Urban agriculture as a strategy to health and healthy eating promotion.

Abstract

Urban lifestyle has strong inffluence on contemporary food style that is caracterized by increasing demand for cheap and practical foods, replacement of traditional foods by ultraprocessed foods with high levels of sugar, fat, salt and starch, and low nutrients and fiber contents. Urban agriculture (UA) can be an important strategy to increase access and intake of FV, besides recovers tradicional eating habits. Aim: To analyze the UA contribution to promote adequate and healthy eating, from the perspective of health promotion. Methods: A qualitative study will be developed in Embu das Artes city, using the case study strategy. Participant observation will be conducted basic health units (BHU) and municipal schools (MS) where there are gardens. Focus groups will be carried out with social actors from these locations. Individual interviews will be conducted with representatives of municipal managers, schools, municipal councils related to food and health and BHU. Participants of gardens' diet will de evaluated. Availability, variety, price and quality of FV and processed foods in the neighborhood of BHU's and EM's gardens will be assessed. Analyzis will be conducted according to Health Promotion and Food Security theoretical frameworks.