guarino, MP; Braga-Pontes, Cátia. "Impacto do projeto Veggies4myHeart no conhecimento e consumo de hortícolas em idade pré-escolar [Impact of the Veggies4myHeart project on knowledge and consumption of vegetables in preschool age]". Paper presented in XLI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Española de Epidemiología e XVIII Congresso da Associação Portuguesa de Epidemiologia, 2023.
  5. Novo, Rita. "Oral Health and Food - The game as a teaching tool". Paper presented in XX Congress of the Portuguese Association of Oral Hygienists, 2021.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2025/04/16 Workshop - Ciências da Nutrição 10ª Semana Cultural do Agrupamento de Escolas Templários
Escola Secundária Jácome Ratton (Tomar, Portugal)
2024/03/09 Nutrition in Scouting
Portuguese Catholic Scouting Organization (CNE) – Local Scout Group 194 Batalha (Leiria, Portugal)
2024/02/15 Eating and Body Image - Eating Disorders 9ª Semana Cultural do Agrupamento de Escolas Templários
Escola Secundária Jácome Ratton (Tomar, Portugal)
2024/01/10 Exploring the secrets of healthy eating 3rd Health Week
Escola Secundária Francisco Rodrigues Lobo (Leiria, Portugal)
2023/11/29 Healthy and tasty school snacks
Escola Básica Nery Capucho (Marinha Grande, Portugal)
2023/11/25 Veggies4MyHeart Project Healthy Longevity Conference 2023
Agilidades - Games4Therapy (Leiria, Portugal)
2023/10/23 Nutrition in Sports in Adolescence
Escola Secundária Raul Proença (Caldas da Rainha, Portugal)
2023/10/17 Speaker of the presentation entitled "Eating Disorders in Pediatric Age", in the 1st Edition of the ESSLei Dietetics and Nutrition Conferences I ESSLei Dietetics and Nutrition Conference
School of Health Sciences of Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Leiria, Portugal)
2023/10/16 Breakfast and its importance Breakfast and its importance"- World Food Day
Centro Infantil Arco-Íris (Marinha Grande, Portugal)
2022/02/02 Decode to Get it Right – Let’s Pack Healthy Lunchboxes!
PIPSE - Plano Intermunicipal de Promoção do Sucesso Escolar (Leiria, Portugal)

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2025/04/04 - 2025/04/05 Fórum Nacional Clubes Ciência Viva na Escola
Exhibition
 Fórum Nacional Clubes Ciência Viva na Escola
Ciência Viva, Portugal
2022/05/26 - 2022/05/27 Participation in the 21st Congress of Nutrition and Food (Lisbon Congress Centre, May 26–27, 2022).
Congress
 21st Congress of Nutrition and Food
Associação Portuguesa de Nutrição - APN, Portugal
2022/01/25 - 2022/01/29 Rita Novo participated in the 1st International Online Congress for Nutritionists, promoted by the Nutrition Academy.
Congress
 1st International Online Congress for Nutritionists
Nutrition Academy, Portugal
2021/09/23 - 2021/09/24 Participation in the 20th Congress of Food and Nutrition & 2nd International Congress of Food and Nutrition 20th Congress of Food and Nutrition & 2nd International Congress of Food and Nutrition
Associação Portuguesa de Nutrição - APN, Portugal
2021/06/17 - 2021/06/17 ESSLei OPENDAY - Participation in the school's open day, which aims to promote the training offer of the School of Health, aimed at secondary and professional students
Exhibition
 ESSLei OPENDAY
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria Escola Superior de Saúde, Portugal
2021/04/07 - 2021/04/08 Participation in the 30th Nutrition Congress organized by the Student Association of the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences of the University of Porto
Congress
 30th Nutrition Congress
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação, Portugal
2021/03/05 - 2021/03/06 Participation in the 7th Nutrition and Food Meeting of the National Association of Nutrition Students (ANEN)
Meeting
 7th Nutrition and Food Meeting
Associação Nacional De Estudantes De Nutrição - ANEN, Portugal
2019/04/30 - 2019/04/30 Participation in the “Community Nutrition – Nutritional Status Assessment” activity, promoted by the ESSLei – Observatory for the Community (OEC).
Other
 Health Week – Francisco Rodrigues Lobo Secondary School
Escola Secundária de Francisco Rodrigues Lobo, Portugal

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2022/05/27 - Current Ordem dos Nutricionistas/Order of Nutritionists Membro Efetivo da Ordem dos Nutricionistas - CP 5120N
2018/11/04 - Current Associação Portuguesa de Nutrição Membro Associado no. 2313

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2025/02/17 - 2025/04/04 Gastrotecnia Dietética e Nutrição (Licenciatura) Instituto Politécnico de Leiria Escola Superior de Saúde, Portugal
2023/05/19 - 2023/05/19 Guest lecture in the Bioethics Curricular Unit, including a brief presentation of my academic and professional background, followed by a discussion of practical ethical cases with students. Dietética e Nutrição (Licenciatura) Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal
2022/03/09 - 2022/03/09 Guest Speaker at the Seminar - From student to nutritionist: the perspective of former students - within the scope of the Seminar Cycle of the Curricular Unit - Introduction to the Profession - aimed at students of Dietetics and Nutrition at the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria. Dietética e Nutrição (Licenciatura) Instituto Politécnico de Leiria Escola Superior de Saúde, Portugal

Evaluation committee

Activity description
Role 		Institution / Organization Funding entity
2022/04/04 - 2022/04/04 Reunião de Estudantes Graduados de Dietética e Nutrição com a Comissão de Avaliação Externa (CAE), no âmbito da Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior (A3ES) do curso de licenciatura em Dietética e Nutrição, da Escola Superior de Saúde do Politécnico de Leiria.
Other
 Instituto Politécnico de Leiria Escola Superior de Saúde, Portugal

Mentoring / Tutoring

Topic Student name
2024/11/04 - 2024/12/13 Undergraduate Curricular Internship Supervisor Tomás Marques
2024/09/16 - 2024/10/25 Undergraduate Curricular Internship Supervisor Maria Carolina Marques
2024/09/16 - 2024/10/25 Undergraduate Curricular Internship Supervisor Juliana Alvarez
2024/01/15 - 2024/05/17 Undergraduate Curricular Internship Supervisor Joana Edra
2023/11/06 - 2023/12/19 Undergraduate Curricular Internship Supervisor Inês Ruivo
2023/11/06 - 2023/12/19 Undergraduate Curricular Internship Supervisor Filipa Alberto
2023/09/18 - 2023/10/27 Undergraduate Curricular Internship Supervisor Bárbara Nogueira
2023/09/18 - 2023/10/27 Undergraduate Curricular Internship Supervisor Daniela Brites

Scientific expedition

Activity description Institution / Organization
2025/02/18 - 2025/02/19 RUN-EU Student Research Colloquium 2025 Technological University of the Shannon, Ireland
Distinctions

Award

2025 Best Scientific Poster at the 3rd Edition of the Hospital da Luz Pediatrics Congress
Hospital da Luz, Portugal
2024 2nd Place - Best Poster Category at the 3rd European Congress on Maternal and Child Nutrition (CEUNMI)
2023 2nd Place - Best oral communication at the Healthy Longevity Conference 2023
Agilidades - Games4Therapy, Portugal