Please read BOTH articles below and write a thoughtful response.
http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/11/02/s-f-to-mcdonalds-no-happy-meals-in-the-city-unless-certain-nu/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-w%7Cdl3%7Csec4_lnk2%7C182102
and
http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/columns/oped_contributors/SF-supervisors-We-know-whats-best-for-your-kids-105843438.html
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22 comments:
I can't exactly pick a side to this issue. I understand that America is one of the fattest countries out there, and we are trying to lower its fat consumption. This could help America become a very healthy and happy nation to live in. However, by passing bills and laws, they are taking away the authority of the parents of this nation. Parents' responsibilities are to guide their children and raise them the way they believe they should be raised. If they want to give them fatty food that are high in calories then let them. By making happy meal toys in McDonald's illegal, they are removing a certain authority from the parents of America's children. I can easily see both sides of this situation.
-Danielle Johnson
I think that it was a fairly bold move for the government to do this. I can understand where they are coming from. When you mention McDonalds to a young child, most of the time they automoatically think of a Happy Meal consisting of Chicken nuggets, fries, a drink, and of course their special suprise toy they are going to find in the box. Most kids only want to go to McDonalds just so they can get a Happy Meal toy. It makes sense to want McDonalds to make their choices healthier, however I'm not sure it is necessarily up to the federal government to decide how that is going to happen. I feel that it is very important for the parents to make these decisions because, after all. they are responsible for their children. You can give your child guidance and circumstances and still allow them to have some say. For example, they can get a happy meal if they substitute fries with apples. Childhood obesity and obesity in general is on the rise and I really feel like something needs to be done. We can't keep blaming the media and fast food restaraunts for our health problems, because in the end, we are the ones making the decision to put their food into our mouths.
I agree with the view that if there is a toy coming with a meal, there is more incentive for a child to want it. There were times when I was a child that i would want a happy meal solely for the toy! I think it is very good idea for them to ban the toys unless until the restaurant makes me the meals more nutritionally sound. However, i wonder if that would have as big of an impact on the purchasing of the food or not. This is because it is the parents who bring the children to get these meals. The toy is just an added advantage. Would it really effect it that much if the toys no longer were there? the parents would probably still bring their children to get that food as often as they already do. Another good point the article brings up is that there are tons of regularly consumed foods that have worse nutrition than the happy meals because McDonalds has tried to make them better for you by adding apple slices and fat free milk and such.
I do agree that more kids may want to get McDonalds because of the toy, especially if a new movie just came out that now has toys of from it at McDonalds. I remember when I was little one of my friends said there were Finding Nemo toys at McDonalds. I wanted to have that toy too, so I went to McDonalds. I don't think banning these toys will really do much to the number of people that stop buying McDonalds, but it is still worth a try. Either way, by having toys, it is kind of promoting to eat that food. I think what they should do is just come up with a healthy meal and put the toy in that. I don't agree with the statement that the government is trying to taking away authority from parents. They aren't banning them from going there; they are just simply taking away the toy, not the food.
Although this issue is certainly a toss up, I have to say I side with Doell. I think that not including a toy in kid's meals that don't meet certain nutrition facts is a clever way of slowly increasing America's health. I do not believe this will make a strong impact on the health of America because there are more fast food places than just McDonald's, and many other "junk food" options available. However, you can't take a big step without taking the small ones. So many people are so quick to criticize changes that people make. Little do they realize that many of the changes made are often in their benefit. I think that many will continue to choose the unhealthy meals that McDonald's is well known for, but there is no harm in this small advancement. Childhood obesity (adolescent and adult as well) is unfortunately something that the world simply cannot beat, but we can certainly look to make some progress, and with more small steps like this, a noticeable difference can be made.
I can see how the government sees that taking away a toy will decrease McDonalds sales and therefore decrease the child obesity rate, but i dont think it is really going to work. Parents are still gonna take their kids to fast food resturants and kids are still going to eat the food. I take the parents side in the fact that it is up to them with what their kids are eatting. They should just be aware of what the food is doing to their children. In my opinion i think the government should take another approach to this. They should go directly to the fast food companies and make them make their food more healthier. Why punish the public rather then the corporations who are distributing the fatty, salty, unhealthy foods.
