Merendeira from Boa Vista is selected to participate in national reality show

Lunch lady Lenny Matos, who works at the Centenário Nursery Center, was selected to participate in the reality national show “Vida de Merendeira”, which premieres this Thursday (9) at 7pm (local time), on the Sabor & Arte channel, on YouTube. Lenny, who enchants little ones every day with his cooking and affection, was selected from 300,000 candidates from all over Brazil with his recipe for “Paçoca Nutritiva”, a delicacy served in schools.

The program promises to not only entertain, but also highlight the fundamental role of lunch ladies in promoting healthy eating in the school environment. With recordings in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), there will be eight episodes full of emotion, showing how a balanced meal can directly influence students’ performance in the classroom.

For Lenny, being a lunch lady goes far beyond preparing food. It is an act of love and dedication that she has practiced for six years, providing not only nutrition but also affection to the little students. “Being a lunch lady for me represents life. We wake up early, we leave our children at home to feed and care for other people’s children, who also end up becoming ours,” she shared.

Amidst the anxiety and expectation to experience this new experience, Lenny expresses his gratitude for representing Boa Vista in a national program. “I felt very privileged to be one of those selected. I intend to bring a lot of joy, talk a little about our local cuisine and show the whole of Brazil that we have a quality snack”, he highlighted.

What is nutritious paçoca?

In the first stage of selection of reality, lunch ladies made recipes that used ingredients from their regions. And for Boa Vista, there would be no other star to be chosen, other than the traditional paçoca. However, in schools, the recipe gained ‘new ingredients’, which make the dish more nutritious.

Hence the name, Paçoca Nutritiva! Unlike the recipe already known by Roraimenses, in the snack, the preparation uses onion, beetroot, carrot, beef jerky, kale, sweet potato flour and cassava flour, leaving the dish more full-bodied and with a unique flavor.

Benefits for children’s development

According to nutritionist Lusyanny Parente, the idea of ​​the dish is to combine the traditional Roraima culture with what is recommended by experts for feeding young children, guaranteeing a tasty and rich meal from a nutritional point of view.

“We have grated beets and carrots, vegetables that contain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, magnesium and fiber. It also contains sweet potato flour, rich in vitamin A, C and B complex. These are essential nutrients for children’s growth, ensuring cognitive and learning development,” he explained.