The nutritional value of the school lunch and its contribution to the fulfilling of the nutritional recommendations of preschoolers enrolled in the Center for Education and Feeding of the Preschooler

Abstract

The present paper studied the nutritional value of the school lunch and the variety of the preparations offered to preschool children drawn from Preschool Education and Feeding Centres (CEAPE). Its contribution to the energy and nutrients intake of this population group was analysed. Three hundred and forty six preschool children belonging to six towns of the State of S. Paulo were studied. The preparations most often served in all the CEAPEs studied were enriched milk, soy texturized protein, soups and mushes including soy bean. The average energy value of the school lunch varied between 210 and 403 calories and between 5.7 and 12 g of protein. The school lunch contributed from 21 to 44 per cent of the recommended energy intake. It was only sufficient in vitamins A, B1 and B2 in three towns and in calcium in only one. Although the school lunch does not make a significant contribution, it is a supplement to the usual preschool diet.