I think this is a great idea and it's reliving that someone is finally taking initiative to eliminate obese america. America is the fattest country in the world and I blame it on fast food. Everywhere you look there is a fast food place around. People love this food because it tastes good, it's filling and its very cheap. The reason why it's so cheap is because it's is grade "C" meat. I grew up with parents who raised me to stay away from fast-food. I had mcDonalds for the first time when I was 13 and away with my baseball team. My parents are completely against these fattening places. The idea of the "happy meal" is to provide the child with nice toys so he or she can associate these nice happy toys with fat food which eventually leads to obesity. This is why our country is fat is because we are brainwashing children at a young age. America needs to start getting its act together eliminating these death resturants and people need to eat healthier and promote excercise. They need to make toys for healthy meals to attract kids to eat veggies.
Although San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors is trying to make a positive change in the health of fast food meals, I think they should leave the subject alone. The board’s proposal is suggesting that if restaurants like McDonalds are unable to meet the city’s nutritional requirements they will be unable to distribute free toys to kids. City supervisors believe the strategy of using toys as incentives to buy high fat foods is irresponsible on the restaurant’s part. I disagree with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as I think it is up to parents to determine whether or not to buy a certain meal. I believe the city does not posses the right to prevent restaurants like McDonalds from giving away toys to children with happy meals. City supervisors are not even positive that denying restaurants the ability to distribute toys will stop parents from buying their kids happy meals. I believe city officials should spend their time educating families about healthy food choices rather than targeting restaurants that offer an extra incentive behind purchasing their meals.
My memories of childhood car rides are filled with the McDonalds happy meal and toy. Did I even like the meal? I'm not even sure. I would eat it to make my parents happy and happily play with the toy. Now I refuse to eat most of the items from McDonalds and i gag at the site of the chicken McNuggets. I agree with this banning of the toys. America is one of the fattest countries and it's good to see that McDonalds is trying to do their part to stop that. If they really want to give away cheap toys that kids play with for a total of 20 mintues, maybe give them away if someone choses apples instead of fries. People have to start realizing that what they put into their bodies even at a youngage will affect their lifes. With cancer on the rise I want my body to be healthy and strong so i chose not to consume these fatty foods.
I do agree that if Mc Donalds is offering new toys with their meals there will be an increase in costumers because it attracts young children. I remember wanting to go to Mc Donalds because they had cute little toys that were popular. I do like how they mentioned that Mc Donalds food isnt the worst out there. There are plenty of foods that are alot worse that we dont take into account. I dont think they should have to make happy meal toys illegal because i dont think that would stop kids from wanting Mc Donalds. People today get way too worked up about the smallest things. Im my opinion they should just leave it how it is and let the kids have their toys.
I don't think there's any debate here, the city of San Francisco is absolutely right with what they've chosen to do. To argue that parents have the right to start their kids off on a pathway to obesity is like saying that parents can raise their children in any sort of dangerous condition that they desire. "You're a drug addict/prostitute raising your kid in a crackhouse? Well we don't care! The government can't tell you what's good and bad for your kid!" The above statement was probably a bit of a stretch, but it does illustrate how ridiculous the claim that the government should have no role in how you raise your kids is.
In the end, advertising nutritionally poor foods to minors by using brightly colored toys and cartoon networks is simply manipulative advertising, and should be regulated just as the advertising of tobacco and alcohol is. America is an obese country, and sacrificing our health to protect the corporations would simply be cowardly.
I agree with the statement that the toy8s at McDonalds make kids want to eat there more but at the same time i dont think its a good idea to ban the toys because i think that parents should be the ones to decide if their children can eat there and get toys or not, not the government. I think that as long as the parents have control over their children and they dont always give then exactly what they want when they want it, then this issue wont be as extreme as it is now. Another way to try and control this is to make the "Happy Meals" a little more healthy, which McDonalds is trying to do. They now ffer milk instead of soda and apples instead of french fries which is a good idea. I they make it healthier, the kids will still be entised to eat that food. You have to make them happy with what they are getting and at the same time try to get them to eat right
I think the people proposing this bill are completely and totaly insane. I believe the government doesnt have the right to tell people what they can and cant eat. I mean really think about what these p[eople are saying they want to make a law that will ban people from selling toys along with unhealthy food, they want to ban people from giving children free toys, reall? and i hate the fact that Mcdonalds is made out to be some sort of evil corporation hellbent on making America's children obese, all they are doing is giving us exactly what we want which happens to be bad for us, so who is really at a fault here. I think that the government needs to stay out of peoples buisness, and that people should take responsibility for their own actions.
Im not for this nor against it, but i do understand why this idea is being proposed. America is becoming more and more obese and unhealthy. There are so many McDonald's around and everyone stops to get some food. I really dont think that removing a toy from the happy meal will stop anybody from buying McDonalds. People usually go there because it is fast food, if they wanted a toy they would go to Toys 'R'Us and buy one.
