THOUSANDS of Glasgow youngsters are to get free school meals as part of a £5million trial aimed at encouraging healthy eating.

All children in primaries one, two and three at state schools will get a free lunch - no matter their family's income - for six months starting in October.

It is hoped the initiative will make pupils healthier in the short term and also influence future eating habits.

Youngsters in West Dunbartonshire, East Ayrshire, Fife and the Borders council areas will also benefit from the pilot project.

In total, 35,000 children will get a free daily meal and at the end of the project the Scottish Executive will consider whether it should be extended around the country.

Launching the scheme today, Children's Minister Adam Ingram said it was about more than just dinners.

He said: "We want all Scotland to be healthier. Developing the best eating habits from an early age is central to moving that forward."

"The scheme is part of our wider aim to improve the nation's health and increase the quality of life for families and communities."

Mr Ingram said he was hopeful the youngsters would get a taste for healthy meals and added: "We hope these good lifestyle habits will stay with them as they grow up. "

The project will also collect information on how school dining halls and kitchens cope with the scheme, and whether youngsters enjoy the food.

Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris welcomed the news. He had called for this during his maiden speech in the Parliament and had raised the matter with Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

Mr Doris said: "As a former dinner ticket' kid I know the stigma that can go with claiming free school meals. Many families do not apply for that very reason, so at a stroke this initiative wipes out that stigma.

"The north of Glasgow, in particular, has a problem with diet and if we can instil healthy eating habits at a young age, hopefully that will last for a lifetime"

Minister for Schools and Skills Maureen Watt added: "This part of our wider aim to improve the nation's health and increase the quality of life for families and communities.

"The pilots will show us the impact universal free school meals have on children's health as we shape our policy on improving nutrition, as well as how schools cope with implementing them."

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: "We welcome this contribution by the Executive to promote healthy eating for all children in the early years of schooling."

The trial was also welcomed by charity Children 1st.

Chief executive Anne Houston said: "Universal free school meals are a vital way of ensuring the most vulnerable children receive at least one healthy and nutritious meal per day, while also removing the stigma that has become associated with targeted free school meal provision."