Dónde están los frijoles? Un estudio de viabilidad para evaluar la calidad del programa de almuerzos escolares de Costa Rica

Excess body weight among children has increased dramatically in Costa Rica, a country with an established School and Adolescent Feeding and Nutrition Program. We conducted a nine-day pilot study to assess the quality of the diet served at the cafeteria in the Jacó Central School located in Garabito, a county with very low human development index. Food plates from 361 schoolchildren between 1rst and 6th grade were weighted to estimate consumption (g), as the difference between the amount of food served (g) and the amount of food left in the plate (g). During the 9-day period, refined grains (rice or spaghetti) were included every day, whereas legumes and salad were included 78% and 56% of the time. Side dishes mostly consisting of beef or mixed dishes with beef or pork were included 56% of the time. Whole grains were not included in the menu. Girls chose not to have black beans and salad 38% and 34% of the time, and boys, 44% and 40% of the time, respectively. The proportion of white rice to beans served among those who chose these foods was 1.57 g among grades 1rst to 3th and 1.32 g among 4rst to 6th. In sum, foods served in the school studied consisted mainly of refined grains, with very small proportions of legumes and vegetables, and an unnecessarily high frequency of red meat. The results from this pilot study are worrisome given the known adverse effects of such dietary patterns on excess body weight. El exceso de peso corporal en niños ha aumentado drásticamente en Costa Rica, un país con un programa establecido de Alimentación y Nutrición Para Escolares y Adolescentes. Realizamos un estudio piloto de nueve días para evaluar la calidad de la dieta de la cafetería de la Escuela Central Jacó ubicada en Garabito, un cantón con un índice de desarrollo humano muy bajo. Los platos de comida de 361 escolares fueron pesados para estimar el consumo (g). Durante el período de 9 días, se incluyeron granos refinados (arroz o espagueti) todos los días, mientras que las leguminosas y ensalada se incluyeron el 78% y el 56% del tiempo. Las guarniciones que consistían principalmente de carne de res o platos mixtos con carne de res o cerdo se incluyeron el 56% del tiempo. Los granos integrales no se incluyeron en el menú. Las niñas no seleccionaron frijoles negros y ensalada el 38% y el 34% del tiempo, y los niños, el 44% y el 40% del tiempo, respectivamente. La proporción de arroz blanco a frijoles servidos entre los que eligieron estos alimentos fue de 1.57 g entre