Macaroni cheese and hamburgers could soon be kicked off the school lunch menu after vendors are given lessons in how to prepare healthy meals.

Health bosses — frustrated at an overwhelming trend to serve up fatty food to youngsters — are setting up cooking workshops for school meal providers.

They say vendors claim children are junk food fans who turn their noses up at the healthier option.

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It comes after a new survey this week revealed one in three youngsters aged five to ten is overweight or obese.

Asked whether unhealthy foods dominate school menus, she said: "There's an overwhelming pattern in that respect. They want to provide meals that the students will enjoy and say if they provide healthy meals the students will shun them. But you can provide healthy meals that children will eat. Health doesn't have to affect their profit.

"We have to teach them. We are preparing and delivering a workshop to which all the meal providers for schools will be invited.

"It will involve information on environmental health requirements, nutritional policies, and training on preparation of balanced, appealing, tasty meals for children; cooking demonstrations."

The workshop is to take place in the new school term.

On the importance of choosing the right diet, Dr. Attride-Stirling said: "A healthy diet doesn't have to be a boring diet, or expensive. Eating healthy can be tasty, and eating a KFC bucket costs a lot more."

Mr. Scott said: "Whether our children bring their lunches from home, or eat lunches in their school cafeterias, I would urge all those responsible for providing our children's lunches to make healthy food choices.

"Healthy does not mean boring or tasteless and so I encourage the schools' cafeteria providers to collaborate with their colleagues in the business as well as chefs at local restaurants and hotels in order that healthy menu ideas may be shared.

Mr. Scott added that the Department of Health works closely with school cafeterias in planning nutritious healthy meals for students.

The healthy message was backed up yesterday by Brad Clease, an executive chef for a string of restaurants across Bermuda including Ten in Dundonald Street and Bistro J in Chancery Lane.

Mr. Clease demonstrated for The Royal Gazette how to prepare a budget-friendly wahoo salad in just a few minutes. He says the meal is a hit with his two young sons and that all children should be encouraged to eat more healthily, in schools and at home.

"For parents, there's no such thing as eating a home-cooked meal any more," he said.

"The kids will eat chicken nuggets and burgers if that's what you give them; if you don't give them another option they aren't going to know any different.

"There's a rule in our house that you have to say you'll try everything. Eating healthily can be a really exciting way to eat. It can become more of a lifestyle thing instead of just dieting. You eat well, you feel good."

Government responded to figures showing more than 60 percent of adults are overweight or obese by launching a Healthy Weight Action Plan last month.

It calls for a number of measures, including tax to be cut on healthy food and increased on unhealthy food; schools to implement a nutrition policy; and promoting the City of Hamilton as a walking city.

For ideas on how to prepare healthier meals, parents can telephone the Ministry of Health on 278-4900 and ask for the Nutrition or Health Schools' coordinators.