I grew up in Kansas, and my dad now lives in Oklahoma. Living in Seattle, I'm used to a variety of healthy choices. When I visit my parents, though, I struggle.

I grew up in Kansas, and my dad now lives in Oklahoma. Living in Seattle, I'm used to a variety of healthy choices. When I visit my parents, though, I struggle. If it's difficult to go out to dinner and eat healthy in Kansas, it's nearly impossible in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is composed of three things: fast food, buffets, and gas stations. As an example, on my most recent trip to Oklahoma, we went to a buffet and I decided to get a salad. At the large "salad" bar there were exactly three vegetables: iceberg lettuce, radishes, and carrots. Everything else was meat (mostly fried) or bread. I ordered a side of green beans; they were canned and fairly unappealing. No wonder people don't eat healthier when the options are so limited and unattractive.