They tell us we can't smoke in some public places, nor can we light up in our own vehicles when there are children present.

 That all makes sense as it is a well-documented fact that smoking kills and leads to many serious health conditions.

 They also pass laws that forbid us from using cellphones and other hand-held communication devices while operating our motor vehicles.

 Again, that's an acceptable dictum as statistics confirm that driving while talking on a cellphone or texting leads to driver inattention, which in turn can cause serious accidents and maybe even kill people.

 Several years ago they brought in guidelines that prohibit the sale of a long list of food items and certain drinks in our schools as they were deemed to have little or no nutritional value.

 While there was some initial opposition to these new guidelines on the grounds that people were losing the freedom of choice, eventually most accepted the argument that poor eating habits were having a serious negative impact on the health of our youth and that it was the schools' responsibility to help children make better nutritional choices.

 It's true that people don't like to be told what they can and can't do when it comes to making personal choices about what they eat and drink and where they smoke or talk on their cellphones. Some see it as an infringement on their personal rights and freedoms. They argue that our governments are turning our country into a fascist state where politicians and bureaucrats have too much power over our personal lives.

 However, the truth is, sometimes we do need to be told what's good for us as, given the choice, many people will engage in activity that may not only harm themselves but may also impact the lives of others. That's why even a free society such as ours needs rules and regulations and laws to protect the majority even if it does seem that sometimes such legislation infringes on our freedoms.

 Many will argue that being made to conform to these laws is much akin to living in a dictatorship. I've made that argument myself, but the truth is, despite the fact that we like to remain rulers of our own domains, we don't always know what's best for us and just because we've always done something in the past doesn't make it right.

 We must learn from previous mistakes and accept that earlier generations may have had it wrong and, in fact, the actions of our forefathers and foremothers may have started us down a road that leads to our own demise. As intelligent, reasonably thinking people then we must accept that things change and with new information we must be open-minded and willing to alter our lifestyles for our own good.

 I bring this up now because I have a sneaky feeling that in the coming months this very issue will take centre stage in the court of public debate as the managers of the multi-million-dollar Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will find themselves engaged in a process to ultimately decide whether or not only healthy menu choices will be offered at concessions within the facility.

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 While lifestyle centre officials insist that is not the plan as of right now, they also point out they have not yet finalized what will be sold out of the concession areas and that they are currently looking at all options.

 That tells us that all considerations are on the table, as they should be at this stage in the planning process.

 The Lunenburg Queens Recreation Coordinators Directors Association is presently promoting a healthy-eating policy to local municipalities. The group hopes to garner support for making more nutritional options available within all recreational programming and facilities. In light of the facts, we should all support this movement.

 Let's face it - we're fat. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. Statistics confirm that the South Shore has the highest regional rates of obesity in the province. That is not a record of which we should be proud. The most recent statistics show 62.5 per cent of Lunenburg and Queens county residents are overweight or obese. Provincially, that figure is 56.5 per cent while the national average sits at 48.9 per cent.

 Shocking, though not surprising considering our social and economic histories, but it's time to change that record. It only stands to reason then that while both counties will boast new recreational facilities within the next few years, they should be designed with nutrition and healthy eating habits in mind. These new facilities can become supportive environments geared toward helping people make wise choices when it comes to food.

 To design new recreational facilities that allow users to continue poor nutritional habits not only perpetuates the problem, but it is also hypocritical. After all, it only stands to reason that improved recreational opportunities and healthier eating habits go hand in hand.

 But this idea is not without its detractors as some public officials argue that such a movement could be too intrusive for those wanting the right to eat what they choose be it a hot dog, fries or a bag of chips while enjoying a hockey game.

 While there is some credence to that argument, the fact is that it makes sense for recreation facilities, havens of healthy lifestyle promotion, not to provide sustenance known to be bad for one's health. And, truthfully, we don't always know what's best ourselves. Sometimes, we need someone to tell us.

 E-mail me: editorial@southshorenow.ca

posted on 01/18/11