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Naila Martínez, nutricionista, contundente con los monitores que cuidan a los a…
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Nutritionist Calls for Urgent Overhaul of School Lunchroom Practices to Protect Children's Well-being
Madrid, Spain – Naila Martínez, a respected nutritionist and influential online personality, has issued a compelling call for a nationwide reevaluation and reform of school lunchroom practices in Spain. In a recent video that has garnered significant attention, Martínez articulated deep concerns about the emotional and developmental impact of current mealtime environments on children. She specifically criticized prevailing methods that often involve pressuring children to consume all food on their plates, implementing punishments for non-compliance, and frequently ignoring their natural signals of hunger and satiety. Martínez passionately argued that the experience of eating in a school setting is not merely a nutritional transaction but a crucial developmental opportunity. "The act of eating is not just about nutrition; it's about relationships, autonomy, respect, and learning," she stated, underscoring that the way children are accompanied during meals shapes their long-term relationship with food. She pointed out that many school monitors, despite their best intentions, are often left to improvise, leading to control-based, punitive, or dismissive interactions with children. This lack of specific training, she contends, perpetuates harmful practices. To address these systemic shortcomings, Martínez proposed several key reforms. She advocated for mandatory and specialized training for all school lunchroom monitors, focusing on comprehensive child development, respectful feeding strategies, and effective emotional accompaniment. Additionally, she called for the establishment of clear, standardized protocols to handle common challenges such as food rejections, conflicts at the table, and children who eat slowly. Martínez emphasized the necessity of real supervision to ensure dignified treatment, free from shouting, undue pressure, or manipulative tactics. Finally, she stressed the critical importance of active family participation, asserting that a holistic approach is required to integrate the lunchroom fully into the school's educational framework, fostering a supportive and healthy environment for every child.
