EATING apples has become a core subject at an Eastleigh primary school.

For instead of crunching their way through the customary crisps and biscuits, pupils at Cherbourg Primary School are being encouraged to eat healthily in the new millennium.

Thanks to support from Eastleigh's Tesco store, this week a bumper basket of fruit, including apples, oranges and raisins, has been offered as a mouth watering alternative.

To mark the new millennium health push, the school has arranged for 2,000 pieces of fruit to be available.

Parents have been asked not to send in crisps or biscuits during the week and to try to encourage healthy eating afterwards.

Most parents backed the idea and came up with good ideas for children who did not like fruit by suggesting toast and oat biscuits.

And, during the week, teachers will be doing daily exercises with the children and the school nurse will be going into classes to reinforce the healthy eating message

Explaining the reason behind the healthy eating drive, head teacher Julie Greer said she was concerned at the number of children who admitted to eating up to three packets of crisp a day.

She felt the school could go a long way to promoting a healthy eating message.

Mrs Greer said: "We all like biscuits and crisps but it is important to know that too many fatty and sugary foods will affect your health. The children are already starting to bring more fruit and I hope that this will continue."

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