Making happy meals illegal

Rydia

Rydia

Throwing rocks at emo kids
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There has been talk about making happy meal toys illegal and I think I heard that they just did so somewhere. They want to do this as a way to decrease child obesity because one of the reasons that children want to eat at McDonalds is for the toy.

I do not agree with this.

First of all, the happy meal is not the only reason children want to eat at McDonalds. The kids love the food. One of my nephews will not even get a happy meal if he does not like the toys yet he still always wants to eat there.

Second, parents can tell their kids no. Imagine that. If the parent feels that the food is unhealthy, they do not have to take them to McDonalds every day. It is no secret that fast food is unhealthy. Also, a child is dependent on their parents to go to McDonalds. A five year old isn't going to drive to the nearest McDonalds, go inside and order food.

Third, parents take their kids to McDonalds if they want a cheap convient meal and do not feel like cooking or preparing something at home. Not having happy meals is not going to change this.

Other fast food resturaunts also have happy meals like Wendy's and Burger King.

You can also get healthy food at McDonalds. Instead of french fries, get apple slices for a child. Get water or lemonade instead of a soft drink. They also have salads for meals for adults.

McDonalds also donates a lot of money to charity through Ronald McDonald house. It would be a shame for them to get less donations.

Many McDonalds also have a play area for kids, many that are indoors. They can get their exercise after eating at McDonalds.

Fast food is not the only reason that child obesity is a problem. Kids are a lot less active today with TV, computer, and video games. There are many other fattening foods kids can eat in the home.

Yes fast food is very unhealthy, but getting rid of happy meals is not going to stop parents from getting meals there or from children wanting to go. Why not limit the amount of sodium in the food instead? Or limit how they can cook the food?
 
Yeah, I think this is a bad idea too :hmmm: I would think having a toy to play with--and a simple one at that, where the kid has to use their imagination to play with it--would encourage kids to be interested in more than just sitting around watching TV or playing video games. I know that those activities get too much blame for child obesity, but if you can mix up their routine with having them play with dolls, little wind-up toys, and other toys that require more creativity to play with, they might be more likely to run around the house playing with them, and develop better imaginative skills at the same time which can potentially help them later in life, or just make them happier people. If they're going to take something out of the happy meal, then take out the fattening french fries or include something healthier than a burger :mokken: Don't take out the happy :sad3:
 
That's so pathetic. People will always find ways to use someone or something as a scapegoat, that's no surprise there, but making happy meals illegal? Sheesh. People might as well sue Dairy Queen or Coldstone for selling ice cream.

From what I gathered, a woman actually is suing McDonalds for "marketing practices" which is to tempt the children with toys. She claims that it is unfair and illegal in the state of California and many other states. Such bullshit. I fail to see how that's illegal. Simply say 'no' to your kids. Oh but I guess she's even complaining that it's so tiring having to say no to her kids.

Our daughter loves the happy meals (and would always ask for the apple slices), but at 6 years of age, she knows her limit. Sometimes when we offer to take her to McDonald's, she'll say, "No that's okay, it's not healthy for me." She gets that mostly from her dad since he's a health-freak, and she sees that and tries to follow him. But we're realistic when it comes to fast food. Having McDonald's once in awhile is not that bad, even if you snack on french fries. As long as you're not overdoing it and stopping by there every other day, I don't see why it should be a problem. Toys or not, kids will always enjoy going to McDonalds, period. So I find the whole lawsuit so ludicrous.
 
Woah hold on a minute, when i first heard about this i remember hearing that they were getting rid of the toys in the meals for lead. Now its the whole meal? what the shit is this?! No, that's just stupid. I don't get why people sue fast food places for making themselves fat. It's no one's fault but their own, its not difficult at all to maintain self control when it comes to anything, even over eating food that isn't healthy.

I think i remember the location that did allow it though, san fran. I read it in the newpaper here awhile back.
 
I don't agree with it either.

This will stop nothing nor help anything. The toys were simply a nice addition for the children. That is the only reason.

McDonalds offers some nicer stuff than straight up bad food. Apples, milk and other things. They have salads as well.

