Food and nutrition education in the school context

an experience report on promoting autonomy, healthy eating and preventing eating disorders in adolescence

Abstract

Adolescence is a period marked by intense physical and psychosocial transformations, in which factors such as aesthetic standards, misinformation, and social vulnerability significantly influence eating habits. In this context, promoting healthy eating in the school environment emerges as a fundamental strategy for addressing inappropriate eating behaviors and preventing eating disorders. This article reports on the experience of an educational initiative aimed at promoting healthy eating, conducted with adolescents in the 9th grade of elementary school and the 1st year of high school at a state school in a vulnerable area of Belo Horizonte. The intervention was conducted as part of a university extension project and consisted of a discussion group facilitated by undergraduate students in the health field, supported by accessible teaching materials adapted to the language of young people. The topics covered included groups, myths and eating disorders, body image, and the influence of social media. The methodology adopted a dialogical approach, which valued active listening,critical reflection, and the knowledge of participants, promoting the deconstruction of myths, the sharing of experiences, and the strengthening of the bond between facilitators and students. The activity demonstrated high engagement among adolescents, with a particular interest in topics related to body aesthetics, mental health, and nutrition. It also revealed a lack of institutional spaces offering scientific, accessible, and contextualized information on food and health. The experience highlighted the potential of educational initiatives in schools, especially when based on acceptance, listening, and respect for the realities of young people.