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Healthy eating has to be through individual choice. No one can plead ignorance, today, about what constitutes a healthy diet. Unfortunately, because of an abundance of reasonably-priced food, more sedentary life styles and careless eating habits, many of us have abandoned the healthy nutritional practices which were a normal part of life for our forefathers.

In our society, goodies are all too available. There are donut shops on nearly every corner. Affordable cookies, candy, and cakes beckon from the front shelves of variety stores. When we entertain guests, we offer them coffee, tea and sweet treats. Our very culture conspires to sabotage our healthy eating resolutions.

A large percentage of people in the Western World are overweight, n spite of the fact that we know very well what we should and should not be putting into our mouths. The truth is that we have become sloppy in making wise food choices. It is too easy to hand Junior a pack of Pop-tarts as he rushes off to school in the morning. Our grandmothers, who were stay-at-home moms took the time to make hot porridge.

Working wives and mothers often don't feel they have the time or energy to prepare supper from scratch. It's too easy to pick up a "Happy Meal" on the way home from work. Our grandmothers cooked every meal from scratch and french fries weren't even in their vocabulary.

The answer to these poor food practices is not in government legislation, but strengthening our determination to provide better nutrition for our families. Modern products can be a help here as well as a hindrance. Oatmeal now comes in instant packets, just add boiling water, stir and serve. A ready-to-serve salad bowl is just as easy to pick up as a Happy Meal. The choice must be with individuals.

During Prohibition, the government passed laws banning the sale of alcohol. The laws couldn't be enforced, and they were soon repealed. Trying to legislate what people eat would be even more problematic.

In addition, imagine the consultants, the committees, the scientific studies, the medical experts, and the dietitians that would be needed to decide which foods, drinks, additives, etc., would be allowable for sale to consumers. Are you willing to have the cost of salaries for the experts on your next income tax statement? I'm not.

It is outside the jurisdiction of government to legislate what the citizens can or cannot eat. We should resent being treated as children. Just as we accept responsibility for our own personal safety, we must improve in adequately meeting our nutritional needs. Otherwise, in addition to everything else, we may be asked to pay to combat the black market in chocolate bars.

Learn more about this author, Carolyn Tytler.
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