Why can't the parent just say no to their child? Its not McDonalds fault the parents give their children everything unhealthy. :C
 
People just love to pin all the blame on a scapegoat. Nope, it cannot possibly be any fault of their own. It's a situation that is out of their hand. It has to me McDonald's enticing Happy Meal toys making our kids be obese. Going by that logic as Mits said, how about we ban everything else that look enticing to kids and aren't healthy at the same time? Look at those chocolates in the shape of reindeers in stores at this time of the year. There are a lot of kids who love those kind of things. Should they be banned as well? How about some parents...err I dunno....how about start acting like parents for once and tell their kids when enough is enough? A simple "no" to them when they beg for a Happy Meal or just pursue ways of giving them opportunities to go exercise? In a pragmatic sense, what would the banning of the toys actually accomplish? It still wouldn't stop the parents from taking their children to McDonald's on a very frequent basis. Even if the toys are taken out, you have the issue of the food that would also entice them.
 
I agree with the idea that parents should just say no. But I don't think any of us should kid ourselves and pretend that parents are realistically going to say that, for the most part. A happy meal is a quick, convenient and tasty meal for kids so even though it's unhealthy, it's just easier to give in. Almost all of us has a sense of the right decision, and what things are bad, unhealthy etc but we do these things anyway.

Can you argue that the toys tempt children into asking for McDonalds? I would say yes.
Is it the only reason? No.
Could it reduce the numbers of kids eating happy meals? Potentially.

Weight loss is a difficult journey and not everyone has the will power to do it on their own.
 
Alright, as a former employee of McD's I've seen a lot of things... and I mean A LOT... I've heard things in the drive thru that people don't know we can :wacky:

When people say that parents can just say no, it may look simple but some parents just buckle under the pressure. I had one dad come through in the Drive Thru with a couple kids, and they all ordered so sweetly. He asked them all what they wanted, then asked us what toy we had.. then as soon as I switched the intercom off to talk (but we can still hear people if the car is in the lane by the board) he just let one rip. He started shouting all "THERE, ARE YOU HAPPY, YOU GOT YOUR &$%*ING MCDONALDS WITH YOUR DAMN TOYS"

I was shocked. I couldn't look at him straight when he pulled up to pay. Some people and even some parents don't realize (these are usually with the Golden Children ;D) that some kids can be absolute monsters, and won't give in until they get what they want. I say this, because tbh I was one of them. I was a whiney little brat and in most cases a lot of parents will give in eventually.

Hrm... where was I going with this... oh right. Saying no isn't as easy as it seems. Some parents either get stressed by their upset child, or simply want to just please them to begin with.

As for the healthy options of McD's, well.. let's be honest, there's NO healthy options there. Even the salads. Those dressings have more sat, sugar and salt than nearly any other dressing brand out there. So you may think you're opting for the good choice but unless you have it plain, you're not.

The apples are a good choice, but the caramel is awful. Well, it's good, but it's far too sweet. There's way too much sugar, even for caramel. And the apples, if they even slightly start to go near their exp date, they start to taste like bad oxygen... which is, really weird.. And a lot of McD's don't double check their exp dates on things until someone actually complains about it. We once had apples out 2/3 days past their date and didn't notice until a lady brought it up and wanted a new pack. The apples don't sell as well, so we don't check them as often.

Don't even get me staaaaarted on the meat. The grilled chicken? Your 'healthy' options? Well those take about 8 minutes to cook/steam. So because they take so long, employees often keep them in the cabinet until they're all used. And since they're also not as popular, that means they could end up sitting in the cabinet tray for up to 3/4 hours.. when really they're shelf life is 45 mins.

Now where was I going with this... I don't know. I guess I'm trying to say, y'all think McD's has their healthy options, but unless you take a second to double check it, it could be worse than ordering a BigMac.

