There are opportunities to promote and encourage healthy eating throughout the school day. The following section outlines some of the issues that may emerge from your discussions and surveys and highlights ideas for improvement, development and change.

The importance of breakfast is broadly acknowledged and yet there has been a continuing decline in young people eating breakfast. Surveys reveal that up to one in ten children regularly skip breakfast and in some areas it is as high as one in three. Even children who eat breakfast sometimes get hungry before lunchtime and too often their choices are sweets, crisps or high sugar drinks.

Breakfast at school provides an opportunity to begin the day with a healthy balanced meal. Schools that have set up breakfast clubs have found that fruits and fruit juices are popular items. It has the additional benefits of improving children's concentration, punctuality and attendance in the morning, providing early morning childcare and an opportunity for educational and social activities.

Ideas bank 4: Have a big breakfast!

There is nothing inherently unhealthy about snacking. In fact, for children, eating little and often can be the best way to meet nutritional needs. But too often the snack foods on offer are high in fat, salt or sugar, and fruit and vegetable based snacks are unavailable or unappealing. For schools there is often a tension between the need to raise funds from break-time sales and the healthy eating message promoted in the classroom. However, there are many alternatives and children can help design a healthier break-time service.

Ideas bank 5: Set up a fruit tuck shop. Ideas bank 1: Change the rules!, Grab 5! Curriculum Pack, 'Snack Attack!'

Crazy ideas Is your school guilty of any of these 'unhealthy eating' practices? Children are allowed out of school to visit the chip van / ice-cream van. Children are encouraged to collect crisp or chocolate wrappers to raise funds for school. The school holds a 'design a healthy eating poster' competition with a big box of chocolates as the grand prize. Teachers and assistants snack on chocolate and biscuits at breaktime. The school profits from a tuck shop or vending machine which dispenses fizzy drinks, crisps and chocolate.