The Unhappy Meal

The county of Santa Clara, CA has outlawed toys in McDonalds Happy Meals, and any free toys to be given out with high calorie childrens meals in restaurants. This move will definitely make all of the obese children become svelte in Santa Clara, won't it?

Let's face it--most kids don't eat fast food out every day, some don't eat out that much at all. If the idea is to cut calories in kids meals, removing the toy won't do that. They toy was not intended to be ingested. The theory is that we should kids fast food meals less appealing to kids. Hmmmm...so if they go to McDonalds with their family and are not interested in a Happy Meal anymore because the toy is not in the box, then what will they order? A Big Mac, Large Fries and a gallon of Coke? Or perhaps 12 piece Chicken McNuggets, or some other heart attack in a paper wrapper?

The Happy Meal toy is not the cause of children becoming obese. Parents that either don't know how to properly feed their kids, parents that think there is not enough time to do so, or parents that just don't care whether or not they feed their kids healthy food are a major contributor of their kids obesity.

Another cause of childhood obesity is the lack of activity in the school day. Gym classes are being cut down or cut out due to budget constraints. Kids don't have to get off the couch to even change the channel of the TV, to answer the phone, to shop, to converse with a friend. They have gadgets to do all of that for them.

Parents are stressed, have less time, and as a result are buying convenience foods instead of cooking wholesome meals. Convenience foods may be convenient to cook, but they are not convenient on any one's waistline. They tend to be the fattier, saltier, sugary foods that have little nutritional value and lots of calories. If parents don't set the example by eating healthy foods themselves or by having healthy foods available to eat at home, kids are going to gravitate toward the items that are marketed to them by the fast food chains and manufacturers of sugary cereals, chips, and frozen snack foods.

Lots of parents are obese and they tend to be the ones that have a higher percentage of obese children. There are no simple solutions, but targeting the toy in a Happy Meal will not change eating behavior. Kids that order the Happy Meal because they like the food will still order the Happy Meal. The others will order something that is worse for them. This action will not stop people from eating at McDonald's. It is part of our culture and nobody is going to give it up without a fight.

That being said, if people took it upon themselves to start eating better and ordering the healthier options at fast food joints more often, then places like McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's will get the idea and will start offering more healthy options. If you have a salad with your burger instead of fries, or a chicken salad instead of chicken nuggets, they will change their menus to reflect what the people want.

This all comes back to individual responsibility. McDonald's is not responsible for your child being fat! You are, if your child is too young to buy their own food. You drive them there, you order for them, you cook for them and feed them at home and you let them eat school lunch (even worse than McDonald's -yuck!!) General Mills & Kellogs are not responsible for your kid eating Captain Crunch, and Count Chocula. They didn't mail it to you. If you don't want your kids to eat that way, don't buy that kind of food; it is really simple. They can't eat what isn't there!

I understand that these fast food companies and food manufacturers advertise to kids on TV, at the movies, on the internet, etc. That may be an area where there should be some regulation. But you have control of what food comes into your house when your kids are young. When you eat out, you are driving the car and don't have to allow your kids to order junk food when you are at a restaurant. You can be "bad cop" and just say NO.

I am sure McDonald's in Santa Clara, CA will find a way around the new regulation. They may sell a toy for 25 cents and then reduce the Happy Meal price by the same 25 cents. That is their call. But if you as a parent are concerned about your child's health and weight, it is within your power as Mom and Dad to make the good decision for them and make fast food a once in a blue moon treat and make healthy eating and exercise the norm at your house. Set the example by giving up on some of the junk you eat. That will speak volumes.