This article seeks to describe the viewpoint of purchasing food products from family farmers, analyzing their performance within the new guidelines of the Brazilian School Nutrition Program (PNAE). It is a critical assessment based on a review of the literature and the official data provided by the National Fund for the Development of Education/Ministry of Education relating to 2010. The program budget in 2010 was approximately R$2.5 billion and attended 45.6 million children, adolescents and adults. From the total amount, R$150,397,052.68 was allocated for the purchase of agricultural products from family farmers. In Brazil, 47.4% of the local councils acquired food products from family farmers for the Brazilian School Nutrition Program and the purchase percentage was, on average, 22.7%. Given the nature of recent legislation, other aspects should be explored in order to strengthen the compliance with the regulations in different Brazilian contexts and thus contribute both to local economic development and the provision of school meals which fulfill the principles of a healthy and adequate diet.

ObjetivoAnalisar as informações contidas nos pareceres dos Conselhos de Alimentação Escolar de todo o Brasil sobre a execução do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar. MétodosEstudo quantiqualitativo que analisa 4.256 pareceres na fase quantitativa e 2.299 na qualitativa, referentes ao ano de 2009. Também foram analisados 4.135 Demonstrativos Sintéticos Anuais, que tratam da execução físico-financeira do Programa. Na fase qualitativa, investigou-se o conteúdo dos pareceres por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo. ResultadosA análise quantitativa mostrou que, em 24,4% (n=1.009) das localidades, não houve contrapartida da entidade executora na compra de gêneros alimentícios, e a maioria dos pareceres (78,7%, n=3.348) apresentou assinatura de apenas um conselheiro. A análise qualitativa dos pareceres apontou que 64,5% (n=1.483) das localidades brasileiras adotavam a gestão centralizada e que 23,9% (n=549) das entidades executoras investiam recursos próprios na compra de gêneros alimentícios. A modalidade de licitação mais frequente foi o pregão (32,7%,

A cost-effective and interactive way of promoting healthy nutrition behaviors among adolescents is using information and communication technologies (ICTs). We systematically reviewed studies to identify technologies and their main characteristics used for nutritional interventions for adolescents, as well as to evaluate their quality and effectiveness. Our full protocol is available on the PROSPERO website (#CRD42016035882). A search was conducted across five databases for articles describing nutritional interventions that used ICTs designed mainly for healthy adolescents. Randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental and observational studies, and full and original papers, all of them published from 2005 to 2015, were included. Study quality was assessed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Our search yielded 559 titles and abstracts. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Participants were recruited mostly from schools. Study follow-up ranged from two weeks to two years. Four interventions were based on the Social Cognitive Theory. Interventional strategies included computer games, programs, text messages, and interactive CD-ROMs. Nine studies used computer-mediated ICTs. Five studies focused on multiple behaviors simultaneously. Participants were exposed to interventions only once, daily, weekly, or according to a pre-determined number of lessons. Five studies had significant outcomes. Our quality assessment revealed three studies to be weak due to non-representativeness of their samples and usage of non-validated questionnaires. Besides the heterogeneity and poor quality of the analyzed studies, it can be suggested that long-term interventions for adolescents that make use of frequent exposure to technological resources, and that have a theoretical component aimed at a single health behavior change, tend to be more successful.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the impact of a game-based nutritional intervention on food consumption, nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices. Design: This cluster randomised controlled trial included both male and female high school students from private schools in the Federal District, Brazil. Four schools were randomly selected for each group. Investigated variables were age, sex, monthly family income, maternal education level, dietary perceptions and practices, nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices. Setting: Intervention group participants were instructed to play Rango Cards, a digital game developed for the study, on their own, for a period of 7–17 d, while the control group was not provided with any game or material during the study. Participants: The study included 319 adolescents (mean age = 15·8 (sd 0·7) years). Results: Significant reductions were observed in the intervention group compared with the control group for the following variables: habit of eating while watching TV or studying and having meals at fast food restaurants. The intervention group showed increased knowledge of the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption as well as improved self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices such as reducing Na intake and preparing healthy meals. Conclusions: The design of Rango Cards is potentially capable of effecting positive changes. Therefore, the digital game promotes autonomy and self-care among adolescents with regard to healthy eating.

