Raising Children and Fast Food

[lavender]

With the current suits against McDonald's and others in the fast food industry, it raises a unique question about the way parents raise their children.

When we see these suits about obese children, we begin questioning the control their parents have. Their parents can simply say, no McDonald's for you.

But, isn't total restriction only perpetuating the idea that it is a taboo, an evil that you crave?

If a child never eats McDonald's, when he gets freedom, do you think he/she will almost overdo it as rebellion.

Where is a happy medium?

 

[Minkey Boodle]

Occasional McDonald's never hurt anyone.

Happy Meals are a good medium for toys.

 

[perks]

moderation.



It's not the food, that's the problem it's the quantity of the portion and the number of times it is eaten.

The art of preparing a family meal got thrown out the door.

And most people, don't know how to eat properly, so why would they feed their children properly?

I think it should be a required course, just as breastfeeding is when you're in the hospital giving birth.

I'm sure most people don't even have the information.

 

[sexy-girl]

in sweden they have banned all forms of advertising directed to kids

of course they still attempt to get around it but i think its a wonderful idea

 

[paganangel]

a few years back there was a suit agianst the makers of pokemon because they made the kids "want it so much." parents have a very hard time saying no to tempertantrum throwing kids. it's not the advertising...it's lack of discipline on all sides.

 

[lavender]

I agree with you Perky.

 

[Mischka]

If a child never eats McDonald's, when he gets freedom, do you think he/she will almost overdo it as rebellion.

No, I don't think that. My parents never bought fast food, and openly discussed their disdain for its empty calories, minimal taste, and high saturated fat.

My family instead provided healthy, tasteful meals. We sat as a family around the dinner table, and meal-time was truly family time. No TV, no telephone, no outside distractions. Fast food didn't fit into our concept of meals.

To this day, I rarely eat fast food, and only from one local burger place. It's not the words that have impact, but the actions. My parents in essence banned fast food, but it never felt like that. They simply provided better alternatives.

 

[Spinaroonie]

Most of the world's children think that Ronald McDonald knows what kids SHOULD eat.

 

[Texan]

in sweden they have banned all forms of advertising directed to kids

of course they still attempt to get around it but i think its a wonderful idea

Why is it that parents that are not willing to tell their children "NO," are so willing to let government say it for them. I'm sure there is a point about the "responsibility of freedom" in there somewhere, but I'm not willing to go digging for it right now.

 

[perks]

Why is it that parents that are not willing to tell their children "NO," are so willing to let government say it for them. I'm sure there is a point about the "responsibility of freedom" in there somewhere, but I'm not willing to go digging for it right now.

I think you're correct.

I had my daughter, she is my responsibility.

Unfortunately, everyone that has children doesn't have the same mindset. They can't even take care of themselves.

That is the reason the government steps in, it's not supposed to be to regulate EVERYONE, it's to help those who can't help themselves.

Or am I way off base here?

 

[paganangel]

I think you're correct.

I had my daughter, she is my responsibility.

Unfortunately, everyone that has children doesn't have the same mindset. They can't even take care of themselves.

That is the reason the government steps in, it's not supposed to be to regulate EVERYONE, it's to help those who can't help themselves.

Or am I way off base here?

unless i misunderstand you, yes.

 

[sexy-girl]

Why is it that parents that are not willing to tell their children "NO," are so willing to let government say it for them. I'm sure there is a point about the "responsibility of freedom" in there somewhere, but I'm not willing to go digging for it right now.

i don't think its a case of having to say no to children ... its just that children having to be bombarded by adverts in my opinion is wrong and if banning those adverts could help their development wouldn't that be a good thing ... you have to realize that children face probably more directed advertising then adults do

the experiment is working really well in sweden you should look into it a bit before dismissing it off hand

 

[Secret Pleasure]

So true Perky

moderation.



It's not the food, that's the problem it's the quantity of the portion and the number of times it is eaten.

The art of preparing a family meal got thrown out the door.

