[School meal programs as a mean to meet nutritional requirements for students in the Integrated Public School...

This study evaluates food intake of 244 children between ages 7-13 years using records of ingested foods on three non-consecutive days. The study analyzes energy and nutrient adequacy based on standards for the Brazilian population. Diet was generally found to be energy-deficient: meals consumed at the CIEPs met less than 70% of the requirement. On the other hand, protein was well above recommended levels. Worthy of note was the adequacy of meals in the CIEPs as to vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin, as well as the surprising adequacy of ascorbic acid, resulting from the frequent presence of citrus fruits in school meals. Except for older students, all schoolchildren studied had greater than 90% minimum iron intake. As for calcium, again except for older ones, consumption was 100% or more of minimum required levels. Results showed the need to correct flaws in the nutritional content of school meals, which are central to dietary intake for CIEP students.