School meals and nutritional status of students from public schools in Macaé, RJ ; Alimentação escolar e estado nutricional de estudantes da rede pública de Macaé, RJ

School feeding is a constitutional right ensured to all students enrolled in the public system of basic education in Brazil within the School Feeding Program (PNAE). That is one of the oldest Food and Nutrition programs in Brazil, whose significance and the pioneer spirit of the program are internationally recognized. Evaluating the main difficulties and potentialities on the supply of school food in the city of Macaé, state of Rio de Janeiro. This is a transversal research with a qualitative-quantitative approach that was developed in two elementary schools in Macaé. For the quantitative evaluation of School feeding, we have made use of the method of direct weighing of food in the schools. The nutritional state was evaluated from two indexes: height for age and body mass index for age. An excess in the supply of macronutrients and an insufficient supply of micronutrients, such as calcium and Vitamin A was observed among the evaluated schools. The anthropometric data suggest that overweight and obesity were present in nearly 40% of the 435 children under scrutiny. Nevertheless, as positive outcomes we can see that the PNAE contributes to the dissemination of healthy eating habits and the collaborative work between SEMED, an outsourced company and the nexus between university and City hall that favors studies towards the improvement of the program’s operationalization. The study indicates that school feeding should be balanced and meet the nutritional needs of students in order to promote healthy eating habits and prevent chronic diseases. ; A alimentação escolar é um direito constitucional assegurado a todos os estudantes matriculados na rede pública de educação básica no país, sendo a principal forma de realizar essa garantia através do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE), um dos mais antigos programas de alimentação e nutrição no Brasil, com magnitude e pioneirismo reconhecidos internacionalmente. Objetiva-se avaliar a adequação da alimentação escolar oferecida pelo PNAE, assim como o estado ...