Coaches from St Mirren Football Club are giving kids some food for thought – by providing lessons on how to eat like a sports star.

The Buddies have teamed up with the Scottish FA and the Food Standards Agency to offer tips on healthy eating to hundreds of primary four pupils from 10 Renfrewshire schools.

Gary Hocknull, St Mirren’s community development chief, explained: “We show the youngsters why our St Mirren stars eat foods like pasta and chicken in order to have as much energy as possible during big games.

Youth coaches from the Paisley club have also been providing advice on food hygiene, how to store food and the best way to beat bugs and bacteria.

Central to the lessons is showing youngsters the type of healthy and energy-rich foods that star players pulling on St Mirren’s players will regularly tuck into before big matches.

“We also advise them to avoid foods that are rich in sugar and fat and show them how the players limit these types of thing in their own diet.”

The 60-minute classroom sessions are backed up with an hour of football coaching, when many of the topics discussed earlier in the day are reinforced through fun games.

Gary added: “During the sessions in the classroom, we talk the kids through various aspects of healthy eating and food hygiene. That includes things like how to store food, as well as advice about fruit and vegetables and making sure they get their five-a-day.