Avaliação qualitativa cardápio escolar em um município do interior do Rio Grande do Norte.

Abstract

School feeding plays a fundamental role in shaping healthy eating habits and improving students’ academic performance, especially in contexts of social vulnerability. The National School Feeding Program (PNAE) is responsible for ensuring nutritionally balanced meals that are adapted to regional food cultures, serving as a relevant strategy in promoting food security in Brazil. In this context, the objective of this study was to assess the quality of school menus in a municipal public school located in a small town in the interior of Rio Grande do Norte. The evaluation was carried out using the School Menu Quality Index (IQ COSAN), developed by the Food and Nutrition Security Coordination in partnership with the National Fund for the Development of Education (FNDE). This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study, with data collected during the month of May 2024. During this period, three daily meals provided by the institution (morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack) were monitored. The analysis of the menus considered criteria such as the inclusion of essential food groups, the presence of regional and socio-biodiversity foods, and the absence of foods prohibited by current legislation. The results showed that all menus evaluated over the five weeks were classified as <Inadequate,= with scores ranging from 31 to 40 points4below the minimum recommended for an adequate diet. The supply of fresh fruits was irregular and did not meet the minimum required frequency, and the presence of socio-biodiversity foods was limited. On the other hand, the inclusion of vegetables, leafy greens, and heme iron-rich foods was more consistent. Therefore, there is a clear need to revise the school menus to better align with PNAE guidelines, aiming to promote greater dietary diversity and improved nutritional quality. This would contribute to better student health and academic performance. It is expected that the findings of this study will support adjustments in the municipal school feeding planning process, thereby strengthening more effective public policies for school nutrition.