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From sustainable systems to digital literacy: ATU explores the future of food on World Home Economics Day 2026
World Home Economics Day 2026 was marked at ATU’s St Angelas campus with an event, drawing a live audience of hundreds of home economics students, educators, and professionals from classrooms across Ireland and abroad.
Focused on the World Home Economics Day 2026 theme ‘Feeding the future – You are What you Eat’, the event showcased the decisive role that home economics education plays in shaping sustainable food systems and equipping young people to navigate an increasingly complex nutritional landscape.
The international webinar included presentations from five academics from the National Centre for Excellence for Home Economics, ATU St Angelas including President of the IFHE, Dr Amanda McCloat.
Introducing the webinar Dr Maguire said Home Economics education has a crucial role in empowering individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills to live well and acknowledged the urgent relevance of the 2026 WHED theme which challenges us all to think deeply about food systems, food choices, and food behaviours that shape not only our personal wellbeing, but also the health of communities and the planet.
President of the IFHE, Dr Amanda McCloat, addressed the issue of Food Security and the importance of developing positive and sustainable food habits across the life course.
Lecturer in Home Economics Connor Dupuit presented his current research on Irish adolescents’ willingness to adopt a sustainable diet indicating
there is currently a lack of knowledge around sustainable diets and a reluctance to reduce meat intake”.
“Why Evidence based Nutrition Matters” was delivered by Home Economist, Polly Ludlow, who presented practical tips and tools to check if nutrition information is factually accurate and evidence based and on how to navigate the digital landscape with confidence.
Academic Caroline Hopper then explored the powerful relationship between nutrition and physical performance highlighting how what we eat fuels not only our bodies, but our capacity to thrive, compete, and participate fully in life including using food to fuel, to recover, and to hydrate.
Finally, Dr Elaine Mooney, Director of the National Centre of Excellence at ATU St. Angelas, presented on the Gut microbiome and its important role in good health. Her presentation revealed how the foods we choose shape our internal ecosystems—reminding us that “you are what you eat” is not just a saying, but a biological reality.
Together, the WHED 2026 webinar presenters identified that Feeding the Future is not just about food—it is about equity, sustainability, science, digital literacy, and the everyday choices that shape our wellbeing.
Photo caption: (L-R) Caroline Hopper, Lecturer in Home Economics, ATU St Angelas; Connor Dupuits, Lecturer in Home Economics, ATU St Angelas; Dr Helen Maguire, Head of Department Home Economics, ATU St Angelas; Dr Amanda Mc Cloat, Head of Campus, ATU St Angelas an President International Federation for Home Economics; Dr Elaine Mooney, Director National Centre of Excellence for Home Economics, ATU St Angelas; Polly Ludlow, Lecturer in Home Economics, ATU St Angelas.
For media enquiries, contact:
Aidan Haughey
Communications Manager
Tel: 086 086 6913
E: aidan.haughey@atu.ie
