FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION IN SCHOOL: STUDENTS’ CONCEPTIONS ON FOOD USE

Abstract

This study aimed to understand students’ conceptions about food use, consumption and food waste  and reflect on the teacher's role in raising young people's awareness of food and nutrition education. The research had a qualitative approach and dialogued activities were carried out in science education in one eighth grade class of elementary school,  related  to healthy eating and integral use of food, with the exhibition of a documentary. In the construction of the data, two questionnaires were applied, one before and the other after the proposed activities.  The answers were analyzed using the content analysis technique. The analysis indicated that most participants had difficulties in differentiating the concepts of food reuse and integral utilization. The activities carried out potentiated reflections on consumption, distribution and waste of food and social inequalities, which were the basis for the debate after the screening of the documentary. This study brings contributions to research in science education, with a critical-reflexive perspective from the sensitization and immersion of young people in dialogues that value social issues, encouraging them to reflect on consumption and utilization of food, social inequalities, solid waste generation and other socio-environmental issues. The importance of research on food and nutrition education in schools is emphasized in order to contribute to the education of young people and the problematization of consumption in society.