Hi all
I am a member of the local, council run, leisure centre but they only sell chocolate, fizzy drink and crisps. When i asked if they could sell bananas, fruit etc I was told that it would be a waste of tax payers money. What lifestyle are they trying to promote? I welcome any comments and I find it disgusting!
Perhaps set up your own banana stall outside - could be a good entrepreneurial opportunity!
It's a tricky one this.
I agree with you completely that it seems wrong that a leisure centre promoting health and fitness should sell sweets, crisps and chocolate etc - especially as the target audience for these are normally children.
But, on the other hand, I know that council run leisure centres are strapped for cash these days - and to be honest I'd rather they generated as much income as possible and stayed open, than shut up shop completely. They are probably right that fruit wouldn't sell as well (or at least not before it went rotten) - so this would be a stream of income lost. And there is the argument that these 'unhealthy' treats are ok in moderation - and when better to allow a child to have something like that (if you are going to) than when they've just burnt off quite a few calories in the swimming pool.
There's no right answer really 
I made some fruit kebabs for a village fete once...made a huge loss...but they were delicious...I suppose these things have an impact later on down the line. No immediate data collection....early intervention has been proven to work in crime, education...and health ....but as Lucca says..there's little to no budget! So frustrating....
Yeah, know what you mean, it's a shame.
We have the same dilemma at the weekly children's club we run. We want them to be healthy and active so set up runaround games but we also have a tuck shop with a limited range of small sweets and drinks to help generate income. But we also regularly run activities like make your own smoothies using just fruit juices, fresh fruit and a blender, or making popcorn.
Our leisure centre only 'vends' sweets/choc/crisps, but the cafe sells lovely homemade soup, veggie dishes and loads of fruit as well as the cakes and stuff. The centre stays open until 9.30pm, but the cafe only until 5pm. The gym and other areas have water on iced filter free of charge. Like others on here have said, sadly the centre has to try and raise revenue and junk has a long sell by date where fresh food hasn't, they simply can't afford the waste. So vending machines vend what sells most - chocolate, etc... Awful really, but what is the answer? Perhaps putting a visit up 30p a person and including a piece of fruit or little bag of carrot batons in the price, or upping the price of the monthly subscription. The problem with this though is affordability for the paying public. I pay £100 every month for my family membership, but I'm very aware that this is way out of some folks affordability.
Such a simple problem with such a difficult solution. 😐
thanks for all the comments - however i still belief that if these sugary drinks and treats are the only things sold that this is in turn will put a drain on the tax player via the NHS. At the centre they advert a weight management program, via the NHS, which is free (tax payers money). Some folk think that if they did some exercise at the gym then they can eat more as a reward/treat. if they come out of a session and all they see is choc/ fizz etc then this is sending out the wrong message.
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