A new study has found that shop-bought and school canteen lunches are over 50% higher in calories than packed lunches.

Researchers at DCU say over a third of students are now opting for non-homemade lunches.

The average shop-bought lunch contains 627 calories, compared to just 399 in a homemade lunch.

On the National Lunchtime News, Tom Swift talked to Sarah Browne who's a registered dietitian involved in the DCU study.

She says initiatives like a so-called "No Fry Zone" near schools could help steer students away from unhealthy food: