Pressure is growing on schools throughout Northern Ireland to adopt recipes that promote healthy eating among youngsters.

The country's auditor-general Kieran Donnelly highlighted that action needs to be taken to ensure positive messages about nutrition are being conveyed to children.

"A balanced diet is essential for children and young people if they are going to develop and grow into healthy adults," he told the BBC.

The expert recommended that sanctions should be imposed on schools that fail to improve their recipes and raise the standard of the meals on offer.

Furthermore, Mr Donnelly's report indicated that school meals in Northern Ireland are more expensive than in Scotland and England.

Dr Carrie Ruxton, nutritionist for the Health Supplements Information Service, recently said that parents need to persevere when it comes to encouraging their children to eat better.

She pointed out that kids are naturally wary of trying out new foods.