Pedometers are to be supplied to schools for children to measure how far they walk in an attempt to improve the health of the next generation.
Under government plans to put children at the centre of the drive to improve the nation's health, pupils in more deprived areas will also get help from a personal health trainer to write their own lifestyle plans, setting out their hopes and ambitions for better food and more exercise.
The government wants PE and sport to be encouraged, alongside school nurses, healthy vending machines and "fun" cookery clubs. School meals standards will be revised to ensure they become more nutritious, while all schools will be expected to draw up travel plans to encourage parents to leave their cars at home and children to get on their bikes.
Speaking at Charlton Athletic Football Club, in the company of the England coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson, where an initiative to get more children on to the pitch was launched yesterday, the health secretary, John Reid, said: "We know how important it is to make sure healthy habits start young.
"That's why we are taking a range of actions to get kids involved in making healthier choices about the food they eat and how much exercise they take."
A long list of initiatives was published in a document designed to bring the aspirations of the recent public health white paper down to earth.
While the rhetoric around advertising junk food to children has not changed - the government will discuss voluntary controls with the food industry but will impose restrictions if agreement cannot be reached by 2007 - and an all-out smoking ban is not on the cards, the report lists a vast number of other activities the government believes will make the population fitter.
Marketing will be used "to build public awareness and change behaviour" on a range of issues including obesity, sexual health and smoking.
The focus is on "deprived communities and young people". A magazine called FIT will be launched for young men and campaigns on the importance of using condoms and losing weight will be launched.
The independent National Consumer Council is to be given a central role in developing this "social marketing strategy that promotes health". It will "consider health psychology and social research to determine how best to influence lifestyle and change behaviour".
It will look at the success or otherwise of strategies to promote the five-a-day message on fruit and vegetable portions, as well as information on smoking, salt, mental wellbeing and sexual health.
Health organisations were generally in favour of the plan. Paul Lincoln, chief executive of the National Heart Forum, said it was a good sign that the plan had been published before the general election.
"We especially welcome the establishment of the National Consumer Council as a credible body to promote health by influencing public attitudes, completely independent of vested interest such as the food industry."
Professor Sir Alan Craft, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said the government was right to focus on children. "If we want a new generation of healthy adults then the best way is to start in childhood.
"The health of Britain's children is absolutely key to addressing the overall health of the nation."
Figures released last night by the Department of Health show that the numbers of 11-to-15 year-olds who smoke and drink have hardly shifted since 2003, although there is a slight downturn in drug taking.
In 2004, 9% of young people were regular smokers - having at least one cigarette a week - unchanged from 2003. The proportion drinking alcohol in the last week dropped to 23% from 25% in 2003, but the figure has fluctuated around this level in recent years. The proportion taking drugs in the last year was down to 18% from 21%.
10 healthy steps
Some of the measures that are planned:
·Schools to introduce pedometers to encourage children to walk more
·Pregnant women to be given vouchers for free fruit and vegetables
·Government to commission a "weight loss" guide on the pros and cons of different diets
·Health trainers to help adults and children develop a personal health and fitness plan, from 2006 in deprived areas and 2007 elsewhere
·FIT magazine aimed at young men to be launched
·Regional health champions to be appointed
·Development of simple labelling of packaged foods
·Restrictions on advertising of high fat, salt or sugar foods to children either to be agreed with industry or imposed
·New media campaign on the risks of unprotected sex
·Marketing campaigns from April to change behaviour on overeating, sexual health, smoking and mental health and wellbeing