OBJECTIVE: Considering that promoting healthy eating in school is a priority and having food and nutrition education as strategy, this article describes the construction and investigates the applicability of a method to assess the training processes in this area. METHODS: The development of this method included: object definition and assessment objectives; assessment model; definition of the dimensions to be assessed; and selection and construction of indicators and plan of analysis. The method was administered in a training program in Salvador (BA) to professors, managers and cook assistants. RESULTS: A protocol with twelve indicators distributed into five dimensions was developed, defining parameters to assess results. In the pilot-administration, the method revealed that the course reached a very good global performance according to the analysis plan. The participants demonstrated interest and no difficulties to answer the questions, indicating the appropriateness of the investigated variables. Generally, the results obtained with the method are compatible with the literature on the theme. As observation revealed the existence of some problems in the development of the program, readjustments of the indicators, and especially of the analysis plan, were admittedly needed for the final result to be able to discriminate specific problems. CONCLUSION: The method was sensitive to multiple training dimensions. However, new tests with the protocol are suggested since this is a theme of great breadth and dynamism.
Program evaluation; Food and nutrition education; Evaluation studies
