Yellowknife (Mar 17/06) - Employees in buildings run by the ministry of Health and Social Services are saying goodbye to soft drinks and fatty snacks, and hello to juice and granola bars.

"Over the last four years, the ministry of health has been struggling to promote basic things like healthy diets and exercise," said health minister Michael Miltenberger.

Vending machines carrying a variety of pop and snack food items are on the way out in all hospitals and buildings administered by the NWT ministry of Health and Social Services. Healthier choices like juice and granola bars will be available instead. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

He said having sugary drinks and fattening foods in health buildings contradicts the ministry's message to eat nutritiously.

Junk food is responsible for high rates of diabetes and obesity found in the NWT, he notes.

In the 2005 NWT Health Status Report, more than 750 new cases of diabetes were reported between 1997 and 2002. That's a 3.6 per cent increase compared to the average yearly increase of 2.5 per cent.

The report states that the NWT will see diabetes cases increase even more as the years go by.

The ministry plans to have all vending machines that sell pop and chips replaced with nutritious snacks by April 1, and it's no April Fool's joke.

The buildings affected include all NWT hospitals, health services departments, and ministry of health offices. Cafeteria menus are under review to lower the amount of fried foods served.

Miltenberger said information about the campaign will be released to employees affected in the next few weeks.

Last Thursday, one employee with the department, who wished not to be identified, returned to his office to find pop and chips gone from the vending machines.

"I feel like a kid not trusted to make my own decision," he said. "It's my choice what I eat and drink."

But Gayla Wick, first vice-president of the Union of Northern Workers (UNW), said her organization supports the decision to make workplaces healthier.

"It's an admirable step and we encourage other workplaces to do the same."

The UNW has not received any calls or formal complaints about the issue, she said.

Employees are still allowed to bring junk food to their offices if they choose, said Miltenberger.

He said the new policy is not about limiting choices for employees because if they have a craving for junk food, they can walk across the street.

There are no plans to get rid of junk food in vending machines at other GNWT offices.

Several Yellowknife schools have already taken steps to promote healthier eating.

St. Patrick high school got rid of fatty or sugary foods in their cafeteria and vending machines a year and a half ago.

Though vending machine sales are down, Catholic school board superintendent Kern Von Hagen said healthier options in the cafeteria have been well received.

"The St. Patrick parent advisory made a strong case about the dangers of unhealthy foods," said Von Hagen.