Perhaps you have seen the tweets between me and Carla about the Happy Meal. She posted her reasons FOR the Happy Meal, so here are my reasons why I am AGAINST it:
1. The Happy Meal is NOT food. It is approximately 600 calories, about 25 grams of fat, and 905 mg of sodium. It should be called the Happy box of CRAP.
2. The toy is not banned altogether, it will only be included in meals that meet certain nutritional guidelines. (meal must be fewer than 600 total calories, drink included, and the fat must make up less than 35-percent of the meal’s caloric content.) If this encourages more parents to buy less fries and more apples, then I consider that a success.
3. People do not want the government telling them what they can eat, I understand that. But the government already dictates the MAJORITY of our food choices by making crap like this so cheap and the massive subsidies to the corn industry. If people would STOP buying it altogether, perhaps companies would offer healthier options. But as we saw with the McLean Deluxe and other attempts at healthy fare, people do not buy them when given the other choices.
Instead they have brought back the McRib–“A boneless pork patty that’s deep-fried and then slathered with tangy barbecue sauce, topped with pickles and onions and served on a warm roll.”
And we wonder why our nation is so obese?!
4. People are LAZY. Many of the moms I know buy this crap because it is convenient and they are too tired, too busy, or just too lazy to bother with anything else. These are educated families that are making the CHOICE for their children. (and I am not talking about the occasional purchase, because everything in moderation.) I’m talking about the parents who make this a 3, 4, or 5x per week “meal”. We don’t want government making bad choices for us so WHY would we make the bad choices for our children?
5. I am not perfect by any means. I eat too much chocolate and drink way too much diet pepsi. I would never wish these habits on my children. I wish that someone had limited my consumption of sugar as a child because perhaps I would not be the addict that I am today? Who knows.
The bottom line is that is it about so much MORE than the dumb toy (which is probably a lead based choking hazard anyway).
We need to make changes to our food industry and the way we eat. If it takes something as small as banning a cheap little toy then I say ”hooray!”
Thoughts?
{ 36 comments }
forget about the food, that toy is a piece of plastic junk – i am one of those educated lazy moms and will do the happy meal more than once a week…..the toys go in the garbage to fill a landfill – i feel there is NO need for the toy – healthy or not, get rid of the toy !!!!!
feener´s last [type] ..goal updates
thank you for being honest! and yes, I agree. The toy is junk anyway. Its just a cheap marketing ploy. If they must put a “prize” in the meal, how about a book?
Funnily enough, in the UK the Happy Meal has recently included a token to buy a book for £1. Usually a book related to the current Happy Meal Promotion!
Liz´s last [type] ..Proud Mommy Moment- numbers
can’t stand the happy meals. can’t stand fast food unless it’s like Jimmy Johns. wish they would all be outlawed. then my kids wouldn’t have to whine and cry and I give in every other week or so. bleh! yuk!
Jennifer Allwood´s last [type] ..Glaze that WHITE fireplace!!!!!
i agree. i would love to see all of these fast food places go out of business. They are poison that completely target/market to the kids!
To be honest, I was more on Carla’s side until I thought about your third point. I thought more about it and you are absolutely right. The subsidies the govt. provides to major food companies are huge reasons why the bad stuff is cheap, on the easy to reach shelves at the grocery store and are always available. I don’t eat fast food but also only have an infant so don’t know what’s to come in the whining/complaining department when my kid sees other kids get stuff they shouldn’t get. We shall see. Thanks for posting.
Hooray!
p.s. chick-fil-a gives books
A Forest Frolic´s last [type] ..Inspire Co – Inspired Ideas- The Christmas Issue
YAY I LOVE THIS
and I agree about the government thing I just fear the slippery slope of banning entirely.
I spend almost 30 hours or more a week working for free to help EDUCATE PEOPLE.
FOR FREE.
Thats how Im trying to help. I
Lazy?
Tired of the whining of our kids?
Dont wanna say NO to our children?
that has nothing to do with a Happy Meal—that’s parenting.
LOVE THIS.
MizFit´s last [type] ..4 reasons Im for the Happy Meal
I love this article! As consumers we are voting with our dollars and we should demand healthy food. Will it cost more? Yes! But our long term health will be better! As a parent it is our responbility to teach our kids how to make good choices even if it is hard.
It does seem like the happy meal could be a lot healthier. That is a ton of calories, sodium and fat! Yuck!
I am that fat lazy mom you refer to. But I agree with you. When I grocery shop, I buy natural, organic, and raw foods for my kids. They eat this way %90 of the time. Occasionally we go out on errands (I live in the middle of no where so this is typically a 3 hour outing just to grocery shop) and we get fast food and play on the play structure. I like to think that even though that “food” is bad, the main part of the diet helps to regulate it.
