Illegal Happy Meals

[Halbleib1]

With one out of four children now being considered obese, obviously the parents aren't..

Just the other day I heard on the news that obesity - in both children and adults - is currently the number one health crisis that is facing this country.. Something has to change.. What - and how - I'm not sure..

I agree something has to change but the government over regulating is not the answer. Esp. when they pass laws that are not going to help the issue. They should be working on more important issues than a toy in a kids meal. How about putting recess back into schools that have removed it completely. In some cases that was the only exercise a kid got in a day.

Also families that are already struggling to make ends meet have a hard time cooking healthy for their families with the cost of healthy items being so much higher than the junk items. Something needs to be done about this so that families can cook healthier.

Maybe instead of regulating a toy in a kids meal they need to regulate the preservatives that are now being put into our foods these days. Esp. the sodium content in many of our foods. Many times this is not done for taste but to give the item a longer shelf life.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I disagree with the premise of the idea and don't feel it will work or prevent parents from hitting the drive through for some chicken nuggets if they are in a pickle for lunch or dinner.

As a matter of fact--on more than one occasion..when we didn't feel like going to the expense of individual happy meals, we just order large boxes of nuggets. The lack of a toy didn't make the nuggets less enticing to my children or to us for feeding them at that particular time.

 

[shellybaxter]

I'm curious about the law. It apparently stops restaurants from giving away toys with a fatty meal. Can the restaurant charge 10 cents for the toy with the purchase of the meal? I mean - who really thinks the toys are "free" anyway - I'm sure the price of a happy meal includes the cost of the toy.

 

[rie'smom]

With one out of four children now being considered obese, obviously the parents aren't..

Just the other day I heard on the news that obesity - in both children and adults - is currently the number one health crisis that is facing this country.. Something has to change.. What - and how - I'm not sure..

If they got rid of high fructose corn syrup, it would be a great start. The country's obesity rate started climbing when companies started using this as a sweetener.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Or - since McD's claim they are offering healthier options for kids now - why not replace the junk in the current Happy Meals with those items and then still include the toy as an incentive for the kids to choose the healthier meals?

When my former SIL's kids were little she was practically obssesed with making sure that her kids were the "first" to have each new toy when it came out.. Even if it meant driving all over heck and high water - getting Happy Meals in each town - she wouldn't stop until they had the "new" toy.. They would be on the hunt 2 to 3 times a week.. Luckily her DD didn't develop any significant weight issues, but her son (now in his 20's) was very obese by the time he hit 3rd grade - and is even larger now.. Of course she was also big on having all sorts of junk food and soda on hand for them in the house 24/7 - to eat whenever they felt like it.. I think the way she rationalized it in her mind is that she grew up very poor and never had any "treats", so she made sure that her own children were going to have everything and anything that was available..

The ty beanie craze of the late 1990s....we'd buy the happy meals, toss the food and keep the toy. ( Seriously, we can't be expected to eat 5 meals! ).

Yes it was wasteful--but if it was truly the toy--there was no need for her to feed him the food. And some McD's will let you just buy the toy. Additionally--the rotation for a series is a new toy a week roughly....and one happy meal a week isn't going to make a kid obese. So likely, it's the other stuff that she is feeding him causing the issue.

As it stands, McD's can just charge a separate fee (like they do with the special edition glasses they used to come out with) and not associate the toy with the meal. I doubt that the hamburger restaurant is going to go the way of subway on their meals to appease the CA law. By charging for the toy, they don't have to change a thing.

 

[LunchladyDoris]

Who cares?

It is a crappy toy anyways that can get thrown away away. Sure it is not the place for the goverment to "control" but then again seeing how childhood diabetes is an issue, something has to be done that parents are not doing. Also, to be fair McDonalds does offer the healthy food such as salads, milk and fruit but then again it appears that the parents do not order the healthier food. It is their say but obviously "their say" is what is making cupcake fatter. It is the parents who have to not only make the decision but to also deal with the consequences for the fatty food THEY order. Not to mention the ridicolous lawsuits that have came to McDonalds because nitwits blamed their overeating of the food on the company instead of themselves. This is probably another way the place is making sure they aren't getting sued by some pass-the- blame parent who thinks it was the toy that forced their hand to order the food.
However, does the toy really affect a kid that much?

If my kid freaked out over the lack of toy then he and I would have problems.

 

[Halbleib1]

The ty beanie craze of the late 1990s....we'd buy the happy meals, toss the food and keep the toy. ( Seriously, we can't be expected to eat 5 meals! ).

Yes it was wasteful--but if it was truly the toy--there was no need for her to feed him the food. And some McD's will let you just buy the toy. Additionally--the rotation for a series is a new toy a week roughly....and one happy meal a week isn't going to make a kid obese. So likely, it's the other stuff that she is feeding him causing the issue.

