OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutricional adequacy of a company's self-service lunch menus, based on the daily mean per capita consumption. METHODS: The method used was the direct weighing of ingredients, meal dishes, beverages and leftovers, before and after meal distribution. RESULTS: The average energetic value corrected by the plate waste factor (6.6%) was equal to 1108kcal. The carbohydrate, protein, and fat contents supplied, respectively, 51%, 19%, and 30% of the metabolic energy. Based on recommendations for the Brazilian male population (2.785kcal), the evaluated lunch menus corresponded to 40% of energy, 30% of carbohydrate, 96% of protein, and 47% of lipids. For the female clientele, those values were, respectively, 54%, 41%, 130%, and 64%. The consumption of dietary fiber was inadequate, corresponding to 48% of the clientele's daily requirements. CONCLUSION: The usual consumers of the above mentioned self-service lunch should receive nutritional advice about appropriate meals, since the evaluated lunch consumption was low in carbohydrates, high in protein and lipids. Though it might be normocaloric for the men, it was hypercaloric for the women.
self-service lunch; food services; nutritionist; food and nutrition sevices
