Why Good Nutrition Matters
Children don’t just need food to fill them up, they need food that fuels them. During their school years, the right nutrition helps them concentrate better in class, feel calmer and more balanced throughout the day, and gives their bodies everything they need to grow strong and stay healthy. It affects how they learn, how they play, how they sleep, and even how they interact with others.
Research consistently shows that children who eat balanced, nutritious meals are far better equipped to focus, participate in lessons, and manage their emotions. On the flip side, highly processed or sugary foods can cause energy crashes, poor concentration, and even behavioural issues.
Food That Fuels Learning
When children are well-nourished, they’re better able to concentrate, process information and stay engaged throughout the school day. Nutrients like omega-3s, iron, and complex carbohydrates are linked to memory and focus, while a steady supply of energy from balanced meals prevents the mid-morning slump.
In contrast, ultra-processed foods and sugar-laden snacks may provide a quick energy boost, but they’re often followed by a crash in mood and attention, making it harder for children to stay present and perform at their best.
Setting the Foundation for Life
The eating habits formed during childhood often continue into adulthood. When children are exposed to fresh, whole foods and encouraged to try a variety of flavours in their early years, they’re more likely to develop a positive relationship with food. This helps to prevent picky eating patterns, emotional eating, or dependence on processed convenience meals later in life.
Learning to enjoy nourishing meals early on also supports better long-term health, reducing the risk of future issues such as obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Nutrition and Emotional Wellbeing
It’s not just brains and bodies that benefit from good food; emotions do, too. Studies have shown that healthy eating can reduce symptoms of anxiety and low mood in children, especially when meals are rich in nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Food also plays an important emotional role. Sitting down for a calm, nutritious meal – even in a school environment – helps children feel more secure, grounded, and cared for.
The Role of Schools in Healthy Eating
With so many children eating at least one meal a day at school, the role of school food in supporting child health is more important than ever. Nutritious school lunches ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to the fuel they need to thrive.
It’s also an opportunity to support food education: encouraging children to try new foods, discover fresh ingredients, and build lasting knowledge about what’s good for them.
Sana Schools Catering
While quick-fix, processed meals have become the norm for many, we believe in going back to basics with fresh, nourishing food made properly. It’s for this reason that we created Sana Catering Schools, a dedicated school catering service in Marbella designed to give children the very best start in life through fresh, nutritious food.
What Makes a Healthy School Meal?
At Sana Catering Marbella, our school menus are built with purpose. Every meal we serve is:
- Freshly prepared each day using seasonal, local ingredients
- Balanced and nutritious, with the right mix of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats and fibre
- Internationally inspired, to reflect the diverse community here in Marbella
- Free from unnecessary additives and ultra-processed foods, sugars or salts – we use natural herbs and spices to flavour our food
Our Commitment to Fresh, Local Food
We operate from our kitchen in San Pedro de Alcántara’s Polígono Nueva Campana, where we work with local suppliers to bring in fresh produce every single day. We supply meals that feature crunchy vegetables and sweet seasonal fruits, to high-quality fish, meat, and dairy – all of which are carefully selected to support children’s health and growth.
And because we cook everything from scratch each morning, schools can be confident that their pupils are receiving truly home-cooked, wholesome meals.
Food Education – Learning Beyond the Plate
Our aim isn’t just to feed children well whilst they’re at school, we also want to help them understand why healthy food matters. That’s why we invite classes to visit the school kitchen, where they can:
- Discover natural ingredients
- Cook alongside our chefs
- Learn about nutrition in an engaging, hands-on way
We believe in making healthy eating part of a child’s learning journey, building positive relationships with food that last long after they leave education.
Working with Local Schools in Marbella
We’re proud to provide daily school lunches to Aloha College and Svenska Skolan Marbella, with more schools joining our catering programme each year.
Our team is fully equipped to support schools across Marbella and the Costa del Sol, offering a reliable, well-organised and completely adaptable catering service. Whether you’re a large international school or a smaller local institution, we’ll work closely with you to develop a menu that offers healthy meals tailored to your pupils’ needs.
Ready to explore our menus? Visit our School Catering page to find out more.
A Healthier Future Starts Here
Good nutrition helps children learn, grow, and feel their best – and that’s exactly what we’re here to provide. At Sana Catering Marbella, we take care of everything, so schools can focus on teaching and parents can feel reassured.
If you’re looking for a trusted school catering partner in Marbella or the Costa del Sol, we’d love to hear from you. Our meals are made with care, cooked with love, and designed to support every child’s wellbeing.
Contact us today to find out how we can help your school bring healthy food to the table, every single day.