Plantas alimentícias não convencionais como possibilidades na merenda escolar

Abstract

Unconventional Food Plants (PANC in portuguese), are plants that are not part of the usual dietary habits of a large part of the population, also encompassing unusual parts of known plants and with food potential such as the stem, root and leaves of some conventional plants as per example chayote, that the fruit is conventional but few are aware of the nutritional potential of its leaf. The lack of knowledge on this topic occurs because, over time, the culture of PANCs was lost and there was also a devaluation of small producers and family farming. The idea of inserting these plants in school meals was born out of a personal environment and with some research it was noticed an interest by the government in bringing something similar to public schools, 100% organic food in all schools until 2030. With the accompaniment of this government project, this work will address practices, workshops and materials to help the chosen schools to insert these unconventional food plants in the diet with the intention of rescuing and adding this culture of PANCs to the daily lives of students and school managers, showing its benefits, easy access to plants, encourage self-cultivation, in addition to valuing local producers and family farming and improving the health of those involved.