ABSTRACT
OBJETIVE: To evaluate the planning, production, distribution, and nutritional adequacy of meals served at city schools. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2011 and April 2012 and included a representative sample (n = 42 schools) of extended shift city schools from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Five meals from each school were randomly selected and analyzed by direct weighing. Production indicators and nutritional adequacy were evaluated in contrast to the recommendations of the city food security bureau and the Brazilian National Program of School Meals (PNAE). RESULTS: Seventy-nine percent of the analyzed meals did not meet the recommendations of the city food security bureau. The rate of waste (food left on plates) was acceptable at 4,90%, but the rates of cooked and not served food (7,06%) and counter leftovers (5,30%) were high. Both the city planned meals and the meals served in the schools were nutritionally inadequate in terms of the PNAE, particularly for children aged 11-15 years. There was a relationship between consumption by school staff and the amount of food that was cooked (r = 0.353; P < 0.001) and the rate of cooked and not served food (r = 0.138; P = 0.045). Waste was positively correlated with the rate of counter leftovers (r = 0.145; P = 0.035), and inversely correlated with fiber intake (r = -0.143; P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the importance of monitoring the planning, production, and distribution of school meals and of food and nutrition education in order to improve the quality of food and to reduce waste in schools.
Subject(s)
Food Services/organization & administration , Food Services/standards , Nutritional Requirements , Schools , Adolescent , Brazil , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Nutrition PolicyABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Avaliar o planejamento, processo produtivo, distribuição e adequação nutricional do cardápio da refeição principal ofertada em escolas municipais. MÉTODOS: Este estudo descritivo transversal, realizado de março de 2011 a abril de 2012, utilizou uma amostra representativa (n = 42 escolas) das escolas municipais integradas de Belo Horizonte, estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram coletados randomicamente cinco cardápios da refeição principal de cada escola para análise por meio da pesagem direta. Realizou-se avaliação dos índices de produção e da adequação nutricional ao planejamento da Secretaria Municipal Adjunta de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional e às recomendações do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar. RESULTADOS: A análise revelou 79% de alteração dos cardápios servidos em relação aoscardápios planejados por nutricionistas da Secretaria Municipal Adjunta de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional. Foram observados valores aceitáveis para resto-ingestão (4,90%) e índices elevados de sobras limpa (7,06%) e suja (5,30%). Foram verificadas inadequações nutricionais tanto nos cardápios planejados quanto nos cardápios consumidos nas escolas municipais em termos do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, principalmente para a faixa etária de 11 a 15 anos. Identificou-se relação da porção consumida pelos funcionários da escola com a quantidade produzida de alimentos (r = 0,353; P < 0,001) e a sobra limpa (r = 0,138; P = 0,046). Ademais, houve correlação significativa proporcional de resto-ingestão com sobra suja (r = 0,145; P = 0,035) e inversamente proporcional com consumo de fibras (r = -0,143; P = 0,038). CONCLUSIONES: Evidencia-se a importância do acompanhamento da elaboração, preparo e distribuição da alimentação escolar, assim como da educação alimentar e nutricional, no intuito de melhorar a oferta e consumo alimentar das crianças e reduzir o desperdício no ambiente escolar.
OBJETIVE: To evaluate the planning, production, distribution, and nutritional adequacy of meals served at city schools. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2011 and April 2012 and included a representative sample (n = 42 schools) of extended shift city schools from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Five meals from each school were randomly selected and analyzed by direct weighing. Production indicators and nutritional adequacy were evaluated in contrast to the recommendations of the city food security bureau and the Brazilian National Program of School Meals (PNAE). RESULTS: Seventy-nine percent of the analyzed meals did not meet the recommendations of the city food security bureau. The rate of waste (food left on plates) was acceptable at 4,90%, but the rates of cooked and not served food (7,06%) and counter leftovers (5,30%) were high. Both the city planned meals and the meals served in the schools were nutritionally inadequate in terms of the PNAE, particularly for children aged 11-15 years. There was a relationship between consumption by school staff and the amount of food that was cooked (r = 0.353; P < 0.001) and the rate of cooked and not served food (r = 0.138; P = 0.045). Waste was positively correlated with the rate of counter leftovers (r = 0.145; P = 0.035), and inversely correlated with fiber intake (r = -0.143; P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the importance of monitoring the planning, production, and distribution of school meals and of food and nutrition education in order to improve the quality of food and to reduce waste in schools.
