Schools are being told to send children out into the fields in a bid to tackle the obesity issue.

Health secretary John Reid and education secretary Charles Clarke are behind the plan to encourage youngsters to take up a vegetable patch in bid to teach them about healthy living.

The move to encourage gardening clubs and visits to allotments is part of a £5.7 million Healthy Living blueprint aimed at urging children to eat sensibly and keep fit.

The move will also see school meals receive a radical makeover to cut levels of salt, fat and sugar. It acknowledges the fact that school lunches can play an important part in encouraging children to eat more fruit and vegetables.

Clarke said: “Good health and effective learning go hand in hand. Schools are well placed to lead by example.”

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