Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Who's in Charge?

Good evening,

I just read this article on Sparkpeople about Fast Food. The article talks about how McDonald's must stop putting toys in their kids meals because it will promote unhealthy eating habits in the children. This Parent's Group is also threatening to sue, if they don't.
I am all for healthy eating because I am working on it, but I don't think McDonald's is at fault. We are talking about children that don't work and have no true form of income, so these kids are not going on their own buying Happy Meals.
I also don't have children, but would it not be up to the parent to determine what their child eats and where it came from? Is the lure of a new Toy Story 3, Shrek, or any other movie toy that inticing that a child can get their parent to go to McDonald's?

What do you think?

3 comments:

  1. As a parent, I think that groups like this are utterly ridiculous! It's not the toy that makes me occasionally eat at McDonald's...1/2 the time I won't allow my children to get a Happy Meal because of the toy. If we eat there, it's a special treat.

    It is up to parents to teach their children healthy eating habits...that includes at home, not just when you go out. You cannot change the obesity issue in the US by suing everyone about sugar, fat, etc. It's called "SELF - CONTROL", there's a great lack of it in our country...not in eating, not in shopping, not in many other areas. There's only One cure for this disease.

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  2. I'm not a parent but I do have my niece alot and when we go out to eat, she knows that going to the fast food spots is not an everyday/all day venture and I encourage her to get what she is going to eat...which is usually the nugget meal...with a sprite ;)but the toy is not a big deal for her...

    so for me, I would have to say it's the parents responsibility to teach healthy eating however, that is the key problem...many people/parents don't know how to do so...so it's almost a 'cycle' of unknowing....knowledge is key....

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  3. I am a parent and a grandparent. The toy has no influence on whether you go to McD's or not. It is a parent behind the wheel of the car that drives there... McD's does not entrap you! I personally am not fond of their food but will not blame them for our poor choices. It is our responsibility. Good post!

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