Multidimensional assessment of menus of public schools in the interior of Brazil

The school food environment plays an essential role in promoting healthy habits among students, and school menus are a strategic tool to ensure the provision of nutritionally balanced and sustainable meals. This study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the menus of public schools in the state of Piauí, Brazil through a multidimensional analysis, considering nutritional and environmental aspects. This exploratory study analyzed 146 monthly menus from 15 state schools, all located in the same city, collected during the 2023 school year. The assessment included the Quality Index of the Food and Nutrition Security Coordination (IQ COSAN) for qualitative assessment, the Menu Planning of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE Plan) for nutritional evaluation, and carbon and water footprint indicators to measure the environmental impact of meals. The menus presented an average score of 67.2 in the IQ COSAN, classifying them as “in need of improvement”. The mean energy content of the meals was 388.1 kcal, with carbohydrates representing 67.8 % of the total energy. Beef was the food with the highest mean carbon footprint (4.2 kgCO₂eq/kg), while rice had the highest mean water footprint (127.5 L/kg). There was a correlation between dietary diversity and the water (r = 0.905, p < 0.001) and carbon (r = 0.902, p < 0.001) footprints, and an inverse correlation between the carbon footprint and the participation of carbohydrates in the meals (r = −0.795, p < 0.001). Menus need to be changed to meet nutritional recommendations and reduce environmental impact. Strategies such as diversifying protein sources and valuing regional foods can contribute to more nutritionally balanced and sustainable menus.