THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL INDICATORS AND PLAYFUL INTERVENTIONS AT THE ALMERINDO ALVES DOS SANTOS SCHOOL COMMUNITY IN EUNÁPOLIS, BAHIA

Abstract

School nutrition is crucial for child development, directly impacting growth, health, and academic performance. This research, derived from a basic, exploratory university extension project with a quantitative-qualitative approach, was conducted at Almerindo Alves dos Santos School in Eunápolis, Bahia. The study involved 16 preschool-aged children (four to five years old), aiming to raise awareness about the importance of healthy eating and to evaluate nutritional indicators. The methodology included playful and informative activities such as theatrical presentations and educational games, as well as measurements of nutritional status and anthropometry of the students, and questionnaires applied to parents to analyze family eating habits. The results showed that 12,5% of the participants were outside the BMI for age standard, suggesting overweight risks, and 56,25% (9 children) exhibited waist-to-height ratios above the recommended values, indicating potential abdominal obesity problems. Despite the prevalence of eutrophy, one case of underweight and one of overweight were recorded, highlighting the need for continuous nutritional interventions. It is concluded that playful activities are effective in promoting knowledge about healthy eating among children, and that the collection of anthropometric data is fundamental for future actions. However, the analysis of family eating habits was limited by the lack of parental responses. This study reinforces the need for continuous educational programs focused on child nutrition to prevent malnutrition and promote healthy development.