Promotion of healthy eating in private schools

• Autor(a) principal: Ruwer, Cristiane Marisa
• Data de Publicação: 2015
• Outros Autores: Mainbourg, Evelyne Marie Therese
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Vigilância Sanitária em Debate
• Texto Completo: https://visaemdebate.incqs.fiocruz.br/index.php/visaemdebate/article/view/232
• topic: School Feeding; Health Promotion; Knowledge; Food and Nutritional Education; Alimentação Escolar; Promoção da Saúde; Conhecimento; Educação Alimentar e Nutricional

The school environment is favorable for promoting healthy eating habits. The ordinance of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health nº. 1.010/06 has established several guidelines for this purpose. To check the conditions of implementation of this ordinance, we conducted a qualitative study in four private schools of Manaus, licensed by the health surveillance, with descriptions of feeding and pedagogical practices. Our study included observations, interviews, and focus groups. The feeding practices observed were related to the food available for consumption at school. Three of four schools had a higher proportion of unhealthy foods than healthy foods. From interviews and focus groups, we observed that the ordinance was unknown in these schools. However, some activities with the same proposal were performed in the classroom or during meals, and there was good knowledge about the food habits of the pupils. School professionals require training, and a nutritionist must participate in the team for nutrition education activities. The need for parental involvement and financial issues were other challenges cited. Effective promotion of healthy eating must be encouraged and supported by the public sector through educational and regulatory measures.