Desenvolvimento de um jogo educativo para promover a alimentação saudável entre adolescentes: uma proposta lúdica baseada no Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira

Abstract

Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) is a strategic field in health promotion, integrating biological, social, economic, cultural, and affective dimensions of eating. In Brazil, public policies such as the National Food and Nutrition Policy (PNAN), Law 13.666/2018, and Decree 11.821/2023 reinforce FNE as a central component for educational actions and the critical formation of individuals, especially in school settings. Despite these advances, access to and understanding of the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines remain limited, particularly among adolescents, due to its formal language and the lack of attractive pedagogical approaches. In response to this gap, the present study introduces the development of the educational game “Guia dos Curiosos,” a ludic-pedagogical resource based on the messages and chapters of the Dietary Guidelines, designed to stimulate critical reflection and food autonomy. The game uses a spiral-shaped board, thematic cards, and problem-based situations that integrate cultural, media, and environmental elements related to food choices. Tested in a pilot activity with adolescents from IFRN–Natal, the game demonstrated strong engagement, potential for meaningful learning, and the ability to promote debate and decision-making in a playful environment, configuring the “magic circle” described by Huizinga. The results indicate that ludic strategies foster interest, dialogue, and the understanding of complex content, bringing young people closer to the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines. Thus, the game emerges as a promising educational tool to expand the reach of FNE in school and community contexts, contributing to innovative methodologies in health education.