A review will look at encouraging pupils to eat more healthily

It follows a report which showed that uptake in primary schools was just over 42% - below the national average.

The review of the service has been welcomed by the local health board as helping to improve diet in children.

Chairman John Ross stressed that it took time and effort to encourage pupils to choose more healthy options.

"The work that is being done by the council - initiated by the Scottish Executive - in trying to improve the diet of children through healthy eating in schools is absolutely vital," he said.

Mr Ross added that uptake usually returned to previous levels if time was taken to explain the options to children.

To eat healthily can be enjoyable as well - it doesn't have to be humdrum sawdust and cardboard foods Kenny Crichton Queen of the South FC

Councillors agreed this week to a full review of school meals with new menus due to be introduced later this year.

Local football team, Queen of the South, has also thrown its support behind the same cause in classrooms across the region.

The club has been taking part in a 10-week community campaign to promote sports-specific diets and healthy eating.

Club physiotherapist Kenny Crichton said it could help to tackle a widely recognised problem.

"The obesity factor is well documented in Scottish schoolkids unfortunately," he said.

"To eat healthily can be enjoyable as well - it doesn't have to be humdrum sawdust and cardboard foods.

"It can be something quite exciting like we have on a match day."