Segurança alimentar e alimentação escolar: consumo e comportamento alimentar de estudantes de uma instituição federal de ensino

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between food insecurity, consumption of school meals, and eating behavior of students enrolled in the campuses of a federal educational institution in São Paulo. The main variables in the study were the level of food and nutritional (in)security, and the independent variables were sociodemographic factors, consumption of school meals, and eating behavior. Pearson's chi-square test and multinomial regression were used to assess the relationship between the level of nutritional food (in)security and the variables. A total of 702 students participated in the study, 49.86 per cent of whom lived in food-insecure households. Daily consumption of school meals was associated with food insecurity, as did not eat breakfast or foods that mark a healthy diet. Thus, the supply and consumption of school meals, as well as sociodemographic factors, showed a relationship with food security, and it is therefore crucial to understand the situation of food and nutritional security among students to better target institutional policies and programs.