I think you have excellent ideas… nutrition is so underrated in this culture in terms of how to combat disease and remain healthy… but maybe the WAY you view your opinions can be slightly modified. People will be nothing but offended if you call them names.
How would you feel if the government said you are no longer allowed Diet Pepsi? You want to me able to make the choice for yourself right?
amanda, thank you for commenting. I did not mean for my post to come across in such a negative tone (and I don’t refer to anyone as fat), it’s just something i am passionate about. I WISH more people focused on feeding their kids like you do. I know many, many people who use fast food as a daily means to feed their children and it frustrates me.
Personally, I would love to see Diet Pepsi disappear from the shelves because I am addicted and too weak/lazy to resist it on my own.
I’m with you, you hit the nail on the head with #3. This is really the first good thing the government has attempted to control and I sort of like it.
Susan @ Home Workouts´s last [type] ..You Eat Too Much & Probably Don’t Know It
I honestly don’t think the toy affects the purchase of the happy meal that much. I think it is more about the convenience and that people find it tastes good so they get it for themselves…then for their children. I only have a 2 year old so maybe I have yet to experience the draw of the toys in the meals and it actually having an effect. Either way, there are so many other issues that need attention that would more solve the problem, which is where Carla’s points come in. I’m all for the banning of the toy if it actually acts as a step for better choices when getting the happy meal though. Or even it just bringing to light a topic more people need to consider in what we feed our children.
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun´s last [type] ..so much fun! & posting what i eat Q A
The happy meal is definitely not happy. You are absolutely right.
Discoveringthemeinmommy´s last [type] ..Thoughtful Living Tuesday
There are so many things wrong and right with this, it’s nearly impossible to make a change for the better. Society drives what’s acceptable to eat. Business and market demands drive what companies sell. The government regulates what’s legal and illegal. Is eating bad food bad for your kids? Yes. But like you said, in all things moderation. So an occasional Happy Meal shouldn’t be an issue. Is the toy in the Happy Meal the root of the issue? No, it’s just part of the contributing factors. Are the parents to blame for buying them? Yes. They should opt for healthier meals as much as they can. Does that mean all the time, no, just as much as they can. Is McDonalds at fault for selling a cheap, unhealthy meal with a toy? No, they’re in the business of making money by making their customer’s happy. Is the government to blame for having too much control or too little over what we eat? No, they’re doing their best to keep us safe and healthy. And if you don’t like what they do, then vote for someone that represents your opinions.
The biggest problem out of all of this is that there is no single solution. Banning toys, even banning the meals themselves, won’t fix it. We, as a society, need to make a mental shift, a change in our mentality, about what we eat and how we treat our bodies. If we don’t do that, then the saga of banned Happy Meal toys will be just another blip on the radar of our everyday life.
from your comment: “We, as a society, need to make a mental shift, a change in our mentality, about what we eat and how we treat our bodies.”
I love this! Thank you!
I’ve spent a lot of time educating my children about healthy eating. I felt it absolutely necessary as we entered into a Vegan lifestyle. They would starve before they’d eat a happy meal, seriously. There have been a few times when we had to stop to grab something to eat, at McDonald’s. It’s never fun, but necessary on a rare occasion, they choose a salad (and pass on the fries). When given a choice of drink, they choose water. I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous, but I will even allow them to have Sprite or Fruit Punch on these occasions, because they never get it otherwise, and they still make the healthy choice for themselves.
The bottom line, Vegan or not, is to take the time to educate your children on what’s in the food they’re putting in their mouth. You’ll be amazed at what they choose to do with the information!
Rebecca Capicola´s last [type] ..How come I never get sick
Why would you lose Facebook friends over this? If people deleted you it is because they probably do not want to face the reality of THEIR BAD CHOICES. I am not a perfect mother by any stretch but for the most part, we are very strict with the nutrition of our kids (you will never find bags of cookies or bottles of soda in our house). Every so often when we do go to McDonalds, my kids get the meal that we have chosen for them all along ……. Cheeseburger, Milk and Apple Slices (without the dip….that goes immediately in the garbage!). That’s all they have ever known and they are more than HAPPY with their MEAL!! So kudos to you for speaking up about this. Yes the toy is usually a piece of junk but it’s more of a treat just to go and get their meal and a treat for having a good week. It is ultimately up to us to educate our children and help them make the best possible choices as early as we possibly can. (We also have to make sure that we balance decisions so that we do not deprive them of anything so badly that they develop food issues….but that could be a whole other topic). PS, I too am a chocoholic!!
Control over what your children eat should be up to the parents, not the government. Don’t blame stores, restaurants, or subsidies for your bad choices. If you choose to feed your kids crap because you don’t want to hear whining, you have only yourself to blame.
