Spain's New Royal Decree Ensures Healthier School Meals for Children
On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers in Spain approved a landmark royal decree aimed at transforming school cafeterias across the country. The regulation ensures that children have access to five healthy meals each week, which will include daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables, a variety of fish and legumes, and a complete ban on sugary drinks. Minister of Social Rights and Consumption, Pablo Bustinduy, explained that this initiative was developed collaboratively with the ministries of Education, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Health, and Youth and Childhood.
This progressive move aims to combat the rising levels of childhood obesity in Spain, especially among children from low-income families. According to the recent Aladino study, nearly one-third of schoolchildren aged 6 to 9 are overweight, a troubling statistic that indicates that a significant portion of these children is unable to maintain a healthy diet due to financial constraints. Bustinduy highlighted that the school cafeteria plays a crucial role in reducing inequality and fostering healthy nutritional habits among students.
Under the new decree, all public, charter, and private educational institutions, providing early childhood education through to basic and intermediate vocational training, will be required to implement these new food guidelines. The decree dictates that at least 45% of the fruits and vegetables offered should be seasonal, which not only promotes healthier eating but also supports local farmers and sustainable food practices.
The decree is particularly timely, bolstering Spanish agricultural producers amidst the ongoing trade tensions with the United States. Projects like Ecocomedores in the Canary Islands and Horta Cuina in Valencia have previously adopted similar models successfully.
Further enhancing nutritional standards, the regulation mandates the increased consumption of fish, legumes, and whole grains in school meals. Schools will have to serve between one to three servings of fish weekly—an exciting shift, given that 1,200 Spanish schools currently do not include fish in their menus. Legumes will also be featured more prominently, with the aim of ensuring they are served at least once a week, addressing the fact that some schools still struggle to meet this requirement.
Moreover, the decree places strict limits on the availability of unhealthy food options. Sugary drinks, energy drinks, and industrial pastries will be banned from school cafeterias and vending machines. This regulation stipulates that any packaged food must not exceed 5 grams of sugar per portion, and it outlines specific caloric limits and nutritional guidelines to be followed for all food served in schools. For example, the energy intake from mid-morning snacks, lunches, and snacks should not exceed 10% of the daily caloric value for students aged 4 to 16, with precise breakdowns of fat, saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium.
Lastly, the decree aims to limit the frequency of precooked and fried foods, allowing only one serving per month, while home-cooked fried dishes will be permitted once a week. Preferably, ingredients like olive oil or high-oleic sunflower oil should be used in the preparation.
Overall, this initiative marks a significant step towards ensuring that all Spanish children receive balanced and nutritious meals at school, regardless of their family's economic status, with the ultimate goal of fostering a healthier future generation.
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