As it stands, McD's can just charge a separate fee (like they do with the special edition glasses they used to come out with) and not associate the toy with the meal. I doubt that the hamburger restaurant is going to go the way of subway on their meals to appease the CA law. By charging for the toy, they don't have to change a thing.

Yes many Mcdonalds will sell you the toy seperate. Last time I did this it was 99 cents plus tax for just the toy.

As you said they will find a way around the law possibly by charging less for the meal and just selling the toy seperate. Therefore not really changing anything. Also what is the penalty if they do not abide by the law and continue to include the toy in the meals anyway? Haven't heard anything about this yet. A lot of times company's find it more beneficial to just pay the fine vs. obeying the law.

Update: The penalty would be $1000.

 

[WDWtrlrprktrsh]

I think it's nuts. I buy the kids meal sometimes just for the toy. So they will give me some peace and quiet in the car on the way home.

If you are on a budget, you will still buy a cheesburger, fries and a coke. toy or no toy. But no toy seems like a punishment to the kid. The adult is the one who ordered the food and has to take responsibility for any consequences.

 

[Wall-E1]

Or - since McD's claim they are offering healthier options for kids now - why not replace the junk in the current Happy Meals with those items and then still include the toy as an incentive for the kids to choose the healthier meals?

I agree. Why not include the toy with a salad instead of their greasy burgers and fries?

I don't think it's such a bad thing. Some of you are complaining about the government over-regulating, but what's the difference between this and the laws against cigarette advertisements?

I look at it the same way. Cigarette companies used to have cartoon characters as mascots to encourage kids to start smoking at a younger age. Fast food restaurants are using toys to encourage children to get into bad eating habits at a young age. Both tactics lead to unhealthy life styles. Obesity is a huge problem in our society today. Todays children are the first generation with a life expectancy shorter than their parents.

Happy meals are not being banned. Only the disgusting methods that these restaurants use to get kids to buy their unhealthy foods are being banned.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes many Mcdonalds will sell you the toy seperate. Last time I did this it was 99 cents plus tax for just the toy.

I just bought one last week. My 13yodd likes dragons and we got her one. It was 1.79.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I agree. Why not include the toy with a salad instead of their greasy burgers and fries?


I look at it the same way. Cigarette companies used to have cartoon characters as mascots to encourage kids to start smoking at a younger age. Fast food restaurants are using toys to encourage children to get into bad eating habits at a young age. Both tactics lead to unhealthy life styles. Obesity is a huge problem in our society today. Todays children are the first generation with a life expectancy shorter than their parents.

Happy meals are not being banned. Only the disgusting methods that these restaurants use to get kids to buy their unhealthy foods are being banned.

I'm going to have to disagree.

Using a cartoon to entice a minor to want a product that is illegal for them to have as a minor...

Isn't quite the same as offering a toy on a meal that is served regularly in a public school and totally legal for minors to have.

What next--no coloring crayons at Ruby Tuesday until it is confirmed that the child will be ordering a lean meat and veggie?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I think it's silly and unnecessary.

 

[Wall-E1]

I'm going to have to disagree.

Using a cartoon to entice a minor to want a product that is illegal for them to have as a minor...

Isn't quite the same as offering a toy on a meal that is served regularly in a public school and totally legal for minors to have.

What next--no coloring crayons at Ruby Tuesday until it is confirmed that the child will be ordering a lean meat and veggie?

But they are essentially the same. Both fast food restaurants and cigarette companies are using things that kids relate to (toys, cartoon characters) in order to get them into unhealthy habits at a young age. Both of these habits can lead to serious medical conditions (cigarettes - cancer, fast food - diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure). Just because one isn't legal until 18 doesn't change the tactics that both industries are using. I remember back in the day when you could buy cigarettes from a vending machine. Even today, kids can get cigarettes if they really want them. Cigarette companies know that kids have ways of getting their products.

And public schools should be ashamed of the quality of food that they offer kids these days. And the vending machines they have on campus, I find absolutely disgusting.

I eat healthy, but am not totally anti junk food. I pack chips or cookies with my kids lunch, but I make sure he has a healthy meal and snack. Some school lunches today are complete junk from the meals to the drinks and snacks.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

But they are essentially the same. Both fast food restaurants and cigarette companies are using things that kids relate to (toys, cartoon characters) in order to get them into unhealthy habits at a young age. Both of these habits can lead to serious medical conditions (cigarettes - cancer, fast food - diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure). Just because one isn't legal until 18 doesn't change the tactics that both industries are using. I remember back in the day when you could buy cigarettes from a vending machine. Even today, kids can get cigarettes if they really want them. Cigarette companies know that kids have ways of getting their products.

