Fewer pupils have been eating canteen food

Figures show that the overall school meal uptake went down from 49% to 47%, compared to a study the previous year.

The fall, which was largest in secondary schools, was put down to initial responses to new menus and the introduction of cashless payments.

But the executive said progress was being made, including access to fresh chilled water and free fruit.

Some councils did buck the trend - Dundee secondary schools saw a 10% increase in school meals and primary schools in Angus are serving more meals than last year.

The changeover to healthier menus needn't put children off Gillian Kynoch Executive food and health adviser

The figures, based on a census conducted in January, also show 19% of pupils were known to be entitled to free school meals, the same as in 2004.

Of these, two-thirds - or 12% of all pupils - had a free school meal on the census day.

A third of schools had a system for not disclosing who was being served a free meal, up from 26% last year.

The figures also show that nearly every primary school gave free fresh fruit to P1 and P2 pupils, and 94% of all schools made free chilled water available to staff and pupils.

Ministers have spent �63m in the last three years to enable councils to provide healthier meals, including new nutritional standards.

Changing habits

Gillian Kynoch, the executive's food and health co-ordinator, said "significant" progress was being made.

"Access to fresh chilled water and free fruit, as well as improvements to school meals generally, are important steps in establishing good eating habits that will benefit children for the rest of their lives.

"Already in schools I see children losing their fear of the unknown and trying out the latest health-conscious options.

The executive said attitudes were changing

"The encouraging increases reported by some local authorities show that the changeover to healthier menus needn't put children off."

And Claire Alison, nutrition associate assessor with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, said there was "real enthusiasm" for making school meals better.

"Many schools are getting parents and children involved in this gradual process, encouraging pupils to think about what they want to eat and also backing this up with education about why they should change their diets," she said.

"Where this is happening, children are not suspicious of the changes but in control of them.