Nutritional quality of meals offered to students in integral teaching

Abstract

Introduction: School feeding should stimulate healthy eating habits and must be tasty and adequate for each age group, aiming at growth, development, learning and ensuring food and nutritional security of this population. Objective: This study aimed to determine the nutritional quality of meals offered to students of municipal schools, which are in the mode of integral education and compare with current legislation. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study, where the meals offered during a week was evaluated to the students. Foods were quantified in relation to energy, macronutrients and sodium. Daily glycemic index and daily glycemic load were quantified by equation. The sodium content was also analyzed by the volumetric chlorides method. The results were compared with the nutritional recommendations for children according to the recommended dietary intake. Results: The evaluated one week menu presented a mean of 822.9 ± 218.6 kcal, 15.9 ± 2.1 g protein, 14.7 ± 17.1 g lipids, 156.8 ± 19.7 g carbohydrates, 16.2 ± 1.9 g fiber, 77% daily glycemic index and 108% daily glycemic load. The theoretical sodium content was 2208.9 ± 248.5 mg and the analyzed was 1869.0 ± 186.0 mg, being 24.6 to 55.7% higher than the daily dietary recommendations. Conclusion: The menu offered to schoolchildren was inadequate in energy, protein, type and quantity of carbohydrates and sodium and requires dietary revision in order to provide a healthy diet for children.