AÇÕES DE EDUCAÇÃO ALIMENTAR E NUTRICIONAL COM GRUPOS EM VULNERABILIDADE SOCIAL: RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA

An experience report

Abstract

Introduction: The increased incidence of noncommunicable chronic diseases highlights the need for educational actions that promote improved quality of life, decreased food insecurity and prevention of nutritional disorders. Objective: Encourage the adoption of healthy eating habits and transmit other information relevant to food autonomy. Methodology: The extension project linked to the Nutrition course promoted workshops in 2019, conducted by academics supervised by teachers. The beneficiaries were attendees of the Art and Leisure Center and Reference Center for Social Assistance in the city of Itajaí-SC, being these elderly and individuals in social vulnerability, respectively. Participated by scholarship scholars, volunteers and trainees of Collective Health Nutrition, providing the interface teaching and extension. The topics addressed were adapted according to the demands of each specific location and audience. Results: The workshops developed in this project provided the opportunity for food and nutrition education to students of the nutrition course, and through practice, provided the expansion of theoretical knowledge obtained at the university with the exchange of experiences with the community. Conclusions: The opportunity to work at a university extension provides unique experiences that are not gained within the classroom. It tightens ties between college students and the community, making academics professionals able to practice the empathy and social sensitivity that is so important to the health worker. Still, it favors the autonomy of the individual in relation to healthy eating and improvement of quality of life. 

Keywords: Community-Institucional Relations, Food and Nutrition Education, Social Vulnerability.