There are concerns over fat content in school meals

Humphrey Perkins High School in Barrow-Upon-Soar, near Loughborough, is introducing the scanner for Year 8 pupils next week.

Pupils pay for their meals by scanning their thumbprints into a reader, which keeps a record of what they order.

School catering manager Tom Edwards says: "Parents can get a full report every month of what kids are eating."

Burger monitor

He said this will give parents a better opportunity to monitor what their children are eating.

Pupils said the scanner means they do not have to bring lunch money to school, although it does allow parents to keep tabs on their burger intake.

Mr Edwards said: "We serve 900 children at school and this system means we can get the children and staff through a lot quicker than if we used just cash.

"We do four choices of hot dishes a day and we have cut down on pre-packaged and frozen products and we watch the levels of fat and sugar.

High profile

"We feel a good diet is hugely important in a child's life and hopefully make them more attentive and easier to teach and increase their learning."

Dinner lady and mother Judy Devine said: "I want them to have a healthy meal and I want to know what they are eating."

A recent high profile television campaign by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has promoted better eating by pupils.