MANCHESTER CITY STRIKER Erling Haaland has sparked a massive carrot craze in his home country of Norway, referred to as the “Haaland effect.”

Following the 2026 World Cup, sales of carrots surged after Haaland was frequently spotted snacking on raw carrots before training, while meeting fans and appearing in an advertisement with wholesaler fruit and vegetable distributor BAMA.

Children have been swapping sugary snacks for raw carrots – now known as ‘Haaland candy’ or ‘Haaland’s lollipop,’ with Norwegian carrot sales almost doubling over the summer. Parents are reporting children begging for carrots to “become like Haaland.” 

Erling Haaland. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The Haaland effect is one example of how positive influencing can impact children’s view of healthy food choices. What we eat is often down to what’s culturally normalised at the time. Nowadays, many parents will say that their children won’t touch vegetables and some fruits. But deeply entrenched resistance can be shifted with the right approach. 

When I was in school, I had a fondness for sardine sandwiches that announced themselves to the class long before lunchtime. I liked tomato sandwiches too… soggy by mid-morning but better than the alternative slice of cheese or corned beef, or smear of ‘sandwich spread’.

Homemade fruit scones, a staple in our household, were swapped on yard for bags of Taytos that never featured in the lunch boxes of seven school-going siblings.

Modern day school meals

Now, two government-commissioned reviews will form the basis of an overhaul of the free hot school meals scheme following evidence of shortcomings in the service.

A key recommendation is the inclusion of cold school meals as a daily option that could transform ongoing low daily intake of vegetables and fruit among many primary school children. An additional benefit would be a much-needed steady market for local producers of fruit and vegetables across the country.

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, is seeking Cabinet approval for changes to the €300 million scheme that delivers about 500,000 meals to primary schools across the........

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