Reflections on the relationship between food and nutrition security policies and basic education in Brazil

Abstract

This essay examines the essential relationship between food and nutritional security (FNS) policies and education in Brazil, emphasizing the importance of integrating these dimensions for social and human development. While "hunger" refers to extreme food deprivation, FNS goes further, requiring permanent access to healthy and adequate nutrition, which demands coordinated public policies. In the school context, it is crucial for the educational community to understand FNS as part of holistic development by promoting balanced school meals, monitoring food quality, and incorporating pedagogical practices that link healthy eating to citizenship education. Thus, FNS emerges as an intersectoral challenge, requiring coordinated action between school administrators and public authorities to ensure basic rights—such as education and health—which are fundamental for the full development of future generations.