RESUMEN

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of food and nutrition education interventions based on the intuitive method (IM) proposed by Johaan Henrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827) at different time periods on the food practices of children and adolescents. DESIGN: This was a prospective comparative intervention program assessed by a pre-post survey at shorter term (3 months) and longer term (6 months). SETTING: Two institutions that provide extracurricular social support for children and adolescents with social and economic vulnerabilities in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The shorter-term intervention was conducted in Institution A and the longer term one conducted in Institution B. SUBJECTS: The sample consisted of 245 students aged between 5 and 14 years who attended the institutions. For each institution, they were divided into two groups (control and IM). INTERVENTION: We compared the effectiveness of the interventions performed by the IM or by expository actions (control) in both institutions. Interventions were focused on the guidelines of the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population and dealt with food choices, meal preparation, commensality, and obstacles to healthy eating. MEASURES: The assessed outcomes were food consumption according to NOVA food classification, cooking self-efficacy, and knowledge about food and nutrition. ANALYSIS: Paired t-tests were used to compare food consumption before and after interventions. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to analyze the outcomes on food and nutrition knowledge and cooking self-efficacy. RESULTS: Subjects receiving IM interventions decreased mean intake of ultra-processed food (3.56 to 1.50 portions; P< .001) and had greater odds of increasing self-efficacy with cooking (OR = 2,33-4,17). Both methods were effective regarding teaching about food and nutrition. Intervention period did not homogeneously impact these outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of food and nutrition education interventions presented positive outcomes on the food practices of the participants. The IM is an alternative method to educate children and adolescents about healthy eating practices.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

As intervenções de Educação Alimentar e Nutricional (EAN) tem sido cada vez mais imprescindíveis nos espaços de construções educativas para crianças e adolescentes, exigindo propostas de metodologias inovadoras, que considerem fatores psicossociais e culturais envolvidos na formação de padrões alimentares. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi realizar intervenções de EAN baseadas no Método Intuitivo proposto por Johaan Henrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827), nunca antes aplicado a essa temática. E também identificar a relação entre a cor de pele e as condições socioeconômicas dos participantes. Esse método envolve exercícios de aprendizagem da forma, número e linguagem como elementos que devem estar ligados à observação do objeto ou conteúdo. As intervenções foram conduzidas em crianças e adolescentes de diferentes condições socioeconômicas praticantes de duas modalidades esportivas distintas. O estudo foi realizado com 60 alunos sendo 40 atletas da ginástica artística (grupo A) e 20 atletas do taekwondo (grupo B). Foi conduzido em três etapas: avaliação inicial, intervenções elaboradas a partir do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira e avaliação final. A Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar (EBIA) foi aplicada aos responsáveis dos alunos para avaliar a situação de Insegurança Alimentar (IA) da família. Das famílias participantes do grupo B, 62,5% encontravam-se em IA. Após as intervenções, houve redução significativa no consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados pelo grupo A (p=0,034), enquanto no grupo B, houve aumento no consumo de alimentos in natura (p=0,022). O Método Intuitivo foi efetivo em ambos os grupos, independentemente das condições socioeconômicas, apresentando como proposta eficiente para as ações de EAN.

Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) interventions have been increasingly essential in educational spaces for children and adolescents, requiring proposals for innovative methodologies that consider psycho-social and cultural factors involved in the formation of dietary patterns. Therefore, the objective of this study was to carry out FNE interventions based on the Intuitive Method proposed by Johaan Henrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827); which has never been applied to this theme before. Furthermore, this study aims to identify the relationship between skin color and the socioeconomic conditions of the participants. This method involves learning exercises of shapes, numbers, and language as elements that must be linked to the observation of the object or content. The interventions were carried out in children and adolescents from different socioeconomic conditions who practiced two different sports modalities. The study was carried out with 60 students, 40 athletes from artistic gymnastics (group A) and 20 athletes from taekwondo (group B) and was carried out in three stages: an initial assessment, interventions based on the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population, and a final assessment. The Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity (BSFI) was applied to those responsible for the students to assess the situation of Food Insecurity (FI) of the family. Of the families participating in group B, 62.5% had FI. After the interventions, there was a significant reduction in the consumption of ultra-processed foods in group A (p=0.034), while in group B, there was an increase in the consumption of fresh foods (p=0.022). The Intuitive Method was effective in both groups, regardless of socioeconomic conditions, demonstrating that it is an efficient proposal for FNE actions.