As the back to school routine begins for another year, parents all over Galway will be struggling to find uniforms, copies and textbooks in time for September. However, one of the most important things in your child's schoolbag is commonly overlooked – the lunchbox.

With more and more concentration on the importance of a healthy diet for children, there has never been a better time to re-examine what is lurking in your child's lunchbox. Children are notorious for being picky about their food and sometimes getting them to eat a healthy diet can be a struggle but new studies have shown that it is well worth putting in the effort to find a healthy alternative that will keep young and old happy.

Childhood obesity in Ireland is on the rise. A recent survey of children aged between five and 12 by the National Taskforce on Obesity has shown that 22 per cent of Irish children are either overweight or obese. The report goes on to express concern that we may see the first generation of children who will have lower life expectancy than their parents, so it is important that healthy lifestyles are supported and encouraged throughout life, beginning from the earliest years.

The immediate and short-term problems that overweight and obese children may experience include type two diabetes, respiratory problems such as asthma, cardiovascular and orthopaedic problems, as well as isolation and psychological effects. The most important long-term consequences of childhood obesity is its persistence into adulthood with many studies showing that Body Mass Index in childhood is significantly related to BMI in adulthood.

"The evidence indicates that many Irish children are gaining weight because of poor dietary and lifestyle habits which can damage their health, both in the short term and later in adult life," says Dr Catherine Logan, Nutritionist with the National Dairy Council.

"Concerns about the increasing number of Irish children who are overweight or obese have been well publicised but parents should be encouraged by knowing that a small number of basic steps can make a huge improvement to their children's health, in the short and long term."

The increase in the prevalence of obesity can be partly attributed to the total energy we consume through foods, combined with levels of physical activity which are simply too low.

"In simple terms research is now confirming that the problems are caused by what and how much we feed our children, as well as what they physically do. Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight throughout life means balancing energy intakes from all food sources, with physical activities which use up energy," Dr Logan continued.

According to Dr Logan, small changes to eating habits introduced gradually over time can make a tremendous difference to your family's health. Large portion sizes are one reason for unhealthy weight gain among older children, and many Irish children and teenagers are eating the wrong balance of foods, exposing them to health risks and nutrient deficiencies. For instance, Irish teenagers are obtaining a higher percentage of energy from consuming confectionery, snacks and biscuits (15 per cent) than from dairy products (11 per cent) or potatoes and potato products (10 per cent).