Early in the morning, that smell of coffee with milk and a bun with cheese. And around noon, an exquisite chicken risotto accompanied by that fresh lettuce salad from a family vegetable garden in the largest fruit and vegetable center in the state.
As of March 1st, this will be the new reality for approximately 6,000 students from 16 Municipal Elementary Schools (EMEFs) in Caxias do Sul, from kindergarten to 9th grade, benefiting from the Healthy Plate project. Every day, from Monday to Friday, each institution’s shift will receive two meals – in the morning, breakfast and lunch; in the afternoon, lunch and snack.
The Municipal Department of Education (SMED) will make an estimated extra annual investment of more than R$ 1.4 million in food. With an increase of more than 11%, the Municipality’s contribution to school meals through the National Fund for the Development of Education (FNDE) will reach approximately R$ 13.5 million per year.
In addition, at least half of the schools will need to reinforce the kitchen staff in order to handle the new menu (the quantity will be defined based on the staff of each institution). That is, even new jobs will be generated directly by the initiative of the City Hall.
“It is yet another advance to contribute to the development and learning of our students and to encourage their permanence and success in the school. An important issue of Prato Saudável, which sometimes goes unnoticed by those looking from the outside, but which makes all the difference when you are in the classroom, is the provision of adequate meals at the usual times: breakfast in the early morning and lunch next from noon. Teachers tell us how much this makes a difference in the development of children”, comments Mayor Adiló Didomenico.
To direct the service, the percentage of students from families included in the Single Registration (30% or more); the physical structure and availability of space at the school – kitchen and cafeteria in conditions to serve the number of students – in order to accommodate two meals per shift; and the financial resources available in the budget – more food and staff to prepare it.
The Healthy Plate will initially serve Municipal Elementary Schools (EMEFs) Governador Leonel Brizola, Machado de Assis, Atiliano Pinguelo, Paulo Freire, Ruben Bento Alves, Basílio Tcacenco, São Vicente, Villa Lobos, Dolaimes Stédile Angeli, Guerino Zugno, Américo Ribeiro Mendes, Zélia Rodrigues Furtado, Senator Teotônio Vilela, Councilman Marcial Pisoni, Afonso Secco and Dezenove de Abril.
60% of ingredients from family farming
Every day, the municipal education network of Caxias do Sul serves an average of 51,000 meals. Between 2008 and 2019, the Prato Limpo project served schools by membership. With the arrival of the coronavirus, however, everything changed.
“Operation became unfeasible in the pandemic. At the time, food kits were distributed directly to students and families, for all schools. But one of the difficulties encountered in resuming the program with the return of face-to-face classes was the distancing rules in the cafeteria. And then there were difficulties with the outsourced company that hired the cooks”, recalls nutritionist Jéssica Ackerman, from the technical staff of School Meals at the Municipal Department of Education (SMED).
Now, finally, the operation returns qualified. In addition to shifting meal periods closer to the families’ usual time, there will be an increase from 20% to 30% in the supply of daily needs for energy and macronutrients with the two meals provided to children and students.
The kids’ dish will also live up to the title of the largest producer of fruit and vegetables in Rio Grande do Sul, where the schools are located. The legislation determines that a minimum portion of 30% of the National Fund for the Development of Education (FNDE) be used in the purchase of food from family farming via public call. But in Caxias do Sul, things work a little differently.
“From what we receive from the federal budget, priority is given to acquiring food from family farming. All the vegetables, most of the fruits, grape juice and beans are purchased from family farms”, reveals Jéssica.
In 2022, almost BRL 4 million from the FNDE and more than BRL 8 million from the Municipality were invested in the purchase of food. The City Hall chose to allocate most of the federal resource to ingredients produced by family farming. Result: about 60% of the menu served to children and students in the Caxias do Sul education system originates from this form of cultivation. With even one more benefit, for dessert:
“In school meals we offer some organic items, such as red grape juice, bananas and fruit jam. Which are also provided by family farming via public call”, concludes the nutritionist.
