Government's healthy eating message is being extended to October's Bermuda Music Festival.

The Department of Tourism yesterday called for the Island's health food providers to set up shop at the event which is bringing Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and other music icons to Bermuda.

They want the festival's 17,000-plus visitors to eat snacks like salads instead of munching their way through fatty hot dogs and burgers.

It comes after Health Minister Michael Scott announced a new Healthy Weight Action Plan aiming to cut Bermuda's growing obesity problem.

Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown said in a statement yesterday: "The Ministry of Health has just embarked on an extensive awareness campaign encouraging Bermudians to make healthier lifestyle changes. The potential attendance at this year's festival is upwards of 17,000 people, and we saw the Bermuda Music Festival as an excellent way to assist in promoting this initiative; so we are encouraging all health food vendors to join us this year."

The Tourism Department says it expects the twelfth Bermuda Music Festival to be the biggest and best to date and says ticket sales have been brisk so far.

People are urged to buy them quickly to avoid disappointment. It takes place from October 3 to October 7 at the Fairmont Southampton Beach Club and the National Stadium. Concert goers can visit www.bermudatourism.com or Sound Stage in the Washington Mall to purchase tickets.

All vendors interested in operating at this year's Bermuda Music Festival can contact 292-0282.