According to Laura, a food educator at EDI Gabriela Mistral Primary School in Rio de Janeiro, banana leaves serve a vital role in protecting the soil, acting as a natural barrier. With the land experiencing reduced moisture, Laura suggests burying banana stems, which are capable of retaining significant amounts of water, allowing the soil to absorb it. This method not only provides hydration to the earth but also supports the growth of various crops, enabling students to enjoy fresh produce while cultivating vegetables that can aid in their physical development.
During an outdoor lesson amidst the vibrant flower and vegetable beds, Laura’s five-year-old students enthusiastically share their experiences of growing food. One child, with dirt on his hands from planting, points out a pumpkin they cultivated and excitedly mentions their lunch menu featuring beetroot bread and chickpea spread. The school kitchen emphasizes the importance of providing free, low-sugar, nutrient-dense meals, fostering a connection between students and the natural world around them. Laura explains, “We strive to instill pride in these children by encouraging them to eat what they have grown. We even cultivate edible flowers for them to learn about flavoring and seasoning, as many are also medicinal.” One student even refers to a cosmos flower as the “chewing gum of the forest,” demonstrating their engagement with nature.
This government school, operating out of a repurposed bathhouse, has seen remarkable improvements in health metrics due to Rio’s school meal program, which supplies both breakfast and lunch. The initiative aims to combat malnutrition in the city’s underserved communities and address rising rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. In 2023, the municipal government enacted legislation prohibiting the sale and distribution of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in public schools, effectively restricting access to high-sugar, high-fat snacks such as cookies and sodas. The policy also prevents fast food vendors from operating near schools, promoting healthier snack options for students.
All public schools now feature kitchen gardens that supply fresh ingredients for their meals. Principal Renata Neves emphasizes that teaching children to grow fruits and vegetables is about more than just consumption; it is about nurturing their cultural connection to food. Brazil’s National School Feeding Programme currently provides students with at least 30% of their daily nutritional requirements, ensuring they have consistent access to beans, fruits, and vegetables, which has led to a decrease in iron deficiency and an overall improvement in dietary quality.
As per Daniel Soranz, the Municipal Health Secretary of Rio de Janeiro, public schools are now allocating 30-40% of their budgets to procure supplies from local small-scale producers, thereby enhancing the availability of fresh ingredients for children. Additionally, monitoring of children’s health has intensified, employing artificial intelligence and community health workers to identify families in need and connect them with essential public services. Soranz notes that enforcement measures include penalties for non-compliance, with parents able to report violations through calls or an app. Public schools that do not adhere to regulations face public scrutiny from the health department.
Neves presents the breakfast and lunch menus, which are collaboratively designed by the students. The shift away from packaged snacks and sugary foods towards freshly prepared, traditional meals reflects a commitment to nutrition. “Our two daily meals cover the majority of a child’s nutritional needs. The menus, developed by the Annes Dias Institute of Nutrition and supported by trained kitchen staff, are rotated every 15 days and backed by scientific research. The institute conducts biannual health assessments to ensure students meet health standards, with over 91% of school meals now being unprocessed and a variety of 65 healthy meal options available,” explains Alina Borges, president of the Municipal Institute of Sanitary Surveillance, which oversees the meal program.
The positive impact of these initiatives has led to private schools in Rio reevaluating their meal offerings. Parents like Pablo and Vivian Henrique have also made healthier food choices at home, inspired by their daughter’s preferences. “We don’t serve Coca-Cola anymore; she enjoys homemade star berry and watermelon juice, and loves avocado salad with lettuce as a snack,” they share.
Outcomes are becoming evident. Paula Johns, co-founder and director of ACT Health Promotion, who has been monitoring the rise in childhood obesity and diabetes from 2000 to 2025, affirms that children’s food security has improved. “While ultra-processed foods accounted for 25% of total caloric intake in Brazil, this figure was nearly 39% for children aged 13 to 17 before the meal program was implemented. Now, this trend is declining. Their body mass index (BMI) is improving, addressing issues like ‘skinny fat syndrome’—where malnourished children gain weight rapidly but accumulate fat instead of muscle when food becomes available, which is particularly concerning in favela populations,” she explains.
Additionally, street children in favelas, who often aspire to sports as a means to financial stability, are benefiting from the establishment of family health clinics. Dr. Fabio describes these centers as a positive evolution in healthcare, which have contributed to lower infant mortality rates and fewer hospitalizations, while consistently monitoring child development and providing services like prenatal care.
