State school innovates by including international dishes in school meals and stimulates cultural learning
With the support of Prodep, an initiative from Santo Afonso School promotes healthy eating and integration of knowledge in the public education system
The Santo Afonso State School of Elementary and Secondary Education, located in the Telégrafo neighborhood in Belém, is transforming school meals into a cultural and educational experience. With the support of the Pará School Money Program (Prodep) from the State Department of Education (Seduc), the school has implemented a special menu with international dishes prepared weekly, bringing students closer to different cultures through healthy eating.
The initiative takes place every Thursday and has already won over more than 1,100 students enrolled in the morning, afternoon, and evening shifts.
Global menu with regional flavor
The project began with the goal of making meals more attractive but gained new dimensions with the involvement of the students themselves in choosing the dishes. Typical recipes from Mexico, Japan, and more recently, a culinary fusion between China and the Amazon have already been served.
In celebration of World Food Day, the school served “Lamen with Jambu,” a dish that mixes traditional oriental noodles with the striking touch of the Amazonian plant. “The idea arose to encourage healthy eating. Over time, students began to request different foods, and we started to include an international dish each week,” explained director Máximo Rogério Barros.
Students approve of flavor and learning
The proposal has been well received by students, who see school meals as an opportunity for learning beyond the classroom. “This food is delicious, healthy, and different. I love these new foods at school,” said 9-year-old Sara de Lima.
Thirteen-year-old Marcella Suene highlighted the knowledge gained from the initiative. “We learned that this dish is simple from China, but it was refined in Japan and made its way to Pará, where it gained ingredients like jambu and tapioca. This shows how cultures mix and how we can learn from it.”
For 13-year-old Marlon Ribeiro, the action broadens horizons. “It’s very interesting to be able to know foods from other countries within the school. It’s a new experience that we carry into the future.”
Support from Prodep ensures autonomy and quality
The action was only possible thanks to the support of Prodep, a state program that provides financial resources directly to schools for priority investments. The regional ingredients used in the recipes were purchased with funds from the program.
“Prodep is the most important program that Seduc has launched because it gives autonomy for the school to invest in what it really needs. This freedom of decision is fantastic and makes all the difference in the school day-to-day,” evaluated the director.
Santo Afonso School shows that school meals can be more than just a moment of eating — they can be a space for learning, coexistence, and cultural appreciation, contributing to a more creative, nutritious, and integrated public education system.
