Junkfood strikes out of local softball

October 2nd 2009

The Nelson Softball Association has picked off the fizzy drinks and stopped the sausage sandwiches to complete the double play of the year.

And the season has only just begun.

The Association has brought in a food cabin to provide junior and senior players with a wider, tastier and healthier range of foods after games at Saxton Field.

President Roger Thorn said the move supported the Association’s ethos towards healthier living.

“By providing these choices we’re sending messages through the community of softball that we’re here to promote our code, but also that we have a responsibility to send out the right eating messages,” Mr Thorn said.

“It’s important for us to get across that healthy food choices don’t need to be expensive choices.

“We’ve found that we’ll be able to bring four-to-five different choices and they’ll be about the same cost as the traditional sausage on bread and fizzy drinks.

“Some people have been making a few noises, but I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised. They’re thinking mung beans and lentils – but we’re talking American hot dogs, paninis and even pies.”

The cabin, funded by the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board’s Nutrition and Physical Activity programme, replaces the traditional barbecue under the gazebo and is a part of the major overhaul planned for the local game.

“Our goal is for Nelson to be the number one softball province in the country,” Mr Thorn said.

“Come 2011, we will have the best playing facilities in the country, because of ground developments, so really the food cabin is upping the ante.

“Once we open the new tuck shop, we will just carry on. We will have introduced them to healthy foods and hope we can stay with it.

“Softball is a great game and we want it to be part of a great lifestyle.”