I have seen the documentary Supersize Me three times. It intrigues me, but also leaves me with many lingering questions. I think the film fails to address a relevant controversy: the Happy Meal. Unhealthy eating habits start during youth; therefore, the unhealthy components of a Happy Meal increase the chances of a later, unhealthy lifestyle.
I remember riding home from intramural soccer games in elementary school with my hopes set on one goal: a McDonald's Happy Meal. On special occasions, my parents would treat me to a Happy Meal. For me, it was not about the chicken nuggets or french fries. Sure, I enjoyed them, but I much rather preferred my Mom's home cooking. I lived for the free toys. I introduced the Happy Meal toys into my extensive collection of bath toys. I swam through the bathtub with Buzz Lightyear, Pocahontas, and Simba figurines floating by my side. My floating friends came from my Happy Meal, therefore, it is easy for me to associate a Happy Meal with happiness. However, this association leaves out an unfortunate ramification of Happy Meals: improper nutrition for America's Youth.
My Happy Meal was made up of chicken nuggets, fries, a toy, and orange soda. Today, a Happy Meal offers an array of slightly healthier options, including: 'all white meat' chicken nuggets, apple slices, and a milk jug. Certainly these options are superior to the typical Happy Meal of my youth. Except, what elementary school age child would ever choose apples over fries? Milk over soda? Very few.
At the drive through, the menu displays bright images of salted french fries, juicy beef patties, crispy chicken nuggets, and bubbly soda. The healthy options are definitely pictured, but with a much less appealing nature. There is clearly less effort to make the apples appear crunchy or the milk appear fresh. In the restaurant, wafts of fried food seep through your senses. Oils popping from the grill and fry basket saturate the air and massive ketchup containers spread a hint of tomato among the smells. The scent of fresh cut vegetables and fruit or lean proteins is completely absent.
What has McDonald's actually done to encourage children to pick healthier options in their Happy Meals? Barely anything. On the surface, the company can boast the mere existence of the healthier options and therefore slyly avoid criticism. Unfortunately, McDonald's has not changed their advertising, presentation, or ideology in the slightest. The restaurants and menus are geared for customers to purchase the classic McDonald's foods, and not the somewhat healthier options. The company capitalizes on the biology of humans: we crave unhealthy foods because they satisfy pleasure centers in our brain.
I remember riding home from intramural soccer games in elementary school with my hopes set on one goal: a McDonald's Happy Meal. On special occasions, my parents would treat me to a Happy Meal. For me, it was not about the chicken nuggets or french fries. Sure, I enjoyed them, but I much rather preferred my Mom's home cooking. I lived for the free toys. I introduced the Happy Meal toys into my extensive collection of bath toys. I swam through the bathtub with Buzz Lightyear, Pocahontas, and Simba figurines floating by my side. My floating friends came from my Happy Meal, therefore, it is easy for me to associate a Happy Meal with happiness. However, this association leaves out an unfortunate ramification of Happy Meals: improper nutrition for America's Youth.
My Happy Meal was made up of chicken nuggets, fries, a toy, and orange soda. Today, a Happy Meal offers an array of slightly healthier options, including: 'all white meat' chicken nuggets, apple slices, and a milk jug. Certainly these options are superior to the typical Happy Meal of my youth. Except, what elementary school age child would ever choose apples over fries? Milk over soda? Very few.
At the drive through, the menu displays bright images of salted french fries, juicy beef patties, crispy chicken nuggets, and bubbly soda. The healthy options are definitely pictured, but with a much less appealing nature. There is clearly less effort to make the apples appear crunchy or the milk appear fresh. In the restaurant, wafts of fried food seep through your senses. Oils popping from the grill and fry basket saturate the air and massive ketchup containers spread a hint of tomato among the smells. The scent of fresh cut vegetables and fruit or lean proteins is completely absent.
What has McDonald's actually done to encourage children to pick healthier options in their Happy Meals? Barely anything. On the surface, the company can boast the mere existence of the healthier options and therefore slyly avoid criticism. Unfortunately, McDonald's has not changed their advertising, presentation, or ideology in the slightest. The restaurants and menus are geared for customers to purchase the classic McDonald's foods, and not the somewhat healthier options. The company capitalizes on the biology of humans: we crave unhealthy foods because they satisfy pleasure centers in our brain.
How about how McDonalds has specific advertising for children? Remember the hamburgerler and those cute little fuzz ball characters. But what was that purple guy supposed to be
ReplyDeleteSo true, Sandra. An insightful and very well written post! McDonald's certainly knows how to cater to children. (If you can appeal to the kids, the parents follow along. This profits them big time.)
ReplyDeleteWow, I never really examined this topic in this light. Probably because McDonald's knows what people want but to avoid criticism, are forced to present healthier alternative. But if you want healthy food...why resort to McDonald's? I'm kind of curious to see if they profit more from having unpopular healthy products in their menu. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThe parents of the kids I babysit for always trick their kids when they buy them happy meals and get the milk and apples to go along with their chicken nuggets. It doesn't work out very well for them though because the kids just leave the apples and milk in the bag and refuse to eat them.
ReplyDelete