That seems to be the message in banning toys in kid's meals. Mickey D's, BK, et al. are the pusher man. You can't resist that sweet, sweet burger and fries. And the toy? That's the icing on top. It practically turns a kid's meal into sherm. Parents have no culpability here, right?
Parents have a duty to say "No" (unlike three year olds that enjoy saying it just to frustrate Mommy & Daddy). That's what makes us parents. Yes, advertising works. But to suggest that we as human beings are helpless against it's powers is both sad and wrong. At what point are we in charge of our own lives? Responsible for our decisions? Increasingly less, it seems.
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Bring back the toys in cereal!!! I miss my plastic submarine filled with baking soda!
ReplyDeleteNo kidding. Are these kids driving themselves and spending their own money?
ReplyDeleteglenn, i think i still have scars in my mouth from all the cap'n crunch i ate as a kid.
ReplyDeleteMuch as I hate to admit it, I think it's a both/and. I was a very overweight kid, partly due to my parents giving me lunch money to spend any way I wanted at school. That translated to a can of Coke and some kind of white roll with chips as my lunch. Then, after school it was a cool thing to do to go to a local fastfood place and get french fries and chicken nuggets as a snack. My parents definitely share the responsibility for not teaching or modelling good eating habits at home, but peer pressure is also a big factor with these issues too.
ReplyDeletePlease, please, please read the book "Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes, who probably understands human metabolism as well as anyone on the planet. Or if you are not inclined to read that book right now, set aside an hour and watch his lecture on nutrition and obesity, which you only have to Google to locate. It will be as valuable an hour as you'll ever spend. "Low carb" is not a fad diet, it's a way of life that allows you not only to lose the weight you want to shed, but to keep it off permanently (unlike most other diets where you are always hungry and focused on food and thus over the months and years gradually re-gain all that you've lost.) I reached my goal of 135 lbs (female, 5'8")six years ago and have not added an ounce since, although I eat like an empress, really, and love to cook and dine well (accompanied by wine, natch.) Also, the comedian Tom Naughton's DVD "Fathead" is a worthy investment too. (Gary Taubes was one of his advisors when he made the documentary -- a film which is both an education about dieting and obesity, and hilarious). Best of luck; you're doing the right thing to eschew bariatic surgery, based on the experiences of two persons I know who've had it and have suffered some unpleasant consequences.
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