/tl;dr rant
 
ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

More utterly ridiculous crap. Why the hell do they even suggest garbage like this....seriously.
When i was a kid whenever i would go to burger king i was never caring about the toy, it was about the food. Heck i was on adult meals when i was 7. WIthout my parents i couldnt go to burger king, i couldnt afford it. What bloody harm is a happy meal or kids meal seriously gunna do? Unless your eating there everysingle day and your kids getting no excersise and sittin his arse in front of the tv then its not a problem at all.
In the case of kids its the parents choise as their the ones buying the meals. Supposing i agreed with this idea, is removing the toy actually gunna make a difference at all? Some shitty toy that goes in the bin either before you leave the restraunt or when you get home? Maybe if there were ps3 games and mobile fones in happy meals it would be differnt story but no one cares about some plastic crappy model of padeo clown.
 
I don't agree with it either, to be honest.


I know a lot of adolescents and kids are overweight nowadays but its about making life choices and changing what you do, not making life easier eliminating any unhealthy options for everyone including yourself.

Whatever, thats just how it is nowadays. Everyone wants to point a finger at everyone except themselves and then it boils down to everyone except the person who actually enables the habits that lead to over-eating and the less healthy food choices. Society really disgusts me with its inabilty to take responsibility for their own actions.

I remember awhile back when some girls sued Mc'donalds for making them fat.
Anyone remember this??? http://money.cnn.com/2003/01/22/news/companies/mcdonalds/index.htm

...and I was like :ffs:...:slap:....:hmph:

Parents- Mickey D's is not gonna be what you want to feed your kids if you want to get them to lose weight. You are going to have to cook :gasp: at home, and yes, its going to have to be healthy and portion-controlled...and it will likely cost some money. So you might have to pick up a cookbook...and :gasp: you are going to have to kick their asses off of their pc's, cellphones, and videogames so they can get some exercise! Then you can take that same boot that you booted them with and use it on yourself for trying to rob happy meals from the kids who have them now and then as a treat or a quick rare meal when their parents are in a bind and don't have time to make dinner ...and for your own stupidity. :hmph:
 
Seriously, I'm beginning to think someone's just using something as a scapegoat as an excuse for why things happen. Well, if things are happening that you don't like, don't point at someone as the cause of it. DO something about it.

Regarding making happy meals illegal? I think someone's really lost it. I used to love them as a kid. And as Lew has stated already, I went for the food. I could care less about the toy, though it was a nice and welcome addition sometimes depending on what the toy actually was.

I really can't see this happening, however, should it come to that, expect there to be a lot of outrage. The case of obesity cannot be pushed onto ONE company alone. Instead of moaning, DO something about it. Parents also have a part to play in this. If they want to take their kids to the place and get their kids fat on the stuff, then that's their choice. Just it's bad that it'll be THEIR fault if their kids become obese.

Time to shift the blame elsewhere and not on McDonald's. :wacky:
 
The thing is, I think they're running out of people to blame. :hmmm:

I've seen countless news programs about parents upset with the choices of cafeteria food. So they took out vending machines, changed the menus, tried to healthy everything up and well.. our kids are still a little too chunky. They did what they could, so what are they going to do next? Shift the blame onto someone else, And who has been the longest standing pinnacle for unhealthy fat food? McDonalds.

I'm confused. Is it the entire Happy Meal being targeted.. or just the toy?
 
8(

What does the toy have to do with anything? The toy doesn't make them fat, the food makes them fat. Take away the food and give them the toy, that's all. wtf.

Btw, those toys aren't free. They cost you about a dollar, but if you don't give the toy, the Happy Meal is no longer applicable, and you have to order everything else separately which is slightly more expensive. So really.. it screws up the whole syste, McD's has set up.
 
Channizard said:
Alright, as a former employee of McD's I've seen a lot of things... and I mean A LOT... I've heard things in the drive thru that people don't know we can :wacky:

When people say that parents can just say no, it may look simple but some parents just buckle under the pressure. I had one dad come through in the Drive Thru with a couple kids, and they all ordered so sweetly. He asked them all what they wanted, then asked us what toy we had.. then as soon as I switched the intercom off to talk (but we can still hear people if the car is in the lane by the board) he just let one rip. He started shouting all "THERE, ARE YOU HAPPY, YOU GOT YOUR &$%*ING MCDONALDS WITH YOUR DAMN TOYS"

I was shocked. I couldn't look at him straight when he pulled up to pay. Some people and even some parents don't realize (these are usually with the Golden Children ;D) that some kids can be absolute monsters, and won't give in until they get what they want. I say this, because tbh I was one of them. I was a whiney little brat and in most cases a lot of parents will give in eventually.

