SCHOOLCHILDREN have been sampling the delights of exotic fruit and vegetables in a bid to boost the uptake of healthy meals.

Ron Chalkers who supply schools’ fresh fruit and vegetables provided the produce free of charge to Allanson Street primary school .

On the menu were papaya, mango, kiwi, physalis, cantaloupe, galia, watermelons, passion fruit, dragon fruit, peaches and nectarines.

As part of the learning experience the children were given colouring sheets with useful facts about the origin of the fruit, how it is grown and what part of the fruit is eaten.

Councillor Sue Murphy, cabinet member for schools and lifelong learning: “We wanted the children to experience different or unusual fruits, and try to encourage them to take more fruit in general. The children really enjoyed trying new fruit and promised they would try to eat more in the future.”

From this September, pupils in Reception and Years One and Two will receive free school meals in a government plan to encourage children to eat more healthily and as part of the School Food Plan to increase take up of school meals.

Chalkers have offered to continue this promotion with other St Helens schools.

For more information about the new legislation log on to St Helens Council website www.sthelens.gov.uk and type ‘school meals’ in the search engine.