Deb´s last [type] ..Health Risks of Having a Desk Job
I have two kids and we have a no fast food rule at our house. It takes a little planning since I either have to pack meals for long trips or be willing to pay the money to eat a restaurant (this doesn’t happen very often). My twelve year old has eaten fast food with friends and while he did say he liked it, he also has never asked for me to buy it for him. This is probably because he already knows my answer. When I am too tired or busy to cook a proper meal for my family, I fall back on meals I have prepared and frozen for just those nights. Soups, lasagna, and homemade pizza are great freeze now, cook later foods. I also spend time teaching my kids how to cook the basics so when they go off to college one day they will have more options then fast food, mac and cheese, and ramen noodles. I wonder if people eat too much convenience food because they don’t know how easy it is to make the meals themselves. Parents need to realize they are setting their kids’ habits for longer then just childhood. Better choices are needed and the government isn’t going to make any difference that truly matters, parents are.
“Happy box of CRAP” – enough said…
LOVE this article. Couldn’t agree more. It surprises me how many parents take the time and effort to feed THEMSELVES healthy/clean etc and yet feed fast food to their kids because they think either their kids wont eat the food they make or its too much work. As parent it is MY responsibility to feed my children as healthy as possible. Not feed them chemicals and crap that is basically poison. I agree ALL fast food should be done away with. My two year old is healthier than most people I know because I take the time and effort ( which isn’t much more than feeding myself or my husband) and she loves it. I will never ever feed either of my kids fast food, I don’t eat it either. TO me that is not a “treat”. My two year old thinks green smoothies are a treat. And that makes me sooooo happy!!
You make some excellent points, Lisa! While I can’t even remember the last time I bought my kids a happy meal, they do get them on ocassion when they’re at birthday parties or with grandparents and I don’t sweat that. I don’t know that I’d go so far as saying they should be banned but I do like that the point of this legislation is to reduce marketing directly targeted at children. Our kids are marketed to soooo aggressively.
PS> When we were potty training my last son, I actually went to the thrift store and bought a huge bag of happy meal toys for 1$. Everytime he pooped, he got one – worked like a dream:)
charlotte´s last [type] ..Fitness 101- What To Do With Body Hair
Lisa,
About spit out my WATER when I read Happy Box of Crap LOL So true! #4 is dead on.
Angie (Losing It and Loving It)´s last [type] ..Race Gear Shopping & Workouts
I’m with you; I am disgusted at the availability made to families for *quick* meals on the go. I would much rather make my children wait an additional 20 minutes for a meal vs. taking them through a drive-thru. Our teenage daughter received a $25 giftcard to McDonald’s LAST Christmas…she still has $25 on it! When we were alone after receiving it she said, “oh goodie! The gift that keeps on giving heart disease!” My teens know to plan ahead if they’ll be out with friends for hours; when this happens they grab snacks off the pantry shelf. I purchase cases (from Sams Club) of fruit, Larabars, FiberPlus bars, raisins & single serve salt-free cashews. This allows them to grab healthy snacks, of their choice, so they are not tempted to cave to their friends’ choices of quick snacks. It all starts in OUR homes. We cannot expect our children to eat healthy if we are not supplying them with avenues to make this happen.
Just my two pennies…
Jackie´s last [type] ..Do you REALLY know who youre voting for
I love this post! I am all for moderation especially when it’s a once in a while thing but it makes me SO damn MAD when my MIL always takes my children there when she watches them. I understand that she’s raised her kids so now she spoils her grandchildren. I may get flamed for this but I feel like it’s total and utter laziness on her part. It’s not that freaking hard! And the toy is total crap. I usually toss it as soon as they aren’t looking.
Retta @ RunRettaRun´s last [type] ..Eggy Pizza
Love numbers 2 and 5. Definitely made some really great points here. We need to reward the healthy habits!
Sagan´s last [type] ..Baking Tip for Rolling Dough
The Happy Box of CRAP, I love it!
Alysa Bajenaru, RD, CPT´s last [type] ..Our Big News
Shall we take a second to think about the parents who say, “my kid won’t eat it unless it has a toy” or “my kid only eats ____, ____ and ____.”
Honestly? I feel that it’s a parental issue. They allowed it to happen, and I feel so, so bad for the poor children who think that a happy meal is food.
Happy Meals 4-5 meals a WEEK?!? That makes me want to throw up. We all, as parent and moms are “too busy” and “too tired” but our child’s health should always come first. I too am not perfect, but I try to give my child a healthy balanced meal everyday. Hell, pizza can be a balanced meal if you chose the toppings wisely….