And most people, don't know how to eat properly, so why would they feed their children properly?

I think it should be a required course, just as breastfeeding is when you're in the hospital giving birth.

I'm sure most people don't even have the information.

Couldn't agree with your statements more.

 

[Lancecastor]

I was asking my kids just the other day why they like going to McDonalds so much.

They agreed it wasn't the quality of the food.

Or its nutritional value.

They decided it was the marketing that makes them want it.

So we celebrated our triumph of free thinking with Happy Meals.

 

[Guest]

 

[Mia62]

Given the choice, which happens all the time, my kids prefer McDonald's about 50% of the time. They base their decision on their love of the taste - they don't give a shit about the marketing. The other 50% of the time, they prefer to go to a restaurant that serves "real" food where they can indulge in their taste-craving for all kinds of seafood, pasta, meat, chicken, etc.

 

[Mischka]

i don't think its a case of having to say no to children ... its just that children having to be bombarded by adverts in my opinion is wrong and if banning those adverts could help their development wouldn't that be a good thing ... you have to realize that children face probably more directed advertising then adults do

Children face more advertising when their parents allow them to be exposed to the mediums that carry that advertising. How many ads appear in books? How many ads are in a playground? How many ads does a child come across while playing a board game with their friends, or skip rope, or with little green army men? A child's world is not the same as an adult's, nor does it have to be.

 

[morninggirl5]

i don't think its a case of having to say no to children ... its just that children having to be bombarded by adverts in my opinion is wrong and if banning those adverts could help their development wouldn't that be a good thing ... you have to realize that children face probably more directed advertising then adults do

the experiment is working really well in sweden you should look into it a bit before dismissing it off hand

Banning adverstisements aimed at children will never be a substitute for parenting. Most children don't want the new McDonald's toy because of an ad. They want it because a friend has one.

One of the fast food places has talking Rugrats watches right now. One of my students wore one to school on Friday and immediately all the kids started talking about which one they wanted. No ad needed, the children themselves are the biggest marketer of fast food toys.

Fast food is just another symptom of the changes in families. The key is parents being parents, not indulgent caretakers.

 

[Mischka]

Given the choice, which happens all the time, my kids prefer McDonald's about 50% of the time.

"Given the choice"? Mia, do your children decide where you get your meals?

 

[Angel]

i don't think its a case of having to say no to children ... its just that children having to be bombarded by adverts in my opinion is wrong and if banning those adverts could help their development wouldn't that be a good thing ... you have to realize that children face probably more directed advertising then adults do

the experiment is working really well in sweden you should look into it a bit before dismissing it off hand

We don't want our government thinking for us, regardless of how much they currently try, and no matter how well it works in Sweden.

I especially don't want my government regulating things that I as a parent can just as easily control within my own family. Why have children only to allow everyone else to control what my child sees or experiences.

When my parents said "No", it meant "No". End of discussion. If I didn't like it I was free to throw a fit and cry in my room, which got me absolutely nothing at all. Too bad for me.

I learned that no matter how pretty a stupid commercial was, I didn't need every goddamn toy I saw between my TV shows, and that I would in fact survive if I didn't get it.

If people can't be PARENTS, maybe they should refrain from reproducing.

 

[Guest]

 

[Angel]

I want to put my dick in Angels mouth






Just to put a smile on her face

Yes, it would make me laugh.

 

[penguindance]

 

[Mia62]

"Given the choice"? Mia, do your children decide where you get your meals?

Yes, when I give them a choice of places.

 

[Spinaroonie]

Given the choice, which happens all the time, my kids prefer McDonald's about 50% of the time. They base their decision on their love of the taste - they don't give a shit about the marketing. The other 50% of the time, they prefer to go to a restaurant that serves "real" food where they can indulge in their taste-craving for all kinds of seafood, pasta, meat, chicken, etc.

Trust me... Given what fast food restauraunts do... You don't need the quotation marks around real for the other kind of restauraunt.