ADVERTISEMENTS, campaigns and educational initiatives are making us more conscious of the produce we put on our plates.

Yet, alarmingly, a poll carried out by The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) along with the Youth Movement and Slimming World, found that almost one in four 13 to 18-year-olds has ordered a takeaway to their school.

When asked about their own eating habits, as well as potential solutions to the problem, half said fast food firms should be banned from delivering to schools, after 25 per cent said they had done this in the past.

More than 570 teenagers were surveyed on the childhood obesity epidemic and were asked about their own habits as well as potential solutions to the problem.

Educating about healthy eating is something Soraya Overend delivers on a daily basis.

The project manager with Jamie’s Ministry of Food, in Bradford, works alongside many schools and organisations demonstrating how to cook healthy meals from scratch.

While shocked at the findings of the poll, she isn’t surprised as youngsters have access to mobile phones and could, potentially, place an order with a swipe of their screen.

Soraya believes education is the way forward. While many schools have menus promoting health eating, Soraya believes school forums could also help, particularly when promoting healthy food to younger pupils.

She believes in preparing meals from scratch rather than fast food and is busy promoting that through Jamie’s Ministry of Food.

“We do work with quite a lot of schools getting that information across,” says Soraya.

She says parents can also do their bit to educate their children against eating fast food which is more likely to cause obesity and health issues.

“It all comes down to education and raising awareness,” adds Soraya.

Nicola Barker slimming world consultant who runs sessions at Idle Baptist Church, says she is shocked by the findings. “It is worrying,” she says.

She says her mum used to put her dinner money on a card at school so she could only use it for school meals.

She also believes education is the way forward. “I think it needs to be hand in hand, if it (healthy eating) is being encouraged at home it needs to be encouraged in school and vice versa.”

David Jowle, campus communications and marketing manager at Grange Technology College and Southfield School in Bradford says: “It is surprising to hear about this story because fast food deliveries aren’t an issue for us. “Here at Grange, students have access to a range of balanced meals and snacks every day, which are compliant with Food Standards Agency regulations. Access to our campus is carefully controlled through one main entrance and only Sixth Form students have the privilege of being allowed off site during lunch.”

He says students are encouraged to lead and promote healthy lifestyles as part of the curriculum.

“Groups of students from all age groups are currently working with senior tutors to research and develop campaigns which reinforce the importance of the many different aspects of healthy living such as diet, exercise, dealing with stress or sleeping habits. Each group then leads on presentations to classes and in a series of whole school assemblies to share what they have learned with their peers.”

‘Focus on Food is another example where students give feedback to school staff and managers from their catering provider.

Student led changes resulting from these meetings include a healthier range of drinks and snacks, improvements to the salad bar, improvements in food labelling and the inclusion of salad as a standard on appropriate meals, rather than optional.

Shirley Cramer, RSPH chief executive, says: “Our childhood obesity rates are disappointing, and tackling this must be a priority for government - there can be no excuses for fudging action on what is our number one public health challenge.

“While we welcome the Government’s introduction of a sugar levy on soft drinks, it is absolutely critical that the forthcoming childhood obesity strategy builds on this positive step with a basket of hard-hitting measures, from greater controls on advertising and marketing of junk food to food reformulation.

“This report gives a uniquely young person’s perspective on what steps can and should be taken, and while there is no silver bullet, young people are very clear what they think the causes of obesity are, and what action they would like to see from government and industry in particular.”