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The Not-So-Happy Meal?
| May 28, 2010 | |
| Phyllis McCarthy : Head Mommy Ego |
Imagine yourself in the drive-thru of a popular fast food restaurant with the goal of a quick meal option for your kids. The Happy Meal is the automatic choice for many, yet would the meal be so “happy” without the toy?
Well they are about to find out in Santa Clara County, south of San Francisco, where the board of supervisors recently voted to ban promotional toys that come with child meals unless they meet certain nutritional standards in and effort to combat the obesity issue.
Ken Yeager, the board president, said the new law would level “the playing field by taking away the incentive to choose fatty, sugary foods over healthier options.”
Mr. Yeager also states that he doesn’t believe toys cause obesity in children and that he wants to break the connection between toys and unhealthy food.
Using toys to attract children to unhealthier food choices is not a new marketing strategy. I remember digging for the toy in the occasional cereal box we’d have in our house and don’t forget Cracker Jacks: while the caramel coated popcorn was good, it was the toy that was coveted.
While this might help a few harried moms encourage healthier choices at the drive through because they won’t be competing with a themed toy that their child is longing for more than the cheeseburger itself, I don’t think it’s going to put a dent in the obesity epidemic in our country.
What do you think it will take to set our children up for success when it comes to their health? How far out of control does the health of our children and country have to get in order to create some change?
[4 Comments] [4 Comments]
Live and eat. Who should tell us what to eat? If we choose to eat something bad for us it’s our business nobody elses. Get the governement our of our business….Dang.
I worked with grade school children as as nurse and yes” marketing ploys” are used to draw children and their parents to purchase unhealthy foods called happy meals. Healtheir food options should be required. Childhood obesity will lead to chronic illnessess and diseases. Freedom of choice is a” right “however when it is misused it affects all of us therefore those of us who have children and are caregivers should advocate for what is best for our children’ s health and future.
Until the whole world knows we must educate, regulate, and legislate healthy food choices!
I believe that this is a wrong for the board of supervisors to put a ban on happy meals coming with toys. I do not belive they are targeting the right audience. Kids should be allowed to eat what they want. If kids are acting like normal kids and going outside to play then there should be no problem with childhood obesity. Instead I see these supervisors as trying to find a scapegoat and blaming everything on happymeals. Even Mr. Yeager, the board president, feels that this will not help child obesity, and states that, “he doesn’t believe toys cause obesity in children…” therefore making these obesity connections irrelavent. Happy Meals are called “Happy” meals for a reason. They are there to make the kid happy, which does include the toy, and therefore making the kid happy and the child is also getting a meal out of it. Also Happy Meals are considered to be a treat, not a daily food option. Parents are the one to blame, they do not spend the time to make a meal at home and use Happy Meals for the wrong reason. Why should the kids have to suffer what is really the parents fault. I believe the board of supervisors are trying to find a scapegoat, instead of blaming the real culprit. Until some who is making these executive descions realizes this, nothing will ever change in childhood obesity, or any obesity. People need to take responsibilities in there own life and not let government make descions for us. I personally dont want to live in a world of “1984″ Just saying…
There’s a difference between making our kids HAPPY and making them SICK. I use a McDonald’s “un-happy” meal in my wellness talks. My un-happy meal is TWO years old and looks just like the day I bought it. No mold, no fuzz, no smell (outside of the lingering smell of grease). Would you want your child eating something that even fungus and bugs won’t touch? Seriously?