These people should watch Fast Food Nation and if they can actually stomach a McDonald’s cheeseburger after that or want to give their kids ammonia and/or fecal contaminated burgers then go for it. Prior to this documentary I would occasionally indulge in a delicious McDonald’s cheeseburger, but the images in my head will trump my taste buds any day.
this was a great discussion !!! if anything it has opened my eyes a bit about the lazy part. if the kids are asking for it – that is one thing but if i am just plain lazy and get it for them b/c i didn’t want to make something that might be where i need to start with changing.
i will be honest (again) i am scared to watch fast food b/c i realize it will effect me and i am not sure i want to see it……but i need to …a goal of mine and overall i have made such a lifestyle change that i know i am only going to be better each month.
feener´s last [type] ..pass fail
Taking toys out of happy meals isn’t going to stop people from buying their kids happy meals or fast food in general. It just makes no sense. Seriously then, they should just shut down Chuck E Cheese. There’s nothing there but fun, games, toy prizes, PIZZA and SODA. (Because how many kids are eating the salad bar?) It’s basically someone sticking their nose in where it doesn’t belong. Let’s take a better look at school lunches and decreased gym and recess time.
Susan @ Mom Swim Bike Run´s last [type] ..Go Fish
I just wanted to point out that the market ALREADY provides healthy alternatives to the Happy Meal.
Panera has healthy (toy-less) kid meal choices. Starbucks has selections (milk, fruit, organic cracker things shaped like bunnies). There’s also the grocery store, which has apples, milk, peanut butter, whole wheat bread AND books!!!! Burger King, Wendy’s and Subway all have healthy kids’ options. Also, you can buy the happy meal toy separately at McDonald’s, you don’t HAVE to get the happy meal.
My point is that the Happy Meal is the market response to a consumer demand. If consumers truly wanted healthy food, they would avail themselves on the options already in the market.
I am saddened that so many people arrogantly dismiss alternative preferences (people must be LAZY not to prefer healthy food and a BOOK!) and decide that the force of legislation is a better tool than debate and rational argument. THAT is laziness. Rather than making a convincing argument, let’s just hijack law-making powers to do it for us. Might makes right?
Also: “People do not want the government telling them what they can eat, I understand that. But the government already dictates the MAJORITY of our food choices by making crap like this so cheap and the massive subsidies to the corn industry.”
I don’t understand this line of reasoning. People hate government interference in their personal choices. The government already is involved in the majority of our food choices. Crap food is still cheap and people still happily eat it. So we need MORE government interference in personal choices? People still choose happy meals because we don’t have ENOUGH government interference?
Ok, so a parent doesn’t buy a Happy Meal and instead orders a Big Mac or Burger which is still full of crap. The habits of consumers need to change. Govt could care less. If they really cared, they would also get on Monsanto for their monopoly and heinous food practices, plus the livestock industries. Govt control will only go so far b/c the food industry is a big source of money for them.
The problem that I have with this, and with so many of the comments that I see here, is that the assumption is that if you feed your kids fast food, you must be LAZY. I hate that insinuation. The problem is, what if they’re not lazy? What if they’re working multiple jobs, don’t know any better, and don’t have either the time or the money to find out what is better? Their kids are getting FOOD, and if I was a low-income parent, that is all I would care about. You claim that it’s not food, but it is food. It may not be the food that you want YOUR children to eat, but what if you were feeding your children on minimum wage? What if you lived in the inner city and your choices were McDonalds and a small store that didn’t sell fresh produce? For many people these really are the choices. There’s no Whole Foods, there’s no vegan lifestyle, there’s no watching “Food, Inc” to better educate themselves…….. I just can’t fathom that so many parents are looking down their noses and pointing their fingers at others with such judgement.
The reason why the corn industry gets the subsidies is because a whole lot of corn can be grown in a very small space, and our soil here in the US is perfect for that. A whole lot of food can be made with this corn, and it’s important as a nation to be able to feed your population without importing food. We have a lot of people, and if for some reason we were in a situation where we couldn’t get food from anywhere else, I have confidence that the nation would not starve — and this happens to be a big deal to the government. I’m not saying this is right or wrong, AT ALL. But, I am saying that this is the reasoning. We can’t feed the entire world on organic produce and grass fed beef. We just can’t.
I know that what I’m saying here has little to do with whether or not there is a toy a Happy Meal. Personally, I think this is pointless legislation that won’t really solve anything to make our country healthier. However, it just strikes a nerve when I see so many moms throwing the “Lazy” word around and passing such judgement when I am 100% certain that they haven’t seen the other side.
Kim´s last [type] ..MBE- Unconventional Races
I agree 110% with you. We are complaining all the time about the government making choices for us regarding what to eat. It is not the government, it is the food industries which is controled by 5 big companies, they are the ones telling us what to eat. The illusion is that we believe, we are the ones making that decision, but we are not.
Why would you believe that this big companies pay hundred of thousands of dollar a year to lobbyists in Washington, DC. One thing I know for sure, they are not there for you or me, they are there to make sure congrees does not pass a law that will go agaisnt their best interest.
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