Alimentação escolar: avaliação do programa nas escolas municipais de ensino fundamental de um município litorâneo do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

School feeding is the subject of this study, whose objectives are to evaluate the School Feeding Program offered to students of municipal elementary schools in the municipality of Lemon Balm in the 2013-2016 period and listing the main actions of the food service, highlighting the progress and difficulties in implementing and ensuring that the school menu is in accordance with the rules of the National school Feeding Programme. The research is a case study with a qualitative approach, developed through bibliographical and documentary research. Data were obtained through a questionnaire applied to elementary school students of different ages and analysis of documents on the subject. It was found satisfactory acceptance of the offered meals. With supplementary resources, the council extended the service of school meals for three meals, with breakfast offer, and lunch included for the afternoon shift, which comes in advance to school for lunch. Food is served buffet in the heat system, allowing control of optimum temperature, preventing the proliferation of bacteria while students are served, and keep food warm. On average, three thousand lunches are served daily in the nine schools of the Municipal System of Education. Decentralization of the School Feeding Program is allowing greater flexibility in the process, rationalization of logistics and cost reduction, in addition to encouraging the development of family agriculture and the promotion of local and regional trade.