Analysis of the implementation of Food and Nutrition Education actions in public schools in a capital city in southern Brazil

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the insertion of Food and Nutrition Education actions in Early Childhood and Elementary Education units of the municipal public school system of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 2019. Methods This analytical study applied an online questionnaire directed to the 125 Early Childhood and Elementary Education schools in Florianópolis. Results Ninety-four schools (75.2%) participated in the study, among which 94.7% developed Nutritional Food Education actions in 2019. It was made evident that the insertion of Nutritional Food Education in the Pedagogical Political Project (p<0.001) and the planning of such actions (p<0.001) in schools has a significant association with their implementation. The participation of the professionals in training in food and nutrition showed no association with the implementation of the Nutritional Food Education actions. The actions developed most frequently were the pedagogical activities in the school curriculum (95.5%), the school garden (71.9%), and the hands-on cooking classes (46.1%). Conclusion The study identified a positive panorama in the capital of Santa Catarina, with actions included transversally in the school curriculum with a multiprofessional focus standing out. However, the need for studies that monitor and evaluate the actions is emphasized.