Abstract

The National School Feeding Program (PNAE) ensures that all students enrolled in public schools in Brazil receive adequate meals. For individuals with special dietary requirements (SDR), this involves various adaptations, such as menu planning that accommodates dietary restrictions while meeting nutritional quality standards. Within this context, this study aimed to analyze the menus of public kindergartens in a municipality in Bahia. Menus published on the municipality’s official website were collected and analyzed using the IQCosan instrument, followed by an assessment of nutritional adequacy and a qualitative analysis regarding the provision for special dietary needs. The results showed that, according to PNAE parameters, the menus presented adequate quality. Nutritional analysis indicated adequacy in energy, carbohydrates, and proteins, but inadequacy in lipids and micronutrients—especially in SDR menus, which also showed lower diversity. The findings highlight the need for greater attention from food purchasing to preparation and serving, to prevent cross-contamination, ensure appropriate products, and avoid segregation of children. The study underscores the importance of reviewing the program’s parameters and evaluation tools to better serve this population.