The Municipal Nutrition Team met with Education Guardians to present the operation of the school meal service, the team's areas of intervention, and to raise awareness about the importance of healthy eating for children's development. The meeting also aimed to strengthen communication and collaboration with families.
The Councillor for Education, Ilda Matos, thanked everyone for attending, highlighting the joint work between the Municipality, the School, Families, and the professionals involved. "The quality of school meals is the result of joint work and coordination between the Municipality, the School, Families, the Parents' Association, and all professionals involved in the meal service," she stated.
Rui Alcino, representing the School Group Management, emphasized the importance of healthy eating for children's learning and harmonious development.
Vilma Fonseca, Municipal Education Technician, explained that the service complies with guidelines from the General Directorate of Education (DGE) and the General Directorate of Health (DGS), with bimonthly technical inspections and an annual audit to ensure quality, safety, and hygiene.
The meeting also served to introduce the new municipal nutrition team, composed of technicians Gabriela Duarte and Sónia Dias, who began their work in August. The technicians explained that the menus are developed based on principles of balance, safety, variety, seasonality, and local sourcing, benefiting the local economy and environmental sustainability.
Adequate portion sizes for each age group were discussed, along with the importance of complete and appealing dishes, and the school's role in nutritional education. The technicians stressed that the way food is cooked and presented can influence children's acceptance, suggesting that parents apply similar techniques at home.
The Municipality of Mortágua provides approximately one thousand meals daily, from Pre-school to the 12th grade, including the Daycare. The service includes snacks and lunches, with special menus for students with dietary restrictions due to health, cultural, ethnic, or religious reasons, always ensuring complete and safe meals.
The technicians highlighted the rigor of the kitchen teams, considered "our great ally and support in the nutritional area." Soon, the Municipal Portal will feature a nutrition section for parents to consult menus, access information, and clarify doubts.