Kenny Anello
First of all I think this is an extremely strange topic for people to be arguing over. I agree with the idea that it should be the parents decision as to whether fast food is right for their child or not. I dont believe that the only thing making kids want fast food are the toys but I also can appriciate the fact that it probably isn't helping. I do agree that when little kids see their friends with certain toys, they end up wanting the same thing. So, if one kid gets a toy from McDonalds, there is a large chance that other kids will go there searching for that toy.
I know that when I was young, the exciting part about going to McDonalds was the toy that came with the happy meal. While the toy excites young children about McDonalds, the toy is not the problem. The problem is the food that comes with the toys. Instead of getting rid of the toys, bring in healthier food so that children can still be excited about the toy in the happy meals without the fattening meal that comes with it. A toy in a meal isn’t what’s causing obesity in our country; it’s the food that restaurants like McDonalds are serving.
Although I agree with the intentions of the legistlation passed in San Francisco, their efforts may not be effective. Many people are cognizant of the obesity rate in the United States. This problem needs to be attended immediately, so the San Francisco proposal has the right idea. However, the banning of happy meals is not very pragmatic. Instead, government officials should look to change the actual ingredients of these fast food restaurants. I believe ingredients such as partially hydrogenated fats and trans fats should not be allowed to be used in the creation of food because of the harmful effects on the body.
I completely understand where the board of supervisors is coming from with not giving toys away for health reasons. The fact that there’s a toy in an unhealthy Happy Meal is a bad way to lure kids to fatty foods. Even though I understand where they’re coming from, I disagree with the final decision of it being a law… I agree with the statements of the parents. It’s the parent’s right and responsibility — not the government’s — to make their own decisions and to choose what’s right for their children. Now coming from a perspective of my own, I think that they’re taking away the “happy” in a Happy Meal! That’s the fun of going out to eat, which I (along with many others) don’t do very often. AND I think that if they are going to continue with this absurd law, they should lower prices. How much is a Happy Meal now-a-days? 5 bucks? They give you a dollar burger, fries, and drink! They make you pay for that toy; the kids deserve it. I disagree with this new and ,again, absurd law…
i believe that the government should have a right to step into this, because the truth is that america's health is in danger. These meals that are so delicious and so fattening really do have a very large impact on the community of america these days. its a frightening thought to see that the future of america can have a very low life expectancy due to these problems, and frankly, its sad. it really has gone to the point were the government should step in to control these objects because in all honesty, they really are as bad as some drugs.
I think that this is a great idea. I think that Americans are becoming more and more overweight and it is getting out of control. McDonalds happy meals have always been associated with the idea of getting a toy. I know when I waas younger when I went to McDonalds thats what I was getting. I wanted the toy and didnt care if the food I was eating was unhealthy. I think that if McDonalds wants to give out toys to the kids who purchase their meal, they should put the toy with a healthy choice. The toy should come with a meal that is a smart choice and will be better for the child to eat than a greasy disgusting hamburger and some fries. Our society today is getting out of control. We eat too much fast food and make poor choices about what we eat. I think that the idea of a toy to encourage kids to buy their product is fine, but encouraging kids to make poor food choices is not okay. We need to start setting a better example of what to eat and what not to eat. If we don't Americans obesity will continue to grow out of control. I think that this was a fantastic idea and wish someone would have thought of it sooner.
I don't think the government should be getting involved in this scenario because they make it look like McDonald's is the reason for the obesity. I believe that it’s the person’s eating habit that makes him or her obese not just fast food but, other snacks like donuts, chips, and other junk food. Taking away the toy from the happy meal is just a small baby step forward in attempting to prevent child obesity. Most children will not want the happy meal as much because they enjoy playing with the toy. Some children will still desire the happy meal just as much as they did when it came with a toy because it’s just a habit for them. It just happens that healthy food is harder to find and is more expensive than food that isn’t the best for you.
McDonalds is doing nothing wrong or illegal in this situation so the government shouldn't be allowed to get involved. If they're allowed to do this, why wouldn't they? When I was a little kid the toys in the kid meals had nothing to do with anything. I mean, it was a great addition to the meal, but I would've eaten there anyway. People love McDonalds because they like the food and it's cheap. People are warned more and more about how fatty these products are, yet these places are packed out almost everyday. It's not the government's choice what the people eat and how McDonald's gets them to eat.
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