Avaliação do desperdício de alimentos na creche municipal de educação infantil Sabiá

Abstract

His study aims to evaluate food waste at the Creche Municipal de Educação Infantil Sabiá, em São Raimundo Nonato – PI, by calculating the percentage of this waste and evaluating the figures obtained using the leftover-consumption method, identifying the causes, and proposing reduction strategies to establish sustainable planning and management practices. This is a cross-sectional observational study. The institution operates on a full-day basis, serving children aged 1 to 5 years, and enrolled 155 students during the 2025 school year. The research methods included weighing the food prepared, served, and wasted, as well as assessing food waste using the leftover-intake index based on the formulas presented in Vaz (2006). Per capita consumption per meal was also calculated to determine how many people could be fed with the leftovers; the weight of the leftovers was divided by the per capita consumption. Data collection took place from November 10, 2025, to November 14, 2025, during which samples of the meals served during the various shifts were analyzed. The results showed a positive impact on the assessment of the percentage of food wasted at the daycare center, with a leftover-to-consumption ratio of 6.9%, a percentage considered satisfactory. Considering the per capita consumption used in the study, it was estimated that the cleaned-up leftovers would be sufficient to feed approximately 67 people, while the uneaten food corresponds to the equivalent of approximately 50 people, meaning that this discarded food could feed about 117 people. In light of these results, it is important to emphasize the need to adopt planning and management strategies that contribute to reducing waste, such as properly scaling production according to the number of meals served, continuously monitoring leftover and uneaten food rates, and periodically evaluating menu acceptability. These measures promote the rational use of public resources, reduce losses, and strengthen sustainability within the framework of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE).