HEALTHY food was the order of the day and chips were off the menu for youngsters learning about nutritious meals.

Yesterday, pupils at St Barnabas' Primary School on Green Lane, Rainbow Hill, had a culinary crash course in how to cook up a healthy and balanced diet, especially for their lunch boxes.

"I think the children have enjoyed learning about healthy food.

"We want to encourage them to eat healthily from an early age," said Year Three teacher, Pauline Spencer.

Pupils were encouraged to replace sweets with more fruit and vegetables, she explained.

A year ago, the school won a Healthy Schools Award for improving its play equipment to let energetic youngsters work off some steam.

This year it plans to notch up its second award with its healthy eating campaign.