Chew on this (as you prepare for the most gluttonous, overindulgent holiday of the year): Condors fans will soon be able to take advantage of an All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion in Rabobank Arena.

As if Kern County needed another excuse to overeat.

Here's the news release:

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - An All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion is coming soon to The Nest to ensure that fans will never go hungry again at Bakersfield Condors games. The All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion is set to be unveiled and open for the first time at the home game on Dec. 1 against the Fresno Falcons.

The All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion will feature a variety of items, including a nacho bar, hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels and peanuts.  Water and soda will also be provided to wash it all down.  The price for the All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion, which includes your game ticket, is $20 for adults and $15 for children 12-and-under.

"Some major league teams have had great success with this, so after studying how they've done it, we feel we're ready to be one of the first minor league organizations to do it," Team President Matthew Riley said.  "Fans are always looking to get the most bang for their buck, and this simply improves the benefits we can offer in Condorstown."  

At least they're serving water, I guess.

I know I'm being a Scrooge about this, but there's no telling how much food people can pack away when their mind is focused not on eating but on the game on the ice below.

It's the same thing as eating while watching TV, using the computer or playing video games.

"Food and drink consumed while watching television contribute about 18 percent of the average child's total daily caloric intake on weekdays and as much as 26 percent on weekends," Dr. Susan Okie writes in Fed Up! Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity. "Some studies indicate that children eat more high-fat and high-calorie foods when they eat while watching TV."

And Kern County really has no room to overindulge.

Thirty-eight percent of Kern County adults were overweight in 2005 compared to 34.3 percent in 2001, according to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. In 2005, 28.2 percent of Kern adults were obese compared to 25.6 percent four years before.

That means 66 percent of adult residents are bigger than they should be. Healthy-weight people are the minority!

Now that I've gotten my fill of standing on my soap box for the day, go back to preparing your Thanksgiving feast. Several Californian staffers are drooling over 10 pies that have been set out in the conference room, and I was just told that five more will follow for the night crew. Chocolate cream pie, here I come!

Happy Thanksgiving!