We are from Alberta visiting our grandchildren.
Yesterday we had the opportunity of taking our two grandsons swimming at the Cheam Leisure Centre. After swimming we had a great deal of trouble helping them avoid the candy in the lobby. There are nine candy machines two-and-a-half feet off the ground set right beside the exit. I mean sugar candy – jelly beans and eight other varieties of the same.
Beside that was a candy bar and chip machine with two items which could be considered appropriate – one trail mix and one gummy fruit snack.
Next to that was a pop machine offering two juices out of a total of perhaps 20 or 40 options.
We opted for the toy machines above the candy machines and our five-year-old grandson got a plastic grenade. Irony?
At Christmas we visited the Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre and although they have a snack bar, the same line up of candy machines face the kids as they exit the pool.
If we have a cultural obesity problem, if sugar is a major culprit in the problem, we should start by offering better snacks especially in our kids recreation centres!
Carol Larsen