Comparison of Child Lunch Meals in Brazil

Abstract

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 S &#227 o 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.