Quote:
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.
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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