Hrm... where was I going with this... oh right. Saying no isn't as easy as it seems. Some parents either get stressed by their upset child, or simply want to just please them to begin with.

/tl;dr rant
Click to expand...

That's no excuse though. I worked with special needs kids and would get bit, punched, screamed at, and hit on a daily basis when these kids did not get what they wanted. But I still made them do their work, waited them out, and never gave them what they wanted. Eventually, they started to respect me when they realized that no matter what they did, I would never give in. And these are kids with SEVERE behavior problems.

The worst thing that you can do for a child that is whiney and cries when they do not get what they want is to give in. The kid will learn that when they cry and scream they will get what they want. It's irresponsible of a parent to give in and their kids will have no respect for them.

If yoru kid screams and cries because they do not get what they want, let them cry and scream and simply say "You can cry all you want but we are not going to McDonalds." Eventually they will learn that crying will not get them anything. Parenting is tough.

Punishment can also be given. Tell them no TV, video games, or whatever they love for a week when they throw tantrums.
 
You would think, but like I said, some parents just aren't strong enough, or have enough patience/will power to battle it out with a child. Sometimes what's easier on them to ease the drama is to just give in and stop the fighting.

I'm not arguing though, I wholeheatedly agree with you, a parent needs to stand strong and be the unwavering tower... but some just... can't.
 
I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea. However, I do think it is a stupid one. I think it all comes down to moderation. DON'T GET YOUR CHILD A HAPPY MEAL EVERY DAY. Don't even get it for them twice a week. Once a week is pushing it. We as a culture need to be more aware of the crap we're putting in our bodies. Not just that, but the amount as well.
 
Rydia said:
The worst thing that you can do for a child that is whiney and cries when they do not get what they want is to give in. The kid will learn that when they cry and scream they will get what they want. It's irresponsible of a parent to give in and their kids will have no respect for them.

If yoru kid screams and cries because they do not get what they want, let them cry and scream and simply say "You can cry all you want but we are not going to McDonalds." Eventually they will learn that crying will not get them anything. Parenting is tough.

Punishment can also be given. Tell them no TV, video games, or whatever they love for a week when they throw tantrums.
Click to expand...

I agree, the parents really do need to put the foot down and take some responsibility for once. Reading this part actually made me think of some customers I've had at work who are elderly, and yet still act like this--whine and complain until they get what they want. Some people do start off good and then pick up this bad habit later in life, but if they learn as children that whining will get them somewhere, they will most definitely behave that way throughout all of their lives, and after they leave the parents' house they will become whiny adult consumers who raise hell with everyone they interact with who's in customer service. We damned well don't need any more people like that in the world, and it needs to be stamped out as early and quickly as possible in children. It's not only annoying, but businesses end up having to lose money sometimes over the whole "customer is always right" deal; and when the customer is not right, but is just whiny and manipulative, then this is not fair. It can also be applied to relationships, and people abusing their partners or friends through this type of manipulation.
 
yeah that's stupid.

my mom still likes to take me and my sister out for happy meals at random times.
IMO without junk food and fast food there would be like a huge hole in my childhood

& the other day I got this bitchin hello kitty watch from there. Sooooo cool! for seriously
 
I think if they want to put Gameboys in a happy meal, they should be able to.

My reasoning is this:
There is a huge hypocrisy that has been plaguing us for a while now. Banning the happy meal toy is a good example. Everyone's going to blame McDonalds because they have fat ass kids, when really it's the parents that are rolling them up to the drive-thru.
It's just like how Eminem and Marylin Manson got the shaft from soccer moms across the country. Maybe if they payed more attention to their children, they wouldn't have to worry about alleviating responsibility with picket signs.
Blaming music for the Columbine shooting all the way down to McDonalds toys and fat kids.
= Stupid
 
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