Rugby Star Causes A Stir at Royal Highland Show

Scotland’s most capped and highest point scoring rugby player, Chris Paterson, joined in the fun on the opening day of the Royal Highland Show today (June 23rd, 2011)

 Chris, who is the face of a Quality Meat Scotland campaign to raise the profile of red meat’s role in a healthy diet, joined hundreds of school children in the Dobbies Children’s Discovery Centre.

Entering into the spirit of the occasion, Chris was happy to try his hand at a selection of dishes being prepared in the Scotch Beef Children’s Cookery Theatre including Scotch Beef and salad wraps.

Chris, who is Scotland’s most capped player with more than 100 caps under his belt, takes fitness very seriously. Red meat has always played an important part in his diet, never more so than last year when he was recovering from a serious injury sustained in action on the pitch for his country.

The campaign with Chris builds on Quality Meat Scotland’s existing health and education programme, including the sponsorship of Champions in Schools, a Winning Scotland Foundation project involving sporting heroes inspiring youngsters in which Chris is also involved.

QMS also runs a Meat Vouchers Scheme giving every secondary school in Scotland the opportunity to apply for a voucher of up to £100 for the purchase of red meat.

At a time of tightening school budgets this national initiative is helping to tackle a concerning trend of young people leaving school without ever having cooked with fresh quality produce such as red meat.