Brazil’s School Lunches Serve Twice the Protein Limit as Meat Dominates Menus, ProVeg Study Finds

A recent study by ProVeg Brazil revealed that public school lunches in the country provide double the protein limit recommended by the National School Feeding Program (PNAE), predominantly featuring meat in nearly 79% of meals. Launched during the COP31 climate conference, the report analyzed 450 meal plans for children aged 6 to 10 from various municipalities across Brazil, finding that meat dominates the menus, contributing significantly to protein excess and saturated fat limits. Although legumes are included in 36.7% of meals, the median meal emits 1.98 kg of CO₂e, primarily due to the heavy reliance on beef, which accounts for 76% of emissions.

The report suggests that introducing just one plant-based meal per week could lead to meaningful nutritional and environmental benefits, such as increased fiber and iron intake, and a significant reduction in cholesterol and saturated fat levels. ProVeg recommends policy changes to integrate more plant-based options into PNAE guidelines, increase legume and whole grain servings, and provide plant-based cooking training for kitchen staff. With over 40 million students relying on these meals daily, such changes could positively influence the eating habits of a generation and reduce the climate impact associated with school lunches.