Annangrove Public School principal Paddy Rich said fruit was a popular item in most lunchboxes.

``What we eat is becoming more important; it's really in focus right now,'' Mr Rich said.

``Over the past 18 months the school's canteen menu has evolved to include more nutritious options for the students.

``Often there are fresh apples cut into springs or `slinkies', which aim to make fruit fun,'' he said.

Pupil Charlotte Bishop, 8, said she and her sister Emma, 9, usually had healthy lunches.

``Sometimes Mum might bake something,'' she said.

``Then we get a treat.''

She said her lunch varied from day to day.

``Today I have a salad, green apple, mashed potato with tuna and a ham and salad sandwich with tomato sauce,'' she told the News on Friday.

Senior community nutritionist at Royal North Shore Hospital, Nick Petrunoff, said variety was the key to making healthy lunches.

``Making healthy lunches does take effort, but it's worth it,'' he said.

He said the Healthy Kids and NSW Food Authority websites had some useful tips on healthy lunches.