FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION: SUSTAINABILITY AND AUTONOMY IN DEALING WITH MALNUTRITION
Keywords:
Food and Nutritional Education, Sustainability, Agroecology, Dietary Guidelines, AutonomyAbstract
Food and Nutritional Education (FNE) is a transdisciplinary field that aims to guarantee the Human Right to Adequate Food by promoting autonomy and conscious choices. Its practice, especially in community settings, must prioritize agroecology and family farming as pillars of a sustainable food system, which counters the linear agricultural model and its socio-environmental impacts. The methodological foundation of FNE lies in the Dietary Guidelines, which, by classifying foods based on their degree of processing, serves as a key pedagogical tool. However, the current practice in Primary Health Care remains instructional and focused on objective outcomes, which limits empowerment. To be truly effective, FNE must adopt active methodologies, such as culinary workshops and group discussions, and ensure that actions are continuous. The ultimate challenge is to align theory with practice, transforming the act of eating into a political and conscious choice that benefits both individual and planetary health.
