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New guidance aimed at teaching children healthy eating habits has been published by the Scottish government.

The purpose of the guidance is to ensure schools instil their pupils with healthy eating habits which last through adulthood.

Among the recommendations are that school meals should include fresh local produce with menus that 'inspire' children to eat healthily.

The guidance was produced by an expert working group in tandem with councils.

Among the measures outlined in the report are that all food served in schools should promote healthy eating, that school meals should champion fresh, local, seasonable produce, and that caterers and teaching staff should collaborate on food education to improve the diets of children and young people.

The report was welcomed by education secretary Michael Russell, who told the BBC: 'The Scottish government is committed to providing high-quality school meals and this new guidance sets out how we will go about achieving this.

'We want to give our children the best start in life and how they eat at school forms a crucial part of a child's development, including how well they learn.

'Today's guidance strengthens our approach at a national level ahead, including taking into account the views of children themselves, ahead of every P1-3 pupil being offered a school meal for free every day, which is also aimed at raising attainment.'