Schools across Scotland started serving free school meals to every Primary 1-3 pupil yesterday.
The SNP government at Holyrood claims the expanded scheme will benefit an extra 135,000 children and save families at least £330 a year.
The government is providing funding of just over £95million over two years to help councils deliver the dinners.
At one school in Inverness, the number of meals served rose by 60.
Staff at Cradlehall Primary said 190 plates of food were dished out. compared with an average of 130 – a 46% rise.
Children at the 398-pupil school chose from a menu including savoury pasta, soup, cheese, chicken and ham sandwiches, with ice cream and fresh fruit for dessert.
The most popular menu is on a Friday – when fish and chips are served.
If a school cannot provide a meal service, youngsters’ parents or carers will be entitled to reimbursement.
Cradlehall Primary head cook, Angela MacIsaac, said: “I think the scheme is a great idea. School meals are a good break in the day for the children and gives them a chance to have a chat and we just keep them happy while they do that.
“We might have to a little bit extra work in the morning but the new scheme means the time it takes for cash handling has gone down from about 40 to 20 minutes.”
Head teacher, Lawrence Sutherland, said: “The modern menu reinforces the messages that we are trying to get across in the classroom about healthy eating.”
Alex McLuckie, senior organiser of union body GMB Scotland, said: “There is so much good in this start of free school meals for these early years pupils.
“It will help tackle poverty and social exclusion and help remove the stigma some attach to free school meals.
“The start of free school meals is welcomed by members who currently provide healthy meals for pupils.
“It is a pleasant change to see money being invested in the service rather than bearing the brunt of the cut backs in budgets.”