HAMPSHIRE schoolchildren are bucking the national trend and opting to get a taste of what the school canteen has to offer.

While youngsters across the country are turning their noses up at new healthier school meals, more children in Hampshire are happily tucking in.

National figures released yesterday revealed that the number of secondary school meals dished up had dropped by 20 per cent, with a ten per cent fall in primary schools.

The Government is almost a million children below its 2009 target for encouraging more youngsters to take up healthy school meals, following campaigning on the issue by TV chef Jamie Oliver, pictured.

However, Hampshire County Council has witnessed a rise in the uptake of the healthier style meals with county canteens dishing up seven per cent more meals in primary schools in the past 12 months and secondary numbers remain consistent.

This success is not mirrored in Southampton though, with figures showing an overall decline in both primary and secondary school meals.

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