San Francisco Bans the Happy Meal

[hotong]

reading this makes me want a cheeseburger

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

i want mac nuggets

[Sid Vicious]

Originally Posted by TheNewGirl

The problem is that by putting toys in it and putting it in a colorful bag it makes it look less threatening than it is. A chef I know explained to me that 'kids menus' in general are one of marketing's best inventions and nutrition's worst advesaries. And if you look on kids menus even in resterants they tend to be filled with the most unhealthy options that resteraunt has to offer (chicken strips, hamburgers, greasy cheese pizzas).

Many are getting better and offering differant choices of sides and such, but so long children (and parents, we grew up on kids meals too if we were raised in north america) are engrained with the notion that hamburgers and fries are kids fare that's what they'll continue to choose.

It's a cycle that has to be broken, and it's a greater problem then just the parent and child in question as here in Canada, you and I are going to be paying for the health care for the fat kid that's diabetic at 10 or 12 because of what they've been eatting. From that perspective it is everyone's problem.

I don't like banning anything but I think forbidding the toys to be packaged in with the meal and the distractingly colorful packaging is a step in the right direction in this case. I wish they'd do the same here.

i'm glad there aren't more people like you that live here then

its ridiculous how the government can restrict what a business can sell when its not illegal, harmful etc merely because they believe it's associated with obesity

people are fat from not exercising, you can eat as healthy as you want and get fat if you don't

[wstce92]

Originally Posted by TheNewGirl

The problem is that by putting toys in it and putting it in a colorful bag it makes it look less threatening than it is. A chef I know explained to me that 'kids menus' in general are one of marketing's best inventions and nutrition's worst advesaries. And if you look on kids menus even in resterants they tend to be filled with the most unhealthy options that resteraunt has to offer (chicken strips, hamburgers, greasy cheese pizzas).

Many are getting better and offering differant choices of sides and such, but so long children (and parents, we grew up on kids meals too if we were raised in north america) are engrained with the notion that hamburgers and fries are kids fare that's what they'll continue to choose.

It's a cycle that has to be broken, and it's a greater problem then just the parent and child in question as here in Canada, you and I are going to be paying for the health care for the fat kid that's diabetic at 10 or 12 because of what they've been eatting. From that perspective it is everyone's problem.

I don't like banning anything but I think forbidding the toys to be packaged in with the meal and the distractingly colorful packaging is a step in the right direction in this case. I wish they'd do the same here.

Then its your job as a parent to explain to your child that these "distractingly packaged" meals with toys are actually bad. Everybody needs to do their part and actually PARENT. Tell your kid why its bad and if they still yell and scream for it, set boundaries. Or if they're quite active, reward them with one every now and then. There is nothing that can't be done on the parent side. Healthy food is for sure more expensive, but there are still cheaper and healthier alternatives to the happy meal at the supermarket. Growing up all my mom could afford to feed me with was ham sandwiches day in and day out. She didn't use the best ham or the best bread, but you bet it worked out cheaper and healthier than a happy meal. Nor did it take very long to buy or make and she constantly juggled two jobs. Making your kid go outside to play instead of parked in front of the tv would also help.
People need to stop passing blame onto others and banning everything to try to solve their problems.
/rant

[Arash]

I dont know whats worse, governments (FDA) that allow the sale of neurotoxic food to infants or brainwashed people that defend it.

[b0unce. [?]]

Originally Posted by TheNewGirl

The problem is that by putting toys in it and putting it in a colorful bag it makes it look less threatening than it is. A chef I know explained to me that 'kids menus' in general are one of marketing's best inventions and nutrition's worst advesaries. And if you look on kids menus even in resterants they tend to be filled with the most unhealthy options that resteraunt has to offer (chicken strips, hamburgers, greasy cheese pizzas).

Many are getting better and offering differant choices of sides and such, but so long children (and parents, we grew up on kids meals too if we were raised in north america) are engrained with the notion that hamburgers and fries are kids fare that's what they'll continue to choose.

It's a cycle that has to be broken, and it's a greater problem then just the parent and child in question as here in Canada, you and I are going to be paying for the health care for the fat kid that's diabetic at 10 or 12 because of what they've been eatting. From that perspective it is everyone's problem.

I don't like banning anything but I think forbidding the toys to be packaged in with the meal and the distractingly colorful packaging is a step in the right direction in this case. I wish they'd do the same here.

then go to mcdonalds and order some apple dippers or w/e they are lol

[FN-2199]

Originally Posted by wstce92

Then its your job as a parent to explain to your child that these "distractingly packaged" meals with toys are actually bad. Everybody needs to do their part and actually PARENT. Tell your kid why its bad and if they still yell and scream for it, set boundaries. Or if they're quite active, reward them with one every now and then. There is nothing that can't be done on the parent side. Healthy food is for sure more expensive, but there are still cheaper and healthier alternatives to the happy meal at the supermarket. Growing up all my mom could afford to feed me with was ham sandwiches day in and day out. She didn't use the best ham or the best bread, but you bet it worked out cheaper and healthier than a happy meal. Nor did it take very long to buy or make and she constantly juggled two jobs. Making your kid go outside to play instead of parked in front of the tv would also help.
People need to stop passing blame onto others and banning everything to try to solve their problems.
/rant

I agree. Just because your kids want it, doesn't mean they can have it. It's ultimately the responsibility of the parents, and not the restaurant.
Although I believe they had good intentions in removing the toys from happy meals, the steps to do it were completely wrong. People still have the right to choose between the right and wrong decisions.

[too_slow]

I ordered a big mac (no cheese) for the first time since 1999. Holy shit, the thing shrank by 30%!!!!

On a side note, they might as well BAN fat people while they're at it!!!

[Sid Vicious]

Originally Posted by Arash

I dont know whats worse, governments (FDA) that allow the sale of neurotoxic food to infants or brainwashed people that defend it.

wait you're calling other people brainwashed when your defending the restriction of personal liberty? Strong irony
Posted via RS Mobile

[Arash]

You call serving poison a personal liberty? get your facts right

Originally Posted by iRomey

I agree. Just because your kids want it, doesn't mean they can have it. It's ultimately the responsibility of the parents, and not the restaurant.
Although I believe they had good intentions in removing the toys from happy meals, the steps to do it were completely wrong. People still have the right to choose between the right and wrong decisions.

Did you ever see the Simpson's cartoon where the school milk was replaced with rats milk? If no one tells you its rats milk and that it only makes you fat in the long term, is it your fault for letting your future kids have it?

[drunkrussian]

for rich kids there's no excuse for being obese from mcdonalds, other than bad parenting.

if u look at the states, a lot of the obese kids come from shit-income urban areas, where there is a mcdonalds on every block, but no proper grocery store in sight. And even that's not an excuse - when I was a poor kid growing up, my parents would only allow McDonalds on special occasions!

But why not make vegetables more readily available instead of taking away happy meals? Hell, why not give out toys with veggies instead, if if toys are such a good vehicle to entice kids? lol

[The_AK]

Originally Posted by Sid Vicious

i'm glad there aren't more people like you that live here then

its ridiculous how the government can restrict what a business can sell when its not illegal, harmful etc merely because they believe it's associated with obesity

people are fat from not exercising, you can eat as healthy as you want and get fat if you don't

Just because you exercise and eat all the shit you want doesnt mean you'll get all the nutrients you need. A person can be incredibly skinny and eat mcdonalds but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are healthy. Happy meals have zero nutritional value.
Posted via RS Mobile