Author(s)

Carolina Martins¹, Natália Sanchez Oliveira Jensen², Silvia Maria Franciscato Cozzolino^3*

¹Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nutrition from the University of São Paulo, M.D. in Science by the School of Public Health of the University of São Paulo, Equilibrium Consultancy Collaborator, São Paulo, Brazil.
²Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nutrition from the University of São Paulo, M.D. in Public Health by the School of Public Health of the University of São Paulo, Nutritional Therapy and Clinical Nutrition Postgraduate Certificate (GANEP), Equilibrium Consultancy Collaborator, São Paulo, Brazil.
³Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Recently, revised Dietary Guidelines in Brazil [1] included a recommendation to “avoid fast food”. This project compared meals from home and away from home. Objective: To evaluate advertised fast food children’s lunch meals and a typical Brazilian homemade meal in relation to recommended intakes for: energy, macronutrients, fiber, sodium, iron and calcium. Methods: Nutritional needs and typical meal intake were estimated, considering 35% of total daily requirements for a lunch meal. Ranges for energy and macronutrients were calculated, based on varying energy needs by age and activity level. These parameters were compared with nutritional information from company websites and product information collected in São Paulo, Brazil in August, 2014. Results: The majority of children’s meals evaluated did not exceed the lunch range for dietary energy and macronutrients. However, 60% and 50% of these meals exceeded recommended saturated fat for 4 - 6 and 7 - 10-year-old children, respectively. Most meals fell short for fiber and all meals exceeded sodium recommendations. Micronutrient values were not available for most meals compared. Conclusion: The nutrition quality of lunch in fast food restaurants is similar to a typical Brazilian meal. The restaurant meals could fit into a balanced diet from time to time. Every meal observed here could be improved with regard to sodium and fiber to promote children’s health in adulthood.

Children, Diet Quality, Fast Food, Dietary Intake, Nutrients

Martins, C. , Jensen, N. and Cozzolino, S. (2016) Comparison of Child Lunch Meals in Brazil. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 7, 262-272. doi: 10.4236/fns.2016.74028.