I was recently chatting with a few friends about our kids’ schooling, and I noticed that everyone is particularly concerned about the canteens at private schools. After all, the most important meal of the day is eaten at school, and whether the food is good and healthy directly affects their physical development and their concentration in afternoon classes. As it happens, my child attends a private middle school in Madrid, so I thought I’d share a real look at our school’s canteen. Hopefully, this can be a helpful reference for parents who are in the process of choosing a school.
How the School Canteen Menu is Structured
Our school’s canteen menu is sent out to parents’ emails a month in advance and is also posted on the school’s bulletin board. I find this very transparent, as it allows parents to know what their kids are eating every day. The menu is typically very “Mediterranean” and generally follows a set pattern:
- First Course: Usually vegetables, legumes, soup, salad, or a carb like pasta or rice.
- Second Course: Protein-focused, such as roast chicken, pan-fried fish, stewed beef, or pork chops.
- Dessert: Most of the time it’s seasonal fruit, with the occasional yogurt or a school-made pudding.
The school also clearly marks potential allergens in the dishes, such as gluten, dairy, and nuts, which is very helpful for children with allergies to Spanish private schools. Overall, the nutritional balance is quite good, with very few fried foods and a generally light flavor profile.
Weekly Lunch Costs and a Sample Menu
Regarding the price, which is a major concern for many, our school canteen charges on a monthly basis, ranging from €150-€180 per month, depending on the number of school days in that month. This averages out to about €8 per day. Here is a sample menu from a random week that I photographed, to give you a clearer idea:
| Day | First Course | Second Course | Dessert |
|---|
| Monday | Lentejas con chorizo | Merluza a la romana | Manzana |
| Tuesday | Crema de calabacín | Pollo asado | Yogur |
| Wednesday | Macarrones con tomate | Filete de ternera a la plancha | Pera |
| Thursday | Ensalada mixta | Hamburguesa casera | Plátano |
| Friday | Paella de verduras | Tortilla francesa | Naranja |
Based on my kid’s feedback, the taste is definitely not as good as a home-cooked meal, but it’s not bad either. His favorites are the macaroni with tomato on Wednesdays and the homemade hamburger patty on Thursdays. He’s not a fan of the bean dishes, like lentils and chickpeas, and I imagine many kids feel the same way. If the portion isn’t enough, students can ask the canteen staff, who are usually happy to give them a second helping, especially of the first course.
I’m quite satisfied with the school canteen. Although the price isn’t cheap, the convenience and balanced nutrition make it worthwhile. Compared to waking up early every day to pack a lunchbox, I think it’s money well spent. Of course, every school is different. I’d recommend that when you’re choosing a school, you should ask for a sample canteen menu or see it for yourself during a school open day to get more comprehensive information about [Spanish private schools] and also [Spanish semi-private schools (concertados)]. What are the canteens like at your children’s schools? Let’s talk about it!
