Food in the family and school context of the child with malnutrition in a rural area

Introduction: Culture implies a repertoire of different customs, beliefs and practices that should be respected and considered when caring. Objective: To describe and understand the power in the family and school context of the child with malnutrition in a rural area. Methods: Qualitative study, with ethnographic design. The sample was represented by 19 informants: eleven mothers, one teacher, one nurse and six family members, selected for saturation and redundancy; data collected by participant observation, ethnographic interview and field diary and analyzed using content analysis. Results: a) Customs in the acquisition, storage, preparation and distribution of food, b) Beliefs, food deprivation and use of home remedies to diseases, c) Participation of mothers in nutritional status Program at school. Conclusions: Care of mothers preschool, they are influenced largely by the cultural component: Evidencing preferences give the best portion of food to the household head; low consumption of meat and vegetables; your way to heal disease by limiting the consumption of certain foods and inappropriate use of medicinal plants, a situation that could aggravate malnutrition.