A Canadian company that manufactures familiar fast foods using soy protein and vegetable sources instead of meat appears to have scored a hit with a school program called "Good Food for Healthy Kids."

The program, in which nutrition expert Wendy Barrett teaches children about food and nutrition through interactive activities like pizza making, has already reached 3,500 pupils and is booked up through the remainder of the year.

"The response from kids and teachers has been beyond my best expectations," said Barrett. "It's not realistic to expect parents to change their lifestyle. It's much more realistic to teach parents and kids how to make more nutritious versions of foods that fit their lifestyle such as pizza."

The problem of childhood obesity in Canada has been growing rapidly, with the percentage of overweight children rising from 15 percent to 23 percent in the last decade.

The principal of one elementary school, Lyn Tretiak, said: "If you saw what kids bring to school in their lunches, you would really understand how much we need programs like Good Food for Healthy Kids."

The program is underwritten by Yves Veggie Cuisine.

Other sources: Yves Veggie Cuisine