Oklahoma Running Mom

Running in Oklahoma adds new meaning to the phrase "Hot Mama."

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Toys and Obesity????

Okay, I know that I'm totally obnoxious about healthy eating and restaurants that offer foods with a disgusting amount of calories (i.e. the double down sandwich), but the article I read today about officials who are banning Happy Meal Toys seemed more than a little ridiculous to me. Below is an excerpt from the article: It's a Sad Day for Happy Meals in Santa Clara County.

"This ordinance prevents restaurants from preying on children's' love of toys" to sell high-calorie, unhealthful food, said Supervisor Ken Yeager, who sponsored the measure. "This ordinance breaks the link between unhealthy food and prizes."

I personally don't think it's the toys linked with unhealthful foods that are responsible for obese children. It's the failure of parents to provide healthful foods to their children on a daily basis. When we get into the habit of counting on fast food multiple times a week to provide meals, our families won't be getting the proper nutrition they need. I'm grateful that my mom and dad both cooked my brothers and I meals all the time. I'm also grateful that we were able to indulge in the occasional happy meal and cheap toy (which seemed priceless to me at the time).

What do you think? Where is the line between regulation and personal responsibility when it comes to food?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder. I'm fat and have never had a happy meal, but i would enjoy having some of their toys.

Anne said...

"I read a comment from that article that said we should ban "couches." Fat kids sit on couches. They are very dangerous to our children's health! "

Cameron said...

I'm pretty sure it was the happy meal toys that made me fat.

Garrett said...

Just a quick thought... I think it is ridiculous to regulate whether a restaurant can give your kid a toy or not. And while I do not contend that McDonald's food is all healthy, I am very impressed with the company overall. I did a consulting project for them about a year ago and met a few of the senior executives for the company. I was very impressed with their commitment to "full disclosure" of what is in their food. They do not try to hide the nutrition (or lack thereof) facts about the food. Additionally, they have tried to promote more milk and fruit with Happy Meals rather than french fries (more so than any other fast food restaurant I have seen).

So I say bring on the Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese and french fries... er, I mean fruit cup.