Well-being and lifestyle in Spain: The Mediterranean diet and exercise

What is the lifestyle like in Spain? This question has many variables. According to the UN Human Development Index, Spain is the fifth best country in the world to live in. The climate, culture and cuisine are just some of the factors that make Spain an ideal home with a great quality of life

For an international student, experiencing this lifestyle in Spain is a unique opportunity that will not only give them the chance to enjoy rich and varied food, but also the many health benefits of this diet and exercise.

The Spanish diet: some interesting facts

The eating habits of the Spanish population have taken a radical turn in recent decades: they are increasingly concerned about their diet, have healthy lifestyle habits and recreate the most traditional and nutritious meals from their time-honoured cuisine.

For example, data collected by official reports and studies carried out since 2012 reflect that the country’s society has:

  • Increased the amount of money spent on healthy and low-fat foods.
  • Paid a much higher percentage for the annual total of their meals.
  • Consumed more homemade meals and less fast food and ultra-processed foods.
  • Used less sugar when preparing their meals.
  • Used more proteins, pulses or fish.
Well-being and Lifestyle in Spain: Mediterranean Diet and Sports | BSS

The Spanish diet: some interesting facts

The eating habits of the Spanish population have taken a radical turn in recent decades: they are increasingly concerned about their diet, have healthy lifestyle habits and recreate the most traditional and nutritious meals from their time-honoured cuisine.

 

For example, data collected by official reports and studies carried out since 2012 reflect that the country’s society has:

 

  • Increased the amount of money spent on healthy and low-fat foods.
  • Paid a much higher percentage for the annual total of their meals.
  • Consumed more homemade meals and less fast food and ultra-processed foods.
  • Used less sugar when preparing their meals.

Used more proteins, pulses or fish.

What is the Mediterranean diet?

On top of this, the habits of Mediterranean societies constitute a rich sociocultural heritage that we pass down from generation to generation in Spain, and schools, along with families, are the ideal place to transmit this knowledge.

 

This type of cuisine, based on the gastronomy of Spanish cities and European countries that are close to the Mediterranean Sea, has become one of the most famous due to its importance in a balanced diet, as it provides vitamins and minerals, monounsaturated fatty acids, complex carbohydrates and lots of fibre.

 

It is characterised by the consumption of cereals, extra virgin olive oil, fruits and vegetables, pulses, oily fish, eggs, dairy products and lots of water every day.

 

Food standards at schools in Spain

Children’s diet must be both balanced and healthy. Students need a lot of energy to face their daily routine, and this means that they need a wide variety of nutritional components.

Due to the reality of our society and work life, an increasing number of families send their children to the school canteen for lunch. Here, in addition to ensuring that they get the nutrition they need, children also acquire hygienic habits: general hygiene, hands, teeth, handling food while eating, etc.

We encourage children to try different foods in the canteen, transmitting the habit and custom of eating a variety of foods at each meal and creating a healthy lifestyle from a young age that encourages the variety, balance and moderation of the Mediterranean diet.

BSS schools want to avoid boredom at all costs, and that’s why we try not to serve the same meals within a fortnight. In addition, these vary according to the time of year to favour seasonal produce and ensure the well-being of all our students with a healthy and varied diet.

Importance of exercise in a healthy lifestyle

Regular physical exercise or proper sleep also play an important role in preventing non-communicable diseases (heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases or diabetes).

 

According to the latest survey from the INE (Spanish National Institute of Statistics) on “Regular physical exercise and sedentary habits during free time”, 26.5% of people aged over 15 regularly exercise in their free time, one percent more than figures from the same study three years earlier.

Providing adequate information to promote healthy habits among the youngest members of society should start at school, the best place to establish daily exercise habits and teach children about responsible practices, giving them a healthier lifestyle. This is what we do at the Best Schools in Spain.

An all-round education based on health and quality of life

From a young age, it is important that children are aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle (diet, sleep, exercise, etc.), working on an all-round education based on health and quality of life.

That’s why children should receive an all-round education by learning about and caring for their body and developing physical, intellectual, personal and social skills through coexistence and cooperation.

Schools that are committed to healthy eating and exercise

In our schools, physical and sports education is both a subject in itself and a teaching resource to develop other subjects from an integral perspective. We also believe it plays an important role in promoting good, balanced and responsible eating habits, where organic products take centre stage.


Schools should become a key centre for promoting health among young students: improving healthy lifestyle habits and quality of life and preventing non-communicable diseases, this is how we work at the Best Schools in Spain.

Well-being and Lifestyle in Spain: Mediterranean Diet and Sports | BSS

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