Ações de educação alimentar e nutricional na promoção de práticas alimentares saudáveis em idosas de uma instituição de longa permanência

Abstract

Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) is an area of knowledge considered essential for health promotion and disease prevention. However, there are few studies developed with the elderly, a population susceptible to the appearance of diseases. The aim of this study was to develop FNE actions for health promotion by improving the food choices of elderly residents of an Assisted Living Residence located in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Thus, FNE actions were conducted for four months, with 19 elderly women, using methodological foundations based on the studies of Paulo Freire and Johaan Henrich Pestalozzi, which comes to interpose an innovative character in the conduct of FNE to the detriment of traditional practices, such as banking education. Five actions were carried out in order to build knowledge about food and nutrition, stimulating the criticality, autonomy and empowerment of elderly women in their food choices. The interventions performed were successful in improving food choices, showing positive responses in the use of problematizing methodologies, developing autonomy regarding the healthy food choices of the elderly.