“O que vamos comer hoje, professora?”: Um estudo sobre a inserção de alimentos amazônicos no Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE) no contexto da Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional

Abstract

This study addresses the importance of incorporating products from the Amazon into the Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE) as a strategy to promote Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) in schools. The study recognizes that including Amazonian products in school meals can bring significant benefits, both for the health of students and for the local economy and the preservation of the region’s biodiversity. Diversifying school meals by including foods from the Amazon region not only expands students’ dietary options but also contributes to the appreciation of local culture, encouraging the production and consumption of traditional products. In 2022, field research was conducted in the municipalities of Belém, part of the metropolitan area, and Cametá, located in the Lower Tocantins region, focusing on selected schools at both municipal and state levels of public education. Although situated in different geographic regions, the schools were carefully chosen to reflect comparable social realities. The research employed a range of methods, including participant observation, questionnaire application, photographic records, and literature reviews. The results were addressed and presented through two distinct articles: 1 – The first article focused on identifying the school meals provided in schools across different cultural contexts, as well as contextualizing the dynamics of the Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE) in the state of Pará. To achieve its objectives, the research employed field techniques, including participant observation, questionnaire application, and a literature review to contextualize the dynamics of the PNAE in Pará; 2 – The second article focused on analyzing the impact of school meals on promoting Food and Nutritional Security among students, specifically in the 8th grade of elementary school. The findings revealed that students face considerable obstacles in accessing a diet that aligns with principles of adequacy and nutrition. The combination of these approaches provided a comprehensive investigation of the changes in school meals, generating valuable insights into the evolution of policies and practices over time, their consequences, and potential future directions. The anticipated results of this study have the potential to influence decision-making and policy development to improve the school feeding system, ensuring adequate and healthy nutrition for students in these locations.