The healthy eating policy has been running for three years

For the last three years Eastbank Primary has pushed the message that fruit and vegetables are good for you.

The school, which has more than 400 pupils, is in Shettleston where 46.1% of children live with unemployed parents, residents earn the lowest average household income in Glasgow and life expectancy is just 64.

The health drive began in response in part to the bad publicity surrounding the health and wealth of the area.

Headteacher Linda Turner said: "We wanted to make a difference for all our children, their immediate families and their extended families."

The initiative includes every child being given a free portion of fruit just before their morning break four days a week.

Mrs Turner said: "They eat their banana, grapes or apple in the classroom at the end of the lesson.

"They are encouraged to drink water with the fruit and to lead by example the teacher also has a portion of fruit."

If children are not getting the fruit, vegetables and healthy drinks they should at home, for whatever reason, they are certainly getting them at school Linda Turner Headteacher

After snack the youngsters go on a 15-minute break during which they play basketball, volleyball and football.

Mrs Turner said: "The fruit that they have provides them with the energy to enjoy a run-around or some other kind of exercise."

But the head decided more could be done to encourage children to consume fruit beyond snack time.

Mrs Turner explained: "About three years ago I recognised my own family wasn't eating enough fruit, so at home I peeled and chopped up things like apples and put them in small containers.

"I found this really worked."

She took her simple home-made idea to school and asked catering staff if they could make up pick and mix fruit and veg bags for the pupils.

They are now a popular option in the school canteen which has banned chips and promotes soups, wholemeal bread and milk.

Taking exercise

Also gone is the traditional sweets trolley, piled high with crisps and chocolate.

Mrs Turner said: "We can't stop children bringing bags of crisps into school, but we have found that with the healthy options on offer, those bags of crisps go back home without being opened."

So keen was the school to push water rather than fizzy drinks, it began buying in bottled water, labelled with the Eastbank name.

It is hoped healthy eating at school will turn into healthy eating at home

The primary's water policy now runs alongside Glasgow City Council's water initative where children are given a sports bottle which they can top up with free chilled water at school.

Mrs Turner recognises that a healthy lifestyle is not just about eating well, but also about taking exercise.

She said the school has had a PE specialist for several years who co-ordinates the two exercise sessions children receive each week.

Rounders, netball and football are taught alongside gymnastics and dancing during school hours.

Some of these activities continue after lessons in school clubs and at nearby leisure centres.

Mrs Turner said: "At Eastbank we know one thing - if children are not getting the fruit, vegetables and healthy drinks they should at home, for whatever reason, they are certainly getting them at school.

"I believe strongly that if you educate children early about healthy eating they will grow into healthy eating adults.

"In the three years we have been doing this we have recognised a healthy school with less absences because of sickness."