Positive influence of school meals on food consumption in Brazil

Author(s)

Locatelli, Nathalia Tarossi ^[1] ; Canella, Daniela Silva ^[2] ; Bandoni, Daniel Henrique ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Saude & Soc, Santos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estado Rio de Janeiro, Inst Nutr, Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NUTRITION; v. 53, p. 140-144, SEP 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the contribution of school meals to healthy food consumption among public school students in Brazil. Methods: The data from the National Adolescent School-Based Health Survey (PeNSE), containing 86,660 ninth-grade students, were used. The students were asked about their consumption of school meals and of food in general over the preceeding seven days and on the day before the interview. A multinomial regression was performed to assess the relationship between the students' food consumption over the previous seven days and regular consumption of school meals (>= 3days/week), which were adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Poisson regression models were used for the relationship between food consumed on the day before the interview and regular consumption of school meals. Results: Nearly one in five students (22.8%) stated that they consume school meals regularly. The adjusted analyses revealed that the consumption of school meals was associated positively with moderate (3-4 days/week) and regular (>= 5 days/week) consumption of beans, raw or cooked vegetables, cooked vegetables, and fruits, and with moderate consumption of raw vegetables. In addition, school meal consumption was associated negatively with moderate or regular consumption of fried salty snacks and processed meat, and with regular consumption of packaged salty snacks, crackers, sweet biscuits, and sweets. Based on food consumption on the day preceding the interview, the consumption of school meals significantly affect the consumption of raw and cooked vegetables, and fruits. Conclusion: School meal consumption affects positively the consumption of healthy foods among students. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/14881-4 - The consumption of meals offered in Brazilian public schools: results from the national adolescent School-based Health Survey 2012
• Grantee: Daniel Henrique Bandoni
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants