Not-So-Happy Meal
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Health on Tuesday, November 09, 2010 2:59 PM
I can’t tell you the last time I bought a Happy Meal at McDonald’s, but I do know that if this had happened when my boys were little it would have seriously cramped my style! The unhappy news in question - San Francisco’s decision to forbid restaurants from offering a free toy with meals that contain more than set levels of calories, sugar and fat.
Truthfully, if this ban helps stem the rising tide of childhood obesity, then perhaps it will have done some good. I do carry around a great deal of “bad mom” remorse for subjecting my sons to so many Happy Meals back in the day. My pitiful excuse? There was a time when it seemed that the only time they would eat was if the food came in pre-fab nugget form, in a red box, accompanied by something plastic that I’d soon be trying to get rid of. Sad, I know. But I was a tired mom of toddlers, weak and frustrated with fighting. So I caved… I’m not proud.
Since most of you don’t live in cities that control things in this fashion, it’s likely that this ban won’t soon impact you. I also know that our F & F readers are much wiser, healthier and holier moms than I’ll ever hope to be, so maybe this wouldn’t be an issue for you. Maybe you’ve never driven to a second McDonald’s because the first one didn’t have the “right” toy. You’re kids are probably better off.
But just for fun, I thought I’d open this story to your comments - what do you think? Is the ban good, or over-reaching? Will it spread nationwide, or will the rest of the country continue to think we Californians are a bit “out there”? Finally, will I be able to make a mint on E-Bay selling my old Happy Meal toys to desperate moms in the Bay Area? Let me know!
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