Aoife Hearne: How can I get my picky son to eat in school hours?

I'm worried now that my son is in secondary school he won't get proper nutrition during his school days

Dietitian Aoife Hearne: 'Despite the longer school day, there are ample opportunities to ensure he consumes the energy and nutrients he needs to stay healthy and grow.' Picture: iStock 

My youngest recently started secondary school. He’s always been a picky eater, but the early finish at primary meant I could feed him once he got home, so it didn’t matter whether he ate his school lunch or not. I’m worried about him managing the longer days without proper nutrition. My husband says he’ll eat when he’s hungry, but I can’t remember the last time he said he was hungry. What would you suggest?

The good news is that first-year students are still relatively young, so you can still influence their eating habits. However, as the weeks and months pass, their peers are likely to have a more significant impact.