It's Not McDonald's Fault

I say a news story today about a woman who is suing McDonald's because they put toys in Happy Meals. Monet Parham says that her kids ask to eat at McDonald's so that they can get the toys. She feels that McDonald's is getting into her children's heads and influencing what they want to eat. To that I say, No Kidding.

It is no different than what supermarkets do by putting foods targeted towards kids on the lower shelves where they are more visible to them. How is this different from Cereal makers putting toys inside cereal boxes? It is called marketing, and whether you agree with it or not, McDonald's and the Cereal makers are not the ones feeding our children these food. The last time I checked, my wife and I decided what we feed our children.

Ms. Parham complains that she has to say no to her children for so many other things that it is too hard to say no to them when they ask for Happy Meals. Too bad. Part of beginning a parent is doing things that we do not want to do. One of those is saying no to our children if they ask to do something harmful to themselves. Frequently eating McDonald's food can be detrimental to the health of a child.

When we do go to McDonald's, which really is not often, we only get the girls a Happy Meal if it is a toy worth having. Most of them are junk and join the other garbage in the trash within a short time.   But, this Ms. Parham needs to stop blaming McDonald's and look in the Mirror. It is her job to help her children make nutritious choices - not McDonald's or any other fast food restaurants. She needs to set the ground rules at home; not her children. Sometimes being a parent means being the "bad guy." So, take accountability for raising your children and stop blaming everyone else.