Although more than 80% of schoolchildren believe that the canteen menu is healthy, only one in three students rate it as good or very good (34%), 27% rate it as bad or very bad and many children criticize the taste of the food (35.7%).
This is stated in the report ‘Eating at school: food, education and equity. The vision of girls, boys and adolescents about the dining space’, in the campaign that has just launched ‘5 Star Dining Space’, after a survey carried out on more than 1,600 adolescents between 12 and 18 years old from all over Spain.
Although 94.5% recognize that the school cafeteria provides benefits, highlighting family conciliation (47.6%) and socialization and the creation of friendships (38.8%), The average rating of the space barely reaches 3 out of 5.
“The food was unappetizing, everything tasted the same,” says Andrés, 14 years old (Andalusia), who is among those who highlighted the inadequate temperature (32.2%). “The food was very processed, as if it had been there for a long time,” says Pablo, 14 years old (Andalusia).
Others highlight the insufficient portions (26.6%): “I left hungry. The portions were ridiculous,” says Adriana, 16 years old (Madrid). Others show their preference for food prepared in the center itself, rather than food that comes from catering.
“It is worrying that, after more than a thousand meals throughout primary school, the dining room space does not receive a more positive assessment. This tells us that there is ample room for improvement,” emphasizes Pilar Orenes, general director of Educo.
For the NGO, the dining room space is part of the right to education; It is a place that educates, protects and teaches how to live together. should be part of the educational project of schools and stop being treated as a complementary service and often unrelated to the center’s rules. However, the survey results show important shortcomings.
Punishments
For the vast majority, the best thing about the dining room is being able to play and be with friends (90.5%): “I was looking forward to staying in the dining room so I could play later,” says Helen, 12 years old (Asturias).
However, Students denounce the existence of too many rules and punishments: 56% affirm that they are left without a patio if they do not eat enough and 27% that they have to eat quickly. Only 4% of the boys and girls affirm that there was no type of punishment in their dining room for not complying with the established rules.
Regarding the relationship with the monitorsthey understand the need for rules, but they are fair. Patience stands out as the most appreciated quality (51% believe it is essential), followed by speaking calmly and without shouting (43%), sympathy (33%) and respect (32%). Among their tasks, they value motivating them to eat (32%) and helping them resolve conflicts (29%). “The monitors do a fundamental and complex job, but the boys and girls ask for more support and always educate in good treatment. Patience, respect and dialogue must be at the center,” says Orenes.
The students ask for free play and to be able to exercise their autonomy. 64.8% value having unstructured time and being able to choose what to play and 53.8% value being able to choose who to play with. However, research shows that one in six students feels alone or excluded in this space: “It is very sad to feel alone and feel invisible,” says Jordi, 15 years old (Catalonia). “There are people who greatly need scholarshipsbut they don’t give it to them. So, if you see that someone needs it, then give them the scholarship,” says Laura, 14 years old (Madrid).
The survey also collects opinions regarding the child participation that can be exercised in this space. The vast majority (94.7%) consider that their opinion should be listened to more.
For all these reasons, Educo asks public administrations to move towards a model of “5 Star Dining Space” that is universal and freeintegrated into the educational, healthy and sustainable project, with adequate infrastructure and where the voice of children is heard. Likewise, it demands that the educational role of the staff be recognized, that they have sufficient training, including training in good treatment and protection of children, and with decent working conditions.