And public schools should be ashamed of the quality of food that they offer kids these days. And the vending machines they have on campus, I find absolutely disgusting.

I eat healthy, but am not totally anti junk food. I pack chips or cookies with my kids lunch, but I make sure he has a healthy meal and snack. Some school lunches today are complete junk from the meals to the drinks and snacks.

So there is irony that laws are passed on a fast food establishment--but not a school then isn't there?

As for the illegal substance of a cigarette...it just isn't the same.

As it stands--McD's has done things to healthy of their happy meal. But the ban--well, it fails to address the problem properly.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I saw this in the news and all I could think was what on earth is it these people are smoking?

We've got schools looking to cut teaching jobs, states hovering on the brink of Bankruptcy, tons of people out of work, people losing homes and no end in sight but by all means, lets take the time to worry about some dopey child menu meal toyl!!!! Are these people serious!?!? Talk about an Ivory Tower... I can't stand it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The ban:
than 485 calories, more than 600 milligrams of sodium, more than 35 percent of total calories from fat or more than 10 percent of calories from added sugar. It would also limit toy giveaways on single food items with more than 200 calories or more than 480 milligrams of sodium.


The Happy Meal:
Hamburger, Apple Dippers, 1% milk Jug

Total calories:
390

Total sodium:
650 (easily trimmed....it's just barely over this limit)

Fat calories 100, 25.6%

Not really that bad..not sure that last rule though...seems to basically ban the hamburger. But as a meal--this meal is almost just within requirements.

 

[SAHDad]

So there is irony that laws are passed on a fast food establishment--but not a school then isn't there?

And, lest we forget - going to McDonalds is a choice. Going to school. . . not so much. I'm all for fixing the (essentially) broken food and exercise system in the public schools, and that should certainly have been a higher priority than banning cheap plastic toys in a Happy meal.

Again, Lewis said it best:

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

Being a parent is hard. I know. It's hard to say no when your kids are screaming that they want to go to McDonalds, and it's dinnertime, and you don't know what you are going to make. But you don't do your children any favors by taking the easy way, nor by abrogating your parental responsibilities and obligations to the government.

 

[Wall-E1]

So there is irony that laws are passed on a fast food establishment--but not a school then isn't there?

Absolutely! Schools should actually be held to a higher standard than a fast food restaurant. I may be older than the hills, but I remember when I was younger, schools did not sell Mountain Dew, chocolate bars and Zingers. Sure, our lunch food was only one step up from hospital food, but how can school boards across the country allow this to go on? I guess it's all about money. They get a hefty commission from companies such as Coca-Cola, so that makes it okay to poison our kids on a daily basis.

As it stands--McD's has done things to healthy of their happy meal. But the ban--well, it fails to address the problem properly.

I agree. McDonalds has done more than most fast food restaurants in offering more healthy alternatives. That doesn't make their advertising methods okay. And the ban is only on pairing up the toy and unhealthy meal. This won't solve the problem, but it may help a little bit. In my opinion, it's a first step at the very least.

 

[luvmy3]

Absolutely! Schools should actually be held to a higher standard than a fast food restaurant. I may be older than the hills, but I remember when I was younger, schools did not sell Mountain Dew, chocolate bars and Zingers. Sure, our lunch food was only one step up from hospital food, but how can school boards across the country allow this to go on? I guess it's all about money. They get a hefty commission from companies such as Coca-Cola, so that makes it okay to poison our kids on a daily basis.


I agree. McDonalds has done more than most fast food restaurants in offering more healthy alternatives. That doesn't make their advertising methods okay. And the ban is only on pairing up the toy and unhealthy meal. This won't solve the problem, but it may help a little bit. In my opinion, it's a first step at the very least.

No it actually won't because the parents who go to McD's and get their kids a happy meal will still go there and get that happy meal and just buy the toy for a seperate charge. This will change nothing about the eating habits of anyone.

 

[mhsjax]

But they are essentially the same. Both fast food restaurants and cigarette companies are using things that kids relate to (toys, cartoon characters) in order to get them into unhealthy habits at a young age. Both of these habits can lead to serious medical conditions (cigarettes - cancer, fast food - diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure). Just because one isn't legal until 18 doesn't change the tactics that both industries are using. I remember back in the day when you could buy cigarettes from a vending machine. Even today, kids can get cigarettes if they really want them. Cigarette companies know that kids have ways of getting their products.

And public schools should be ashamed of the quality of food that they offer kids these days. And the vending machines they have on campus, I find absolutely disgusting.

I eat healthy, but am not totally anti junk food. I pack chips or cookies with my kids lunch, but I make sure he has a healthy meal and snack. Some school lunches today are complete junk from the meals to the drinks and snacks.

Well you better watch out, if you give the govt that much control, soon they will be telling you not to pack chips or cookies in their lunch.