NATIONAL SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAM (PNAE): PUBLIC POLICY TO GUARANTEE HEALTHY AND NUTRITIONAL FOOD THAT HELPS IN THE LEARNING PROCESS AND OVERCOMING VULNERABILITY

Abstract

The National School Feeding Program (PNAE) was created in 1955 with the aim of offering quality school meals to students in the public basic education network. Since then, the program has undergone several changes and updates, always seeking to ensure healthy and nutritional food for students, in addition to helping in the learning process and overcoming social vulnerability. The study was carried out based on a bibliographic survey and other official documents on the subject. The results showed that the school meals offered by the program contribute significantly to promoting the health and well-being of students, in addition to helping in cognitive development and improving school performance, however, there are still many challenges to be overcome. It was concluded that an adequate and balanced school meal seeks to complement the nutrient needs that the body needs to have a good health condition. And in this context, public policies on food and nutrition in Brazil for the promotion of health, institute educational actions, in favor of new eating habits, in addition to providing the overcoming of social vulnerabilities.