The Norwegian authorities scored a major victory for healthy eating this week after members of the country's national football team made a special television appearance in order to encourage children to eat fewer sweets and more fresh fruit and vegetables.
Players including Roma and former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, Blackburn Rovers winger Morten Gamst Pedersen and Fulham defender Brede Hangeland took part in the transmission on NFF TV – the Football Association of Norway's official television channel – on Monday evening, helping prepare dishes which included a range of fresh vegetables.
The players, who wore shirts bearing the name of leading fresh produce retailer-importer Bama, were joined by Norway's Minister of Health and Care Services Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, who is leading a drive to improve public health in the Scandinavian country.
'Drop the candy,' Mr Riise encouraged Norwegian youngsters tuning in to the programme. 'The problem is that many kids will reach for the chocolate when they are hungry. Find a vegetable that you like and eat it instead - I did.'
