| Sorry for the harsh language, but I believe it is warranted. CSPI has called on McDonalds to stop giving out toys with Happy Meals. And I can't agree with them more. One of the biggest eating problems in the U.S. today is that we choose what we eat (and how much we eat) for reasons other than "I'm hungry." Teaching children at such a young age to choose their food based on toy give-aways is entirely insidious. And it has the effect of exposing them to absolutely awful-for-you food that, for some people, can trigger truly out of control eating throughout their lives (see the book The End of Overeating by David Kessler).
As a parent, the toys are crap and don't get played with very often once they come home (the exception being that stupid Kidz Bop CD they gave away, which our kids still listen to nonstop), but the variety of prizes and constant advertising of something new entices the kids to ask for Happy Meals over and over, always having a reason why they need one NOW ("But I haven't gotten that new toy yet!!!"). And they make anything a parent cooks for the kid automatically less fun because it doesn't come with a toy.
So what was McDonald's response?
"Happy Meals are a fun treat, with right-sized, quality food choices."
You've gotta be kidding me. A study by CSPI found that 93% of kids meals at McDonalds contain too many calories for children ages 4 to 8. Many are also too high in saturated fat and sodium. But did anyone really need a study to prove that McDonald's doesn't serve "right-sized, quality food choices" in its Happy Meals? |
