Leading food experts are serving up statistics on snacking that may be a little hard to swallow.

Parents in Scotland have been warned to consider how often they treat their children - and themselves - to sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks, as part of a Food Standards Scotland (FSS) campaign.

An FSS survey shows the average child in Scotland aged between four and ten years old consumes an average of around 24.5 kg of unhealthy, unnecessary snacks each year which equates to over 110,000 calories.

The campaign emphasises people are potentially damaging their future health by over-indulging and "treating" themselves and their children too often with unhealthy and unnecessary snacks.

FSS's recent report highlights that people in Scotland get half of their total sugar intake and one fifth of all calories from unhealthy snacks and treats, such as cakes, biscuits, chocolate, sugary drinks and sweets.

Around one third of children and around two thirds of adults in Scotland are currently overweight or obese. If the same habits are held, it is forecast that 40% of adults in Scotland could be obese by 2030.

Ross Finnie, FSS chair, said: "Scotland's poor health and obesity record cannot continue on its current path. Many people in Scotland think they have a healthy diet, however a significant number of people either forget or are simply in denial about the amount of calories they consume via unhealthy snacks.

"Too many treats and habitual unhealthy snacking soon add up and can have a long-term detrimental impact on an individual's health. This campaign will encourage consumers in Scotland to make small changes every day to protect theirs, and their children's health in years to come."

But is it realistic to cut out snacking entirely?

While the onus of responsibility for children's nutrition is on parents, it's difficult to instil healthy habits when bombarded with fast food advertising and colourful sweet wrappers at supermarket checkouts.

And what about time restrictions for cooking? Working around school schedules? Affordable healthy ingredients? And anything else you can add to the parental minefield?

Here are a few hacks for sneaking nutritional ingredients into children's treats.

Trying to crowbar protein into children's diets can be a challenge for any parent - but this miniature breakfast accomplishes just that, and are fun to eat.

Ideal for chomping while charging out the door to school, these breakfast burritos bites incorporate frittata-style eggs and peppers, snugly rolled into a wholemeal wrap.

For parents short on time and recipe inspiration, the humble fruit skewer is a great way to get kids enthusiastic about fruit.

Let them pick their own ingredients with goal of assembling their own colourful culinary artwork.

A healthy alternative to milkshakes and fizzy drinks, smoothies are another great way to pack vitamins into the diet.

Once your smoothie is thoroughly blitzed, a bendy or candy-striped straw can be the icing on this (admittedly healthy) cake.

It's a breakfast (or dessert) that can be consumed one-handed on the way to the bus stop and made weeks in advance.

Again sweetened with honey, these yoghurt ice lollies are a satisfying blend of Greek yoghurt, berries and granola.

The chip may well be the enemy of all Scottish diets, temptingly cheap, stodgy and appealing to all palettes - but there is a solution.

Weighing in at 155 calories per serving, these sweet potato fries are deceptively baked with just two tablespoons of olive oil - and that's including the chipotle mayo on the side for dipping.

Sugar cravings are a problem for many, and are rarely satisfied with just one hit from a tin of Quality Street - but a (small) rich substitute could have the desired effect.

Made with coconut oil instead of butter, this superfood fudge is simple to create - and free from refined sugar.