School nutritionist: an essential role in public school meals

Ensuring healthy, safe and educational meals is one of the central missions of Brazilian public schools. In this scenario, the school nutritionist works far beyond preparing menus: it promotes health, learning and social well-being on a daily basis. What's more, its presence contributes to transforming food into an educational tool accessible to all students.

Throughout this article, you will understand how the nutritionist strengthens school meals, how the PNAE regulates this work, how technology enhances results and why this professional is essential for children's development. This way, you'll have a clear and complete picture of the impact of this work on children's routines. public schools.

Throughout this article, you will understand how the nutritionist strengthens the school meals, how the PNAE guides this action and how digital tools - including a school feeding system - increase the efficiency of kitchen work. This will give you an objective view of their impact on children's development and the routine of public schools.

Read on!

The school nutritionist as guardian of quality and the law

O role of the school nutritionist occupies a central position in guaranteeing the quality of the food offered to students. In addition, their actions are technical and also legal, as they are backed by rules that reinforce their responsibility for school meals.

In this context, according to Law No. 11.947/2009, In addition, school meals must have the exclusive technical responsibility of a nutritionist.

As the legislation itself states, “the implementation of the program must have the technical responsibility of a professional qualified in Nutrition”.

In this way, all decisions about menus, quantities and nutritional standards remain in line with good public health practices.

In addition, Resolution CD/FNDE no. 6/2020 strengthens this role by determining that the technical coordination of the school meals is carried out by a nutritionist linked to the Executing Entity. This means that the nutritionist does not just act as a consultant, but is directly responsible for planning, supervising and ensuring compliance at all stages - from planning to the dish served.

Therefore, the presence of school nutritionist is mandatory and strategic. By combining technique, responsibility and legal backing, it becomes the main guardian of the quality of the product. school meals. In this context, they also play an essential role in drawing up appropriate and educational menus.

Drawing up suitable and educational menus

Art. 12 of the Law No. 11.947/2009 states that school menus must therefore be drawn up by a nutritionist, taking into account:

• Nutritional needs by age group;
• The region's food culture;
• Sustainability and local agriculture;
• Guidelines of the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population.

That's why the menu goes far beyond simply assembling meals. It respects the communities' food identity and encourages healthy choices.

The president of the CRN-8 (Regional Council of Nutritionists of the 8th Region), Cilene da Silva, summed up this action by stating that the nutritionist guarantees “adequate nutritional conditions for learning, growth and disease prevention”. Consequently, this legal basis ensures that school meals are healthy, balanced and consistent with the regional reality.

Why the school nutritionist is indispensable in school meals

A school nutritionist transforms the meal into an educational experience. In public schools, the impact is even greater, as many children eat their main meal of the day. Your work therefore involves:

• Balancing nutrients;
• Ensuring food security;
• Adapt the menus to the local culture;
• Encourage healthy habits;
• Participate in the children's dietary education.

Therefore, this daily presence strengthens school meals as a public policy, reduces inequalities and expands access to complete meals.

➡️ And to build lasting habits, it all starts early. Here's why early childhood is the crucial stage for forming a healthy relationship with food - and how school can play a key role in this journey.

Early childhood: where eating habits begin

The first years of life define eating behavior and influence physical and cognitive growth. In this sense role of the school nutritionist is central. It ensures that:

• The menus meet the needs of each age;
• Food is introduced properly;
• The preparations respect the child's rhythm;
• The choices are in line with the Food Guide.

Consequently, this action prevents nutritional deficiencies, childhood obesity and eating disorders. Finally school nutritionist influences the child's present and future.

School kitchen: collaboration that generates results

The preparation of meals involves multiple professionals. However, it is school nutritionist who technically guides each stage. An efficient routine includes:

• Menu co-creation with cooks and lunch ladies;
• Healthy recipes and at the same time accepted by the children;
• Continuous training on good practices, hospitality and food education.

When cooking and nutrition work together, acceptance increases, waste decreases and food becomes part of the pedagogical process. This way, the whole school community benefits.

School and family: the coherence that educates

The role of the nutritionist in school meals also involves getting closer to families. Food education is strengthened when school and home share values. That's why the nutritionist can:

• Meetings with those responsible;
• Explain menu choices;
• Answer questions about infant feeding;
• Encourage healthy habits together.

At the same time, an essential support network is consolidated, where healthy eating ceases to be the sole responsibility of the school and becomes a shared commitment with families.

The PNAE and the responsibilities of the school nutritionist

O PNAE is one of the largest public food policies in the world and guarantees meals to more than 40 million students. Inside, the school nutritionist should:

• Assessing students' nutritional status;
• Prepare and supervise menus;
• Coordinating hygiene and health control;
• Supervising purchases and storage;
• Guaranteeing fruit and vegetables every week;
• Conducting educational activities with the teaching team;
• Strengthening the purchase of family farming.

In this way, their work integrates health, education and social development, building an essential foundation for the students' future.

Ready to transform your routine? Then, in the next chapter, see how technology simplifies the work of the school nutritionist - from planning to management - with even more agility, precision and impact.

Technology as a strategic ally for school nutritionists

The management of school meals involves planning, inventory, costs and compliance with the PNAE. Therefore, technological solutions make this process more efficient and secure.

TecFood: technology to support school nutritionists

O TecFood, Teknisa's solution supports the nutritionist from meal planning to execution. With it, you can:

• Standardize technical and per capita sheets;
• Planning menus by grade level;
• Forecast annual consumption;
• Replicate menus via the central catering department;
• Reducing waste and organizing purchases;
• Monitoring the nutritional value of menus, in accordance with PNAE legislation.

Thus, the TecFood not only enhances the work of the school nutritionist, But it also combines agility and compliance with the PNAE. As a result, detailed nutritional monitoring and intelligent menu management guarantee healthy and adequate meals for pupils in public schools.

👉 Watch the video “Good practices in food production”. In it, you'll discover valuable insights from expert Cíntia Rios, Director of Teknisa. She explains how nutritionists can transform their work.

Implementing these insights therefore guarantees safer school meals. Consequently, the whole process becomes significantly more efficient. In this way, actions remain perfectly aligned with the PNAE guidelines.

Stock control with an app for nutritionists

For example, the Teknisa app offers features such as:

• Automated inventory: the nutritionists carry out the control and stock management during visits to schools;
• Automatic product downloading: apportionment according to planned services;
• Validity monitoring: prevents losses and guarantees food safety;
• Real-time monitoring: improves the management of inputs and the traceability of meals.

Consequently, these tools provide agility, standardization and transparency in the implementation of school feeding policies.

The adoption of a school feeding system allows the nutritionist to devote less time to manual administrative tasks and therefore more time to essential technical activities, such as food education and nutritional monitoring of students.

Conclusion: feed with knowledge, educate with care

In short, the nutritionist in school meals is an essential part of guaranteeing balanced, educational and safe meals in public schools. In addition, its work strengthens public policies, reduces inequalities and contributes to the formation of eating habits that accompany children throughout their lives.

In this context, when technology comes into play - as in the case of from TecFood, by Teknisa -This work becomes even more efficient, agile and transparent. As a result, standardized processes, greater predictability and centralized data allow the nutritionist to focus her efforts on what really matters: the comprehensive care of the students and the quality of the food offered on a daily basis.

Finally, strengthening school meals management is to invest in the future. With the right tools, this path becomes safer, smarter and more sustainable for the entire network.

Get to know TecFood, Teknisa's solution that supports the school nutritionist in all stages of the PNAE - from planning to the dish served.

👉 Talk to our experts and bring more efficiency, safety and nutritional quality to your school network.