Chips are a popular but unhealthy lunchtime choice

Eight pilot projects each covering about 500 schools are to be launched across England on Monday.

Schemes include healthy eating tuck shops and breakfast clubs, and an initiative to teach parents how to put together healthy packed lunches.

The campaign, which has been welcomed by nutritionists, is part of a drive to reduce child obesity.

If we can encourage healthy food choices in school, that encourages healthy eating habits for life Azima Govindji, British Dietetic Association

Figures for England suggest that one in seven 15 year olds and one in twelve six year olds are obese.

Between 1996 and 2001, the proportion of overweight children aged six to 15 increased by 7%.

A survey of children in 2002 found the most popular foods requested at school were those which could be "hand held" such as pizza and burgers, fresh fruit and sandwiches.

And almost a third would choose healthy options if there was a better choice available at school.

Free fruit

Other projects being launched as part of the healthy eating campaign include cookery clubs and initiatives to increase awareness of nutrition among parents and children.

Results from the projects, due in late 2004, will be disseminated to schools around England.

The campaign follows the �44m national school fruit scheme, under which almost a million children aged between four and six receive a free piece of fruit each day.

Health minister Melanie Johnson said: "Children who are overweight or obese face greater risks of developing serious illness later in life, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

"Obesity itself is responsible for 31,000 premature deaths each year. It's vital we tackle this problem before it's too late."

Azima Govindji, a spokeswoman for the British Dietetic Association which backs the health eating programme, told BBC News Online: "Childhood habits die hard, so if we can encourage healthy food choices in school, that encourages healthy eating habits for life.

"That has implications for coronary heart disease rates, diabetes and obesity-related conditions."

Paul Burstow, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said the initiative would not be enough to combat childhood obesity.

He said: "The threat of a childhood obesity epidemic is now so serious, ministers should be announcing more that a handful of pilot projects.

"Ministers should be tackling the red tape and poor regulation that lets cheap high fat, high salt, high sugar food dominate school menus.

"They should get tough with vending machines in all schools. The ready availability of that snack bar, packet of crisps or can of soft drink is reinforcing the grazing culture that is adding pounds to our children's waistlines.

"And ministers should seriously be questioning why it is we spend less per child on school meals than we do on meals for convicted prisoners."