THERE has been plenty of talk in the past few weeks about the problem of child obesity and what to do about it.

One way of keeping youngsters healthy is ensuring that they get good exercise and don't spend too much of their time sitting at computer screens and watching TV.

The other way of beating weight problems is to encourage children of school age to follow a sensible diet and minimise their intake of high-fat food like burgers.

But persuading children to change well entrenched habits and resist the advertising campaigns of the fast food industry which are aimed at them is not easy.

Imagination is needed and that is just what Blackburn with Darwen Council have used with their scheme to offer free salads, sandwich bars and fruit to pupils taking school lunches.

Lancashire County Council is looking a similar ways fo making healthier meal alternatives appeal more to youngsters.

The Government's Food Standards Agency acknowledges that left to their own devices children are still choosing meals which are not good for them because they are high in fat, sugar and salt.

Hopefully the free offers will change all that as youngsters realise that what is good for them can also taste good.