I was surprised at the news which a state banned free
toys in McDonald’s Happy Meals having been provided since in 1979. According to
Tiffany O’Callaghan in the article, “California County Bans Toys on Happy
Meals”, the resolution for prohibiting kids from giving play things with high
calorie and high fat food, such as McDonald’s Happy Meals, is to protest the
increase of childhood obesity; however, some associations are opposed to the
ban. McDonald’s does not provide toys with Happy Meals for children because it
causes childhood obesity.
First of all, opponents think that parents have a fun time with their children if children get toys with the happy meals. I remember that I felt happy to see my children enjoying play with toys while eating the meal together. However, I have considered that the nutrition of the happy meals isn’t good. Elizabeth Fuller, writing in the article, “Happy Meal Ban: No Toys for You!”, contends, “Today, the most nutritious Happy Meal, with chicken nuggets, apple slices, and milk, has 390 calories, 15 grams of fat, and 560 milligram of sodium”. The facts show that Happy Meals have calorie-laden and have too much sodium and fat for children.
Secondly, some people claim that the fast food is also convenient, cheap and tasty food. Then parents might feel admirable when they get children Happy Meals because free toys come with them. It might be a kind of attraction for them. In contrast, Mr. Yeager, the president of Santa Clara County, says, “In many of our neighborhoods, particularly poor Hispanic neighborhoods, there are nothing but fast food restaurants… And we’re finding that the childhood obesity rates in those neighborhoods are just continuing to skyrocket.”(“California Town Bans Toys in Happy Meals”)
Thirdly, opponents allege that government doesn’t have
a right prohibits free toys with McDonald’s Happy Meals because parents have a
right to choose whether they give Happy Meals to their kids or not. “The key is
making menu items’ nutritional content transparent to consumers. What they
decided to do with that information should be their choice, not the government”
(“Toy Story: San Francisco Bars Happy Meal Treats for Tots”). However, it is
not only Happy Meals that increased risk of childhood obesity but also junk food:
children prefer to eat potato chips or popcorn without thinking whenever they
feel hungry. Although it is a crucial point for children that parents have to
be more educated about food giving to their kids, banning toys in Happy Meals
might be a way to prevent childhood obesity. Mr. Yeager, the president of Santa
Clara County, says, “And so we decided, well, let’s see if we can break that
connection between the toy and the unhealthy meals” (California Town Bans”). McDonald’s
shouldn’t give toys to children because it strongly relates to the increase of childhood
obesity.
First of all, opponents think that parents have a fun time with their children if children get toys with the happy meals. I remember that I felt happy to see my children enjoying play with toys while eating the meal together. However, I have considered that the nutrition of the happy meals isn’t good. Elizabeth Fuller, writing in the article, “Happy Meal Ban: No Toys for You!”, contends, “Today, the most nutritious Happy Meal, with chicken nuggets, apple slices, and milk, has 390 calories, 15 grams of fat, and 560 milligram of sodium”. The facts show that Happy Meals have calorie-laden and have too much sodium and fat for children.
Secondly, some people claim that the fast food is also convenient, cheap and tasty food. Then parents might feel admirable when they get children Happy Meals because free toys come with them. It might be a kind of attraction for them. In contrast, Mr. Yeager, the president of Santa Clara County, says, “In many of our neighborhoods, particularly poor Hispanic neighborhoods, there are nothing but fast food restaurants… And we’re finding that the childhood obesity rates in those neighborhoods are just continuing to skyrocket.”(“California Town Bans Toys in Happy Meals”)
Thirdly, opponents allege that government doesn’t have
a right prohibits free toys with McDonald’s Happy Meals because parents have a
right to choose whether they give Happy Meals to their kids or not. “The key is
making menu items’ nutritional content transparent to consumers. What they
decided to do with that information should be their choice, not the government”
(“Toy Story: San Francisco Bars Happy Meal Treats for Tots”). However, it is
not only Happy Meals that increased risk of childhood obesity but also junk food:
children prefer to eat potato chips or popcorn without thinking whenever they
feel hungry. Although it is a crucial point for children that parents have to
be more educated about food giving to their kids, banning toys in Happy Meals
might be a way to prevent childhood obesity. Mr. Yeager, the president of Santa
Clara County, says, “And so we decided, well, let’s see if we can break that
connection between the toy and the unhealthy meals” (California Town Bans”). McDonald’s
shouldn’t give toys to children because it strongly relates to the increase of childhood
obesity.
There is a book called "Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us." You might want to read a summary of it because it explains how fast foods like MacDonalds etc. prey on the poor. Lots of documentaries on this, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your suggestion, Mary.
ReplyDeleteI'll read and search it before I'll write the next post.