Back to school: only 22% of Catalan children’s afternoon snacks are healthy.
September. New backpacks, new schedules, and that question that comes back every afternoon: “So, what’s for snack today?”
A study by the UOC together with the Catalan Public Health Agency* analysed more than 2,000 afternoon snacks from Catalan families. The conclusion is clear: only 22% can be considered healthy.
This isn’t a matter of bad intentions. It’s a matter of choices and habits and both can be changed.
Why the afternoon snack matters more than it seems
Between lunch and dinner there’s an energy gap that children’s bodies really feel. Kids have smaller energy reserves than adults and a more active metabolism: they need to “recharge” in the afternoon to perform well in extracurricular activities, homework, or play.
And not just any energy will do. What we eat in the afternoon also shapes habits that carry into adulthood.
The real problem: pastries, soft drinks and the easy way out
42% of afternoon snacks are sandwiches, followed by pastries (24%) and fruit (14%)*. The problem isn’t the sandwich itself, but what’s inside it… and above all, what’s drunk alongside it.
A regular soft drink contains between 25 and 40 grams of sugar per can six to ten sugar cubes yet we barely notice it.
Nearly 4 out of 10 children aged 6 to 9 are overweight or obese in Spain, and only 1 in 4 eats the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables*. Two figures partly explained by what happens every afternoon between five and seven.
New school regulations for the 2026 school year
Since April 2026, Royal Decree 315/2025 requires school canteens to prioritise fruit, vegetables, legumes and quality protein, and to limit ultra-processed foods*. Menus must be designed by professionals, adapted to each educational stage, and follow clear criteria for variety and balance, encouraging the use of local and seasonal produce.
7 keys from UOC experts for a healthy afternoon snack
- Real food, few ingredients. A piece of fruit, a handful of nuts, a hard-boiled egg.
- Variety. Carbs (wholegrain bread) + protein (cheese, yoghurt, egg) + fruit or vegetables.
- No added sugars, whether in pastries or drinks.
- Seasonal, local fruit. In September: apples, pears, grapes, pomegranate.
- Sustainable packaging. Reusable bottle, lunchbox, reusable wrap.
- Plan the night before. Five minutes the night before change everything.
- Get them involved. If they choose or prepare their own snack, they’re more likely to eat it.
What to drink with a good snack
- Water: always the first choice.
- 100% natural juice, no added sugars: our 100% apple juices ECO, Golden, Granny and Story, cold-pressed in Lleida, keep the fruit’s nutrients without added sugars or preservatives.
- A soft drink alternative: kids want bubbles, not sugar. SAMBA combines Lleida apple juice with ginger, lemon and mint, with no added sugars or colourings.
- To avoid: regular soft drinks and packaged juices with added sugars.
Three rules for the whole school year
- Fruit or vegetables, whenever possible.
- Read the label: if sugar is among the first three ingredients, it’s not what it seems.
- Prepare it the night before. The easy way and the healthy way go hand in hand.
Taking good care of yourself shouldn’t be complicated. And the afternoon snack is the best place to prove it, every day of the school year.
Products mentioned: SAMBA, ECO soft drink with no added sugars · Golden ECO apple juice · Granny ECO apple juice ·
Sources:
- FoodLab UOC / Catalan Public Health Agency study, Nutrients (2024) — uoc.edu
- 7 keys for healthy and sustainable breakfasts and afternoon snacks, N. San Onofre, A. Aguilar and A. Bach (FoodLab/NUTRALiSS, UOC), blogs.uoc.edu
- AESAN — Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition
- Saned School Gastronomy — New school menu regulations 2026 — saned.net
- Royal Decree 315/2025 on school canteens.