IntroductionAdolescent eating patterns are characterised by high consumption of unhealthy foods, which has resulted in an increasing prevalence of overweight and chronic diseases. It is crucial to promote healthy eating habits, and nutritional interventions based on the transtheoretical model have been found to be especially effective. Mobile health strategies also seem promising for adolescents. This study aims to outline a smartphone intervention via WhatsApp for adolescents to promote healthy eating consumption, better nutritional knowledge, self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy practices and progress through the stages of change.Methods and analysisThere will be three distinct groups in this randomised study: a general intervention group (GG), in which the participants will receive the same healthy eating messages, based on the Brazilian food guide; a tailored intervention group (TG), in which the participants will receive healthy eating messages based on their stage of change; and a control group (CG), in which participants will receive messages on a different theme. Possession of a smartphone, use of WhatsApp and being a senior student (16–19 years) from a public school of the Federal District of Brazil will be the study’s inclusion criteria. Rural schools will be excluded. The sample size estimated is 390 individuals: 38 in the GG, 314 in the TG and 38 in the CG. The intervention will last 6 weeks, with a daily message sent to the students. We will investigate nutritional knowledge, self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices, food consumption and stages of change using preintervention and postintervention questionnaires. Memorisation of the messages will be also assessed.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the University of Brasília, School of Health Sciences and Research Ethics Committee. At the end of the study, the participating schools will receive a printed report with the main results of the intervention.Trial registration numberRBR-5b9jk7.

BackgroundSeveral food and nutrition education actions have been described in the literature, with emphasis on the recommended use of innovative methods when addressing a young audience. Digital games are an attractive, dynamic, and motivating resource for teaching and learning practices, and adolescents form the group that readily accepts and adopts new technologies. Adapting dietary and nutritional guidelines to change dietary behavior is a challenge, and game-based learning has several benefits that can be used in this sense. Thus, this study aims to outline a nutritional intervention for school-aged adolescents from the Federal District, Brazil, whose object is a digital card game aimed at promoting healthy dietary practices.MethodsIn this randomized study with intervention and control groups, we propose a nutritional intervention for adolescents studying in Federal District private schools. The intervention group will be introduced to Rango Cards, a digital game specifically developed for this study. The purpose of the game is to present the concept of an adequate and healthy diet using simple information in a playful context. This game features cards for foods/meals, characters, and healthy habits. The players’ choices may lead them to winning or losing. Theme selection and phase order were designed to provide a learning experience. The control group will not receive any material during the study. Both groups will complete questionnaires before and after the intervention. The game is expected to improve food knowledge and self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy practices, thus contributing to appropriate dietary consumption.DiscussionThe game was designed as a food and nutrition education tool based on Brazilian dietary guidelines. We believe that Rango Cards will provide a comprehensive experience on the topic, improving the students’ autonomy, motivation, and pleasure of learning.Trial registrationRBR-72zvxv June 29, 2018; Retrospectively registered.

Objective To evaluate the interpretation by adolescents of messages contained in the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population. Methods Qualitative study of adolescents distributed across “conversation circles”. Each group received messages about healthy eating from the Dietary Guidelines and was instructed to develop materials containing their own interpretation thereof, using appealing wording and format. Content analysis was then used to evaluate these materials. Results Presentation of the produced materials revealed a focus on placing the participants at the center of the process and highlighting the dynamic and innovative nature of each strategy. Corpus analysis identified three clusters of meaning: (I) Food classification and selection model: The participants showed comprehension of the different formulations of foods and their impacts on health, but using other terms. A reductionist understanding of the composition of a healthy diet was observed; (II) Environment and eating practices: the environment was characterized as conducive or not to healthy eating, and open-air markets were recognized as spaces for healthy choices. Creating recipes was judged a wise choice to be shared; and (III) Diet-related individual and collective wellness: consequences of unhealthy food intake were linked to physical and emotional well-being. Concerns were raised about the use of natural resources and the impact of pesticides on individuals and the environment. Conclusion To facilitate understanding of the Dietary Guidelines, the wording of its messages must be adapted, and the discussion about healthy eating and proper diet must be broadened to ascribe greater value to the act of cooking in this population.

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