Exactly! I couldn't agree more!
I just want to say, for those of you whose kids have special needs, I think we all understand. I think we can all get that kind of issue....
But I have "a friend" we'll call them, who only provides cheese sandwiches, nuggets, hot dogs, fries and potato chips. I have seen this friend during regular times and holiday times, and that's all he gets. Never once fruit or veggies, but there's always room for dessert. it makes me so sad. She's not doing him any favors, but rather a great dis-service.
As are the restaurants that these menus cater too. It's a great dis-service to our children. Some of those kid meals are thousands of calories! It's too much for an adult to eat, let alone a child. Yes, it takes a lot of time and money to introduce a new food over and over again. But it's really an important issue. My whole "friend's" family is a walking advertisement for type II diabetes. They will pay for that emotionally and physically and we all will pay for it through health care costs.
Do I think it's laziness or bad parenting? Not at all. It's an education issue. Our family has been learning over the past few years that the food we ate as kids is not the same food our kids are eating today. It's more processed and our bodies are not made to eat that stuff.
The introduction of HFCS and other things happened over our life times. Chicken nuggets were not the thing they are today when we were kids. Just look at the labels. If it's not real food ingredients, don't buy it. You wouldn't feed your kids chemicals at home, right? Why do it through their food?
I do think Disney makes an effort, but over all, I think restaurants in general are terrible. Again, we choose not to eat out and instead use that money for natural food. All Hail Trader Joe's and Whole foods! LOL
Keep in mind, folks, there are easy ways to start... Buy organic catsup, all natural barbeque sauce (there is a major brand out there that uses molasses, not HFCS) and maple syrup instead of the processed garbage. Start with that. Then you can start to make other changes that your kids can gradually work into. Doesn't have to happen over night. We made the change over 2 years.
What I'm trying to say is, I'm not judging those parents out there, but rather, encouraging them to get back on the saddle and try and try again. I understand it's hard. Consider this a pat on the back and a cyber hug of support, OK?