The panel will develop minimum nutritional standards for primary and secondary schools and will examine best practice developed by several local authorities north of the border.
Since 2002, schools in Scotland have been working towards recommendations in the Scottish Executive's Hungry For Success blueprint.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "The panel is looking to draw upon changes made through the Hungry for Success programme."
Panel chair Suzi Leather, former deputy chair of the Food Standards Agency, will visit Glasgow City Council, which has spearheaded the changes.
David Melvin, deputy director of Glasgow's direct and care services department, said the authority would demonstrate innovations such as free fruit for all primary pupils and incentive schemes to encourages secondary pupils to eat more healthily.
- See Interview, p13.
