Food and nutritional education in rural quilombola communities in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: methodological aspects

Abstract

Background: The construction of programs to promote healthy eating should be guided by the culture and living conditions of people. Objective: To describe the methodology for a community intervention in food and nutritional education (FNE) carried out in rural quilombola communities (QC) in Rio Grande do Sul. Methods: Two communities were included. The FNE actions consisted of six workshops with a focus on the concepts of food culture, adequate and healthy food, and health promotion, focusing on food rather than nutrients. The actions were planned from the production of strategies that could be replicated by the participants to the other residents. Results: The workshops were attended by people of various ages and the participation of women was more expressive. Each workshop had specific objectives and different dynamics employed. Conclusion: This approach sought to emphasize the experiences, culture, and opinions of the people residing in the QC included in the study. It is hoped that this FNE community intervention can guide and subsidize the planning and execution of similar initiatives in other QCs in Rio Grande do Sul or even the country.