It used to be simple to define alternate channels when talking about candy and gum distribution. Supermarkets were familiar territory, and everywhere else the products were sold was an alternate — i.e. not food — channel. In fact, not that many years ago, convenience stores and mass merchandisers were ‘alternate.’ Now they’re mainstream, and we’ve dubbed hardware stores, electronic stores, office supply stores and video stores ‘alternate.’

Candy and gum are fast movers and offer good margins. Not news. The news is that Home Depot has decided to leverage the purchasing power of its current customers with confectionery. The chain is reportedly putting candy racks in about 800 of its stores and is confident that the return on the space will be worthwhile.

The big box retailer also plans to open Home Depot Fuel outlets very shortly. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that the first stores will be in the Nashville area. Of course, there’s much more than fuel to be bought. Construction workers are big customers at convenience stores, and this move by the retailer means added benefits to customers. And as a company spokesman pointed out, the Home Depot Fuel store doesn’t compete with the ‘Mother’ store.

The aggressive words and tones used in many instances in an attempt to help Americans become well and healthy seem to me to be counterproductive. And mean, negative and cruel.

There’s talk of fighting and policing, combat and force, and banning and junk. We have ‘soldiers’ in the corridors and cafeterias of some American schools making sure that no ‘junk’ foods are being enjoyed. And there’s all that ‘anti.’ Just too much ‘anti’ for my taste. How about some ‘pro,’ such as pro health, pro wellness, pro enjoyment? We need less blame. How about no derogatory comments and attitudes about ‘big’ and ‘fat’ people? The message out there is that those who aren’t meeting the ‘norm’ for body size are unable to ‘control’ themselves and their ‘bad food urges.’ Children are becoming unhealthily obsessed with their weight and body image. They’re not conscious or concerned about their health, but about their looks. Being ‘fat’ is a nightmare possibility.

A friend of mine pointed out that the ‘anti-smoking’ campaigns are very different from the ‘anti-obesity’ campaigns. The anti-smoking efforts haven’t labeled the smoker as weak and ignorant. The ‘anti-obesity’ campaigns definitely blame the person for their perceived inability to ‘take charge’ of their weight problems.

When did food become the enemy to be ‘controlled’ and ‘fought against?’ It seems to me that efforts should be spent in improving our relationship with food. We don’t need limited choices and the ‘food police.’ We need positive reinforcement and education. We need more food knowledge.

Congratulations to those food manufacturers and groups such as the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) that have open minds and thoughtful approaches to helping children — and adults — make healthy, smart choices and improve their well-being.