Comparison of pedagogical resources in food and nutrition education actions with children

Abstract

Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) has become an important strategy designed to promote better food choices and to prevent diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate three pedagogical resources used in FNE interventions. Fifty-six children were invited to participate. They were divided into three groups. After applying exclusion criteria, the group division were A (n = 20), B (n = 12) and C (n = 13). The study consisted of: initial assessment (t = 0), interventions, second assessment (t = 1) and third assessment performed three weeks later (t = 2). To evaluate the interventions outcomes, it were used 24h food recall and questionnaire. Each group received an intervention based on different theory. The lecture represented the traditional pedagogy. Workshop for juice elaboration was developed through bases of Johaan Henrich Pestalozzi’s theory and the history book, contemplated bases of theoretical framework of Paulo Freire. The results showed, in general, all interventions got great outcomes in increasing the level of knowledge about food and nutrition, however the lecture and the development of a juice using the bases of the intuitive method proposed by Pestalozzi, respectively, showed lower levels of forgetfulness.