The city of Port Coquitlam is on a mission to make the food and drink sold in its recreation facilities as healthy for residents as the facilities themselves are.

Nine guidelines were approved by the city’s healthy community committee Oct. 28 intended to provide healthier choices in vending machines and at concession stands and snack bars.

“The city should be setting an example when providing healthy foods in city facilities,” said Coun. Michael Wright, the committee’s chair. “The school board took a leadership role in this a couple of years back and although they are far more extreme than the city is, it’s a sign society is moving in that direction.”

The guidelines were developed by a committee consisting of city staff, community members, vendors and a dietitian. The guidelines include:

• Concessions, snack bars and vending machine beverages must sell at least 25% of products from the provincial government’s “choose most” category and 50% from “choose sometimes” categories, and no more than 15% from “choose least” and 10% from “not recommended.”

• Concessions and snack bars should follow “quality cooking” tips and recipes when preparing foods from scratch or non-packaged food items.

• Products in the “choose most” and “choose sometimes” categories must be displayed more prominently than the others.

• The guidelines are to apply to all vendors operating in the city’s recreation facilities and buildings.

What’s in the machines now doesn’t meet those guidelines, said Nathan Taylor, PoCo recreation program co-ordinator. An audit of the food available in the facilities has been done and sent to the University of Victoria for analysis.

Taylor estimates the level of healthy choices for vending machine beverages is about half what it should be, although he said, “We’re going in the right direction.”

Communities that have instituted similar policies found initially there was a decrease in sales revenue. But after a year, some experienced a recovery educating people and as patrons become familiar with the new products.

“I’m quite sure it will be a tough sell. It’s very difficult to change people’s habits,” said Coun. Wright. “We recognize there will be a drop in revenue and the die-hards will be able find alternatives. Hopefully, other people will say, ‘Let’s give it a try.’”

The revenue decreases vary depending on how close convenience stores and fast food joints are to a facility. That could have an influence at the PoCo rec centre because it’s so close to downtown — and just half a block from a 7-Eleven — but not necessarily so for Hyde Park rec centre, which boasts a longer walk for junk food fixes.

Expenses will also go up because it costs more to prepare healthy foods and they have a shorter shelf life.

The next step is for city staff to turn the guidelines into a draft policy to take to councillors for approval.

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