Diverse students enjoying organic meals in a school cafeteria promoting healthy eating.

Is Organic Food in Schools the Key to Healthier Students? A Deep Dive

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore how integrating organic meals and educational programs in schools can transform student health and foster lifelong healthy habits."

The National School Food Program (PNAE), managed by the National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE), aims to enhance nutritional conditions, contribute to student learning and performance, and foster healthy eating habits. This initiative is crucial in reshaping school activities, offering strategic opportunities to transform students' eating practices and promote health and nutrition education within a broader context of citizenship.

Several Brazilian initiatives have been solidifying within schools, based on the Health Promoting Schools initiative, with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). These programs promote healthy human development through constructive relationships and positive health attitudes. They also significantly expand the role of school meals in promoting health and nutrition education.

In Santa Catarina, a partnership between the State Department of Education, Science and Technology (SED) and the Association of Ecological Farmers of the Encosta da Serra Geral (AGRECO) has operationalized the Sabor Saber Project, benefiting schools by providing organic school meals. This project aims to gradually implement the School Project of Organic Food (PEAO) within the pedagogical framework of each state school, promoting good eating habits and improving meal quality through organic foods.

The Taste and Awareness Project: A Closer Look

Diverse students enjoying organic meals in a school cafeteria promoting healthy eating.

A study was conducted in a state school in Florianópolis, Brazil, to diagnose the educational activities and use of organic food within the Taste and Awareness Project (PSS). The research employed a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and focus groups to gather data from school meal managers, the principal, students, and teachers.

The results highlighted significant progress in integrating organic foods with educational activities related to food, health, nutrition, and environmental awareness. However, there was a lack of formal evaluations of these processes. While organic food was present in school meals, there were no documented health and nutrition education activities. Food was a topic in science classes, but discussions on nutrition and health were often unplanned. Student feedback on the food was positive, but organic foods were not specifically mentioned.

Combining Organic Foods and Education: PSS effectively integrates organic food with educational activities.
Lack of Formal Evaluation: The program needs structured assessments to measure its impact.
Integration with Curriculum: Food and nutrition topics are discussed but not systematically integrated into the curriculum.

The study concluded that organic food is not yet fully integrated into the school’s pedagogical project. However, it emphasized the need for teachers to develop educational activities focused on health, organic foods, and nutrition within the school community. This holistic approach aims to promote awareness and encourage healthier lifestyles among students and their families.

Moving Forward: Integrating Organic and Education

To fully realize the benefits of organic food in schools, it is essential to integrate it into the pedagogical project, ensuring that health and nutrition education are systematically incorporated into the curriculum. This includes providing teachers with adequate training and resources, fostering partnerships with local organic producers, and continuously evaluating the program’s impact on student health and learning. By doing so, schools can play a pivotal role in shaping healthier, more informed generations.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is the National School Food Program (PNAE) and why is it important?

The National School Food Program (PNAE), managed by the National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE), is a program designed to improve the nutritional well-being of students. It aims to support student learning and development, and encourage the adoption of healthy eating habits by reshaping school activities. The PNAE provides opportunities to transform students' eating practices and integrate health and nutrition education into their broader understanding of citizenship. Its significance lies in its potential to create a healthier student population, fostering lifelong healthy habits.

What is the Health Promoting Schools initiative and what is its significance in schools?

The Health Promoting Schools initiative, supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), represents a strategy to promote healthy human development through positive relationships and health attitudes within the school environment. It expands the role of school meals to incorporate health and nutrition education, creating a supportive setting for students to learn about and adopt healthy behaviors. Its significance is in creating a culture of health within schools, improving not only the physical health of students but also their overall well-being and understanding of health-related issues. The initiative acknowledges that schools play a vital role in shaping healthy lifestyles.

What is the Sabor Saber Project, and what is its importance?

The Sabor Saber Project, a partnership between the State Department of Education, Science and Technology (SED) and the Association of Ecological Farmers of the Encosta da Serra Geral (AGRECO), aims to provide organic school meals to benefit schools. It seeks to implement the School Project of Organic Food (PEAO) within the educational framework of each state school, promoting good eating habits and improving meal quality. Its importance is in directly impacting the quality of food available to students, enhancing their nutrition, and introducing them to the benefits of organic foods. The project exemplifies how collaborations between educational institutions and agricultural organizations can drive positive change in school food environments.

What is the Taste and Awareness Project (PSS) and why is it important?

The Taste and Awareness Project (PSS) represents an initiative to integrate organic foods into educational activities within schools. It aims to educate students about food, health, nutrition, and environmental awareness. Its importance is in bridging the gap between providing organic food and educating students about its benefits, encouraging them to make informed choices about their diet. However, to be fully effective, PSS needs structured assessments to measure its impact and systematic integration into the curriculum.

What does integrating organic food and education mean, and why is it important?

Integrating organic food and education within schools involves systematically incorporating health and nutrition education into the curriculum, providing teachers with adequate training and resources, and fostering partnerships with local organic producers. The importance of this integration lies in ensuring that students not only have access to healthier food options but also understand the significance of nutrition, health, and the environment. This approach aims to promote awareness and encourage healthier lifestyles among students and their families. Continuous evaluation of the program’s impact is vital for its success, helping to shape healthier, more informed generations.