Spain extends healthy school meal rules to nurseries: daily fruit, breastfeeding support, and strict limits on fried and processed foods

A new standard for the youngest children

Spain's Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, led by Minister Pablo Bustinduy, announced on 1 June 2026 that it will extend the Real Decreto 315/2025 on healthy and sustainable school meals to the first cycle of early childhood education, covering children from 0 to 3 years old. The regulation, which already applies from the second cycle of preschool through to baccalaureate and vocational training, will now impose the same nutritional and sustainability standards on nursery schools, with specific adaptations for the youngest age group.

The purpose is to facilitate compliance with the recommendation of national and international health bodies on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and, together with other complementary foods, up to two years or more, as long as mother and child wish.

Daily fresh produce and Mediterranean staples

Under the new rules, nursery schools will be required to offer fresh fruit and vegetables every day, with at least 45% of portions being seasonal. The decree also sets mandatory minimum frequencies for legumes and fish, two staples of the Mediterranean diet whose presence in school menus has until now varied widely between centres. Wholegrain cereals will be the preferred option, with the specific exception of rice for this age group, which must remain white. Water and milk will be the only permitted drinks, eliminating soft drinks, sugary beverages and sweetened drinks entirely.

Strict limits on fried and pre-cooked foods

The regulation imposes tight restrictions on less healthy cooking methods and products. Pre-cooked items such as pizzas, croquettes, dumplings and similar battered foods will be limited to a maximum of one portion per month. Fried foods will be allowed no more than once a week, with schools required to prioritise healthier cooking techniques including baking, steaming, grilling and boiling. Additionally, at least 5% of the total food procurement cost must be spent on organic products, or alternatively, two organic main dishes must be offered each month.

Breastfeeding support in educational settings

A key pillar of the new regulation is the promotion of breastfeeding. Nursery schools will be required to adopt measures to support breastfeeding both on-site, by providing dedicated spaces for mothers who choose to breastfeed at the centre, and in deferred form, by guaranteeing appropriate conditions for receiving, storing, handling and administering expressed breast milk. This initiative is grounded in the consensus document on healthy and sustainable eating in the first cycle of early childhood education, drawn up by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) and agreed with the autonomous communities.

Professional oversight and safety

Menus served in nursery schools will be subject to mandatory supervision by professionals with accredited training in human nutrition and dietetics, and families will receive detailed monthly information. The regulation also incorporates specific food safety guidelines for the earliest years of life, including the requirement not to offer foods that have not been previously introduced in the family environment, and the elimination of industrial broths.