A Freshly Pressed post about happy meals being banned in San Fransisco has me so excited! They banned the kids meal on the premise that children should not be rewarded with toys for unhealthy food. I completely agree and applaud the decision, and I hope to see the idea spread until it reaches Pretoria. Not only is a bad decision instantly rewarded, children are lured and seduced to make that decision by advertisements and promotions of the current collectible set of toys. Which are regularly changed so if your child wants the complete set of a certain theme you’re gonna be eating a lot of McDonalds in a short period.
If the company manages to keep the world from following in San Francisco’s footsteps, I hope at least that parents will recognize the healthy choice and decide to act on their own. And by healthy choice I mean both physically and psychologically. It is not healthy to teach a child that happiness and reward comes with a coke and fries. It is no wonder then that depressed and unsatisfied adolescents and adults turn to fast- and fatty foods for comfort.
my purplehoneyjar 
You know what? I have been peeved that they adopted this resolution…it’s the parent’s choice to take their kids there…and I just feel like it’s one more way the Nanny Gov’t is telling us what to do, superceding our choice/parenting, and taking the “we know best” stance.
Parents can use this word: No. and, “we are not going back to Mickey D’s”…
yes…McDonald’s is crap food, from CAFO cows, filled with all manner of ickness…however, if I want to take my kids there, and they get a toy in the offing, well, that’s my choice…
the government shouldn’t decide what’s best for my kids…
maybe I am the only, lonely voice…
thanks for the post!
jane
You have a very valid point. l
I don’t really know whether we should be trusting the government to look after us, but I do feel that our eating habits need to change. And that we need to teach our kids a healthy relationship with food from the start. McDonalds surely arn’t going to protect us from their own food and tricks, And not all parents are responsible.
Hello Danielle, this is what I have to say! Matt had a similar post at: http://mattposky.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/the-farcical-campaign-on-corpulence-and-being-an-accountable-human/. And I had said, “.. First of all, I was very pleased to read the news about the McD’s ban that was going to get in place.. Because, 1. I simply refuse to give their chicken nuggets after seeing PETA’s McCruetly video about how they handle their chickens in captivity.
2. How much can public rely on self control and self motivation to teach us good eating habits? If it is readily accessible, and a couple of bucks, and would guarantee not getting down from my car, and imagine the blessings of not spending hours cooking, I might SOMETIMES be blind to the fact that the food that I am buying, is not the healthiest.. Maybe because the Ingredients, calorie content etc are not readily available for me to check!! So, I am grateful for some regulations that should be in place.. Here is to hoping that this doesn’t send of a message that I am an irresponsible mother! ..”
Bottom line I would prefer some regulations in place because I cannot give the Supreme power to corporations 🙂 Just my take!
Rachana
Although I perceived my political outlook as quite liberal. And I generally tend to distrust government involvement in freedom of choice, I still can’t help but think this ban is a good idea.
If we could rely on self-control we wouldn’t be faced with this situation or even be engaged in this debate. I think people will always opt for the easier option, and we should be protected from companies trying to exploit that characteristic. Espesially when it is simply for capitalistic gains at the detrement of our health and well-being.
So I agree with you Rachana, and I don’t think you’re a bad mom 🙂 the Happy Meal wouldn’t be the institution that it is if it wasn’t supported by a vast amount of paying parents. (Mine included!)