Here's the skinny: Let's at least put healthy food in sports centres
By Evelyn Myrie
The Hamilton Spectator(Jun 26, 2006)
Despite parents' best efforts, kids almost always choose a hamburger, french fries or a hot dog over healthier food choices such as fish, chicken or vegetables.
It's not hard to see why the junk food is appealing. Junk food tastes good. Try eating one chip and -- just like the ads say -- before you know it you have eaten a bagful.
I have avoided eating junk food, but I do admit that sometimes I give in to my cravings to pick at a french fry or or two. I know that junk food is exactly that ...junk. It is food that is high in fat and sugar - and low in nutritional value. It is usually high in transfat and can withstand high cooking temperatures.
But with millions and millions of advertising dollars being spent to convince consumers to buy fast foods instead of healthy foods, it easy to see why obesity is becoming an epidemic in this part of the world.
Last week, the City of Hamilton took some positive steps to help fight the obesity trend in our community.
City staff are looking to replace one-quarter of junk food items -- such as chips and chocolate bars -- in their 120 vending machines at city recreation facilities and replace them with healthier food items. This is a welcome move, but it's hardly enough.
There is an abundance of evidence to support the city moving more aggressively on removing junk foods from their machines at city recreational facilities.
Instead of aiming to replace a quarter of the junk food from the machines, the city should start by replacing half of it with better choices, and eventually go to 100 per cent healthy choices.
I don't believe the city sells cigarettes at its facilities, and rightly so, because of the health risk. Junk food should be treated in the same manner. There is no question about the health risks of junk food.
Consider observations by nutrition expert Rena Mendelson: "The number of obese in the population is definitely rising ... probably the biggest indicator to us in terms of a problem is the number of people presenting with type 2 diabetes, children in particular.
"In the past, type 2 diabetes was referred to as adult onset diabetes and now it's showing up in children, who were never before heard of."
I think that the city's recreational facilities should play an important role in setting the tone when it comes to promoting healthy foods.
The city is not private sector; it has a moral obligation to facilitate the well-being of its citizens.
City culture and recreation director Bill Fenwick is correct when he observed that recreation and nutrition go hand in hand:
"If we're going to be in physical activity and sport, we should also be talking about nutrition."
With the Statistics Canada report telling us that Hamilton residents are 20 per cent more obese than other Canadians, the city must take more drastic action to avoid feeding the desire for junk food. There are plenty of private businesses all too willing to sell junk food, but the city should stay clear of offering these unhealthy items in their recreational facilities.
If city council is not convinced it should go to 100 per cent healthy choices, it may want to consider the following observation made by Fenwick: "Obesity is passing smoking as the number-0ne leading preventable cause of death."
Freelance columnist Evelyn Myrie lives in Hamilton and is a social development consultant
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