{"id":19655,"date":"2026-09-21T09:31:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T07:31:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodbiofoods.com\/?p=19655"},"modified":"2026-09-28T16:47:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T14:47:17","slug":"healthy-snacks-for-kids-only-22-make-the-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodbiofoods.com\/en\/healthy-snacks-for-kids-only-22-make-the-cut\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy snacks for kids: only 22% make the cut"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Back to school: only 22% of Catalan children’s afternoon snacks are healthy.<\/h2><\/div>

September. New backpacks, new schedules, and that question that comes back every afternoon: “So, what’s for snack today?”<\/p>

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.<\/p>

This isn’t a matter of bad intentions. It’s a matter of choices and habits and both can be changed.<\/p>

Why the afternoon snack matters more than it seems<\/strong><\/h3>

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.<\/p>

And not just any energy will do. What we eat in the afternoon also shapes habits that carry into adulthood.<\/p>

The real problem: pastries, soft drinks and the easy way out<\/strong><\/h3>

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.<\/p>

A regular soft drink contains between 25 and 40 grams of sugar per can six to ten sugar cubes yet we barely notice it.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

New school regulations for the 2026 school year<\/strong><\/h3>

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.<\/p>

7 keys from UOC experts for a healthy afternoon snack<\/strong><\/h3>
  1. Real food, few ingredients. A piece of fruit, a handful of nuts, a hard-boiled egg.<\/li>
  2. Variety. Carbs (wholegrain bread) + protein (cheese, yoghurt, egg) + fruit or vegetables.<\/li>
  3. No added sugars, whether in pastries or drinks.<\/li>
  4. Seasonal, local fruit. In September: apples, pears, grapes, pomegranate.<\/li>
  5. Sustainable packaging. Reusable bottle, lunchbox, reusable wrap.<\/li>
  6. Plan the night before. Five minutes the night before change everything.<\/li>
  7. Get them involved. If they choose or prepare their own snack, they’re more likely to eat it.<\/li><\/ol>

    What to drink with a good snack<\/strong><\/h3>