Eating in Juvenile Centers: Between Educational Perspective and Significance of Shared Food
The meals we observed in juvenile centers aren’t family meals, nor schools meals. They are of course used to feed young women and men, but, above all, useful to gather, once a day, every one who is living in the juvenile center. In the daily routine or during holiday, parties or festivities, meals are moments to celebrate groups and individuals. Food is also an educational opportunity to learn how to compose and complete healthy, unexpansive and tasty menus. In addition, young people will be told how to behave and to improve their good manners. This learning allows them to develop a « material » autonomy based on hard skills and independency. This form of material autonomy is nevertheless not considered by young people and educators as much important as the « immaterial » autonomy based on soft skills which promote the art of « good » choices and balanced relationships.