Regular fruit days are held at the primary schools and this fits in well with the latest campaign by the State Government to take chocolates, lollies and other sugar-rich foods off the menu.

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said from the start of 2009 chocolates and lollies such as chocolate bars, marshmallows, jellybeans and sherbert will be banned from government school canteens and vending machines.

``Research shows that around 37 per cent of a child's total energy intake is consumed at school so it's vital that we have a range of healthy options available to help students make valuable food choices,'' Ms Pike said.

``Sugar-rich foods such as lollies, jellies, sherbet and chocolate have little or no nutritional value and some confectionery such as chocolate can be high in saturated fat.

``We want to give students healthy alternatives such as fruit, salads and fresh wraps that will give them the energy and stamina they need for the day.''

An audit of at least 100 schools will be conducted in 2009 to determine compliance with the confectionery ban.

The audit will cover both confectionery and high-sugar drinks and involve government schools in metropolitan and regional Victoria. It follows a similar audit conducted in 2007 after the ban on high-sugar drinks, which found more than 98 per cent of schools were compliant with the ban.

What's out in 2009

Chocolate, chocolate chips and buttons, fudge, chocolate coated nuts and fruit, bubble gum, lollipops, toffee, jelly beans, gummies, marshmallows, sherbert, Turkish delight.