Modelo teórico de promoção da alimentação adequada e saudável na Educação Infantil

Abstract

The promotion of adequate and healthy eating (PAAS in Portuguese) is one of the aspects of health promotion and one of the guidelines of the National School Meal Program. Early Childhood Education units aim to promote the integral development of children up to five years of age, in their physical, psychological, intellectual and social aspects, complementing family and community action. This theoretical-conceptual study aimed at developing a theoretical model of the PAAS in Early Childhood Education for the context of the public education network in Brazil. The process of its development included: bibliographical survey in electronic media on publications related to PAAS in this area; synthesis of PAAS actions recommended in the literature; preparation of the preliminary version of the model (graphic scheme and explanatory tables); holding two panels of experts to review the first and second versions of the model; systematization of empirical material from the panels; reformulation of the model based on experts’ recommendations; assessment of the content validity of the third version of the model, and preparation of its final version. To develop the theoretical model, the theoretical-conceptual references of the PAAS and Strong Structuring Theory were adopted. The theoretical model of PAAS in Early Childhood Education consists of the presentation of PAAS actions to be developed within the scope of the Early Childhood Education unit, considering its internal and external contexts. This development process comprises the coordinated planning and execution of actions, by agents from the internal and external context of the Early Childhood Education unit, of: encouraging the adoption of healthy eating habits, through the incorporation of Food and Nutrition Education as a daily practice and transversal to the curriculum and mobilization and training on PAAS with families; support for adherence to healthy eating practices, through the provision of human milk and adequate and healthy food and care for children with special or specific dietary needs; protection of adequate and healthy food, through hygienic-sanitary food control measures, prevention of accidents in meal preparation and offering environments, and regulation of supply, trade and advertising of ultra-processed foods and non-recommended culinary preparations; complemented by transversal actions that include professional training, interaction with other agents, sectors or instances and monitoring and evaluation. The proposed theoretical model contributes to the understanding of the PAAS in Early Childhood Education by explaining the scope of Early Childhood Education actions, regarding promotion of adequate and healthy eating, to: facilitate its articulation with families, the community and other agents, sectors and instances; include Food and Nutrition Education as a daily practice that is transversal to the Early Childhood Education school curriculum, and ensure that it is a setting for collective education, aiming at promoting the integral development of children and ensuring their rights. This theoretical model can be useful for researchers interested in working with the PAAS in Early Childhood Education, and Early Childhood Education units and National School Meal Program managers, and their professional teams. It can also serve as a basis for future studies and inspire the development of public policies in this area.