Food and nutrition education as cross-sectional content from a public policy perspective in initial and primary level institutions in the city of Rosario, province of Santa Fe

Abstract

This paper presents the challenge of thinking about Food and Nutrition Education (EAN) in terms of public policy, as an equal access right for children. The objective is to understand how EAN is approached in three public management institutions, one at the Initial Level and two at the Primary Level (First Cycle) in the city of Rosario, province of Santa Fe. It is a qualitative case study, of a descriptive, exploratory and cross-sectional type. The data was collected by selection and documentary analysis and through ethnographic interviews.  International, national, and provincial documents and regulations on EAN were analyzed and contrasted, as well as the curricular content that addresses it and its implementation in local institutions. The results showed that EAN is mostly approached from traditional pedagogical approaches, with little room for cross-cutting thinking, and that malnutrition has a negative impact on the performance of school trajectories. As a final observation, it was considered necessary to establish EAN in all public and private educational institutions through the creation of cabinets, with articulation and follow-up by the State, which would allow EAN to become a public policy, where work is done inter and transdisciplinarily.