Around 125 children aged 3 to 5 are impacted by the experience carried out in the city of São Caetano do Sul, in southeastern Brazil
Paulo Beraldo
São Paulo, Brazil, February 3, 2025 – An innovative initiative in the school feeding programme of São Caetano do Sul, in southeastern Brazil, is working to foster healthier habits in new generations of students and reduce food waste. Inspired by Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 12 (Zero Hunger and Responsible Consumption and Production), the school EMEI Zilda Natel has been promoting conscious consumption practices with a positive impact on approximately 125 children aged 3 to 5.
To achieve this, measures such as daily meal calculations to adjust portions based on the number of students present have been adopted, along with the implementation of a child-friendly self-service system, promoting hands-on learning about proper portions and preventing waste. Additionally, the experience is continuously monitored: once a month, the school feeding team receives reports on food consumption to make necessary adjustments to product deliveries—whether increasing or decreasing quantities.
Priscila Bombassei Amorim, director of EMEI Zilda Natel, highlights the importance of collective involvement for the success of this initiative, with teachers, janitors, assistants, cafeteria workers, and administrators working together to improve practices.
“The children are the protagonists of the project, as they serve themselves. The role of the educator is to mediate the process, both by supervising and assisting during mealtime and by reinforcing, in group discussions, the importance of putting only as much food on their plate as they will eat. If they need more, they can get a second helping, which has helped prevent waste,” she explained.
Overcoming challenges
The project’s implementation faced challenges, such as the initial reluctance of adults to trust that young children were capable of serving themselves independently in a self-service system. Educators had to change their approach and observed that, under supervision, the children could eat responsibly. Another challenge was the adaptation of cafeteria workers, who follow strict documentation protocols set by the school feeding department regarding daily food control.
According to Priscila Bombassei Amorim, constant dialogue and training were essential in overcoming these obstacles. Additionally, some families expressed concerns about the changes. To reassure them, the school began sharing weekly videos and photos on social media, showing how students were eating and interacting during meals.
Positive impacts
Among the positive impacts of this experience, Priscila mentions that the school’s organic waste has been reduced, students have gained greater autonomy, and they are trying a wider variety of foods, reducing picky eating habits. Additionally, adjustments were made to the delivery of perishable food items.
“This is an innovative practice because we believe that, from an early age, our students are capable of developing and expanding sustainability values by consuming food consciously. This, in turn, helps prevent food waste and contributes to a more sustainable world.”
“Initiatives like that of EMEI Zilda Natel, in São Caetano do Sul, are inspiring examples for the world because they show that small changes in daily actions can lead to significant transformations. By educating children about the value of food and the impact of waste, the school is preparing citizens committed to a more sustainable future for all,” said Najla Veloso, Executive Secretary of the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES).
The RAES is a strategy of the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation in school feeding, developed by the Government of Brazil, through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC/MRE) and the National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE/MEC), with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
