The school canteens became a determining factor for many families in the most humble neighborhoods of Bariloche. The directors consider that the lunch provided to the students is The most important meal of the day which many of those kids access.
“Many people choose the school for the canteen service, with the guarantee of a good meal supervised by a nutritionist”, summed up Aníbal Escudero, deputy director of school 329 in the Pilar II neighborhood in the south of Bariloche, where 69 students attend.
Since that school went from the simple to the extended day -and therefore, breakfast, lunch and snack are offered- attendance by students has improved.
“My classmates comment that when the school it was a single shift there was a high percentage of absences”, recounted Escudero and added: “Now, we are trying to break some habits. It is noticeable that many families no longer prepare meals. They go straight to the white noodle. So, when you offer varied menus with different vegetables, for example, the kids don’t eat. It has to do with the lack of custom in incorporating some foods”.
Valeria Escobar, director of school 315 in the Malvinas neighborhood, agreed that the dining room offers food that is outside the normal diet of the boys. Matambre on pizza, zucchini or stuffed aubergines or vegetable pies. The offer varies.
“We help children to learn to eat in a different way. In fact, they themselves usually ask Julieta, our cook, to teach their mothers how to cook,” Escobar said.
The director noted the importance of the school canteen for families. “It is a relief. A great help. And we especially notice it on Mondays when they come back from the weekend because the boys come hungry. For this reason, on Fridays and Mondays, the cook prepares a very substantial meal,” said Escobar.
Some 130 students attend school 367 in the Omega neighborhood. “There are very few boys who have lunch at home. There are only about 10 who do not eat at school, either because of a family organization issue or because they live further away from the institution,” explained Soraya Paz, director of school 367.
He assured that the food is varied, that they have access to enough merchandise and of good quality. “Meat, vegetables, dairy products are received. and for families it is an important endorsement because most of them have full-day work shifts and the kids stay in school with the possibility of accessing a healthy diet,” said Paz.
Around 155 children attend school 343 in the Unión neighborhood. “Without a doubt, the lunch offered in the dining room it is the strongest meal of many families, especially for nutrition. Meats, vegetables, fruits, legumes are incorporated”, expressed Melina Lanutti, director of the institution.
He warned that “the goal is for the food to be as healthy as possible. The idea is that they take advantage of eating what they don’t eat at home. It is difficult for them to eat meat because they are not used to it. It is not part of your eating routine“, held.