If the health of the people is the real focus, it stands to reason you focus on the bad foods, plural, not just target what seems to be the obvious. If this were to happen then let's just be honest, the Hospital Cafe might as well just shut up shop. There's too much misinformation out there. Why just fizzy drinks? Do you really think that orange juice is a healthier option? That a muffin is better than a cookie?
Wake up and smell the (sugar-free) coffee. Obesity rates are rising faster than ever because the very foods that are affordable to people on low incomes all fall into that white carb group. They are cheap, filling and easy to prepare. I'm not saying sugar is the innocent victim in this health issue because it's not. What I am saying is that just targeting sugar is not going to make any significant difference, except perhaps to our teeth,
The so-called experts have been wrong before. The Heart Foundation tick, craved by many as a marketing must have, isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be. The foundation got it wrong about eggs all those years ago and have often had to back track and retract over things like coffee and chocolate.
Sure, banning bad-for-you food is an option but an even better option would be to make healthy food affordable. Restrictions and other options like fat taxes will make little or no difference. As long as the unhealthy food is cheaper than the good stuff, people will continue to buy it, not always out of choice, but out of financial necessity.
Perhaps as a vote winner this election, someone could promise us a healthy food version of Quitline. Drug companies and scientists could design chewing gum and patches that contain all the goodness of five plus a day and two to three servings of beef or lamb. Actually, that's not such a dumb idea. For the sugar addicts, making the sugar substitutes free on prescription or at least cheaper, might be a better place to start. Have you seen the price of them? Another fine example of the healthy option being priced off the market.
There is always bariatric surgery of course - but it appears only politicians can afford that solution. Free surgery for those who need it ... with health funding already thin on the ground, there's a fat chance of that happening.
If anyone has a sugar-free cheesecake recipe please email me, investik8@gmail.com
Read Kate Stewart's oven-ready weekly blog on the MasterChef NZ television series on our website - wanganuichronicle.co.nz