[Moving towards healthy and sustainable eating in educational establishments: Royal Decree 315/2025, of 15 April, establishing rules for the development of Law 17/2011, of 5 July, on food security and nutrition].

Childhood obesity is a persistent Public Health problem in Spain, with high prevalence rates and marked socioeconomic inequalities. The school environment is a strategic space for encouraging healthy and sustainable eating habits and promoting equity. Royal Decree 315/2025 is examined as an instrument for promoting this change. The standard was developed through a participatory and regulated process, including intensive interministerial coordination. It was based on key references, such as the 2010 Consensus Document and Program 16 of the PNCOCA. Different impacts were evaluated to ensure consistency and viability. Articles 40 and 41 of Law 17/2011 were developed, establishing criteria applicable to educational centers from the second cycle of preschool education to vocational training cycles. These cover nutritional aspects, such as prioritizing fresh, seasonal, and organic foods, the use of healthy cooking techniques, the use of iodized salt, among others; as well as measures aimed at responsible waste and packaging management. The sale of products with a high content of saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, salt, and sugars, as well as packaged products with a high caffeine content, is not allowed. Dietary frequencies are established for different food groups, and special menus are available for health, ethical, and religious reasons. This regulation consolidates a state framework for school meals, aligned with european and international standards, and is a key tool for transforming school environments into spaces that promote health and equity.