Superheroes in nutrition education: the ludic in health promotion and prevention of anemia in preschool children

Abstract

This study measured the impact of the nutritional education’s intervention on the preschool children’s knowledge and ac‑
tions, aiming both for a promotion of a healthy eating habits and for a prevention of iron deficiency anemia. There was a
comparative evaluation before and after educational activities during 12 months in a kindergarten in the city of Fortaleza,
CE. The education’s methodology was grounded on learning through modeling, with characters representing anemia and
superheroes representing iron, vitamin C and health. Positive reinforcements aiming learning sedimentation were used. To
measure the rate of the knowledge absorption and the acceptance of the recipes it was used tools such as an educational
booklet along with sensory analysis of the new menu’s acceptance. The majority (62,74%) answered clearly about how to
prevent anemia, referring about the approaches used during the intervention. The meals’ rejection significantly dropped
(p < 0,05). The freestyle drawing about the encouraged food quintupled after the intervention (14,7% to 76%).It was
concluded that the use of characters from children’s imagination and the positive reinforcements improved their learning,
encouraging healthier eating habits.