Os Restaurantes por peso no contexto de alimentação saudável fora de casa Pay-per-kilo restaurants in the context of healthy eating away from home

O consumo de refeições fora de casa é uma tendência em diferentes regiões do mundo, mas há indícios de que essa prática possa apresentar riscos à saúde. É reconhecido que os comportamentos e as escolhas alimentares dos indivíduos são complexos e estão condicionados a diversos fatores. O fator ambiental vem recebendo crescente atenção dentre as variáveis que envolvem as escolhas alimentares. Nesse contexto, este artigo discute a possibilidade de os restaurantes por peso, modalidade de serviço muito utilizada na realidade brasileira, representarem uma alternativa saudável de alimentação fora de casa. Os dados científicos disponíveis relativos aos restaurantes por peso ainda são escassos, não permitindo uma avaliação sistematizada sobre o tema. Assim, com base em pesquisa bibliográfica, discutem-se os modelos praticados e alguns estudos que comparam a possibilidade de escolhas saudáveis em restaurantes com diferentes modalidades de distribuição. Sugere-se que, devido às suas características - que incluem a diversidade, a possibilidade da prática de preços acessíveis, a rapidez e a conveniência -, os restaurantes por peso possam estimular a escolha de alimentos saudáveis nas refeições realizadas fora de casa. Ressalta-se, também, a importância de intervenções nutricionais tanto na disponibilização dos alimentos quanto na orientação à população para escolhas saudáveis nesse contexto.<br>Consumption of food away from home is a trend in different regions of the world, with indications that this practice may pose a health risk. It is recognized that eating behaviors and food choices are complex and conditioned to several factors. The environmental factor has been receiving increasing attention among the variables that involve food choices. In this context, this article discusses the possibility of pay-per-kilo restaurants, a typical Brazilian service, being a healthy alternative when eating out. Scientific facts related to pay-per-kilo restaurants are scarce, making it unfeasible to perform a systematic assessment of the subject. Hence, this review discusses restaurant modalities and some studies that compare the possibility of healthy choices in restaurants with different distribution modalities. Given its characteristics, which include diversity, reasonable prices, speed and convenience, pay-per-weight restaurants can encourage healthy food choices away from home. Also, there is emphasis on the importance of nutrition interventions that make healthy foods available and educate the population to make healthier food choices

Plasma urea nitrogen and progesterone concentrations and follicular dynamics in ewes fed proteins of different degradability

The effects of overfeeding with protein of different degradability on body condition, plasma urea nitrogen and progesterone concentrations, ovulation number and follicular dynamics were assessed in Santa Ines ewes. Twelve ewes were assigned to a randomized block design according to body weight and received overfeeding with soybean meal or with corn gluten meal or maintenance diet for 28 days before ovulation and during the next estrous cycle. Blood samples were taken on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after the beginning of treatments for analysis of plasma urea nitrogen and on days 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 into the estrous cycle for analysis of plasma urea nitrogen and progesterone. Follicular dynamics was monitored daily by ultrasound during one estrous cycle. Dry matter and crude protein intake, weight gain, plasma urea nitrogen concentration before ovulation, number of ovulations, diameter of the largest follicle of the 1st and of the 2nd waves and the growth rate of the largest follicle of the 1st wave were higher in the ewes that received overfeeding. The growth rate of the largest follicle of the 3rd wave was higher in the ewes fed maintenance diet. The back fat thickness, plasma urea nitrogen before ovulation and progesterone concentrations, diameter of the largest follicle of the 2nd wave and growth rate of the largest follicle of the 3rd wave were higher in ewes that received overfeeding with soybean meal. The growth rate of the largest follicle of the 1st wave was higher in ewes that received overfeeding with corn gluten meal. Overfeeding with protein-rich feeds may increase the ovulation number and with soybean meal, it may be effective in increasing plasma progesterone concentration in ewes