[EZMONEY]

Mommy I want my toy...I want my toy now!

California County bans toys from Happy Meal packs...

Not sure the kids are gonna go for this one

I can see a lot of families moving out of that county already....what parent needs that kind of pressure?

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010...ls-to-cut-fat/

[Shannon in ATL]

Interesting.

I've worked in fast food for a long time, I am currently working for a restaurant chain that doesn't give out toys or sell kids meals. I worked for Burger King for a long time - the toys were always a big thing with the kids, and with the parents. I would watch kids have temper tantrums if the toy in the bag was one they already had, or one that they didn't want. The food was totally secondary, but they were definitely eating. I also often saw the toy as a bribe to get the kids to sit quietly, to eat their meal, etc. So, bad on both sides.

The whole concept of the "Big Kids Meal" was frightening - a double burger or double cheeseburger, 6 or 8 nuggets instead of 4, larger drinks, and a toy.

The kids are going to go nuts. And, the parents that use the toy as a tool are, too.

I don't know that it will actually help with the eating habits, though. My stepson will still ask for nuggets and fries even if no toy is involved because of the food itself.

[beerab]

Personally I don't think it's going to help. So what now? The kid is STILL most likely going to get the happy meal- but now be disapointed that there is no toy. OR they'll skip the toy altogether and get a larger meal cuz they have no toy to focus on.

I recently found out that my friend's neice (who is THREE) can eat a whole ten piece chicken nugget MEAL by herself! That poor child is going to have a heart attack by the age of ten- her mother is severly obese as well.

ETA- maybe instead they should focus on making the meals less than 500 calories- by making nuggets smaller or cooking the foods in a different fashion.

[nelie]

I can understand why but not sure an ordinance is the right way to go. When I was young, we never went to fast food restaurants and I certainly never got toys as part of my meal.

[Shannon in ATL]

Burger King is actually working on making their Kid's Meals lower in calories and fat, they just put out an article on one of the restaurant trade magazines about it. I'll see if I can find some details and post.

[lights76]

I always buy my daughter the toy without the meal.

[caryesings]

Happy meals were invented after my childhood, but I do vividly remember always picking out my cereal by what toy would be inside. Do they put toys in kid cereal these days?

[GradPhase]

I haven't found toys in my cereal boxes for years I don't know when they made the big "choking hazard change" but it still bums me out today!

[PeanutsMom704]

so silly. If a parent takes their kid to McD or Burger King too often, the happy meal toy isn't the issue, it's the parental judgement.

And I say that as someone who does take my son from time to time. He's a very active child with no excess weight issues (the opposite, actually, sometimes, he's clinically underweight depending on where he is in a growth spurt) and I'm a fan of the concept of moderation. By his own choice, he eats a hamburger happy meal, although he doesn't eat the bun, and with apple dippers instead of fries. Maybe a little higher in salt than something I'd make at home but otherwise, I'm perfectly fine with his meal there. But of course, it's a once a month or so treat, not a daily or even weekly occurrence!

[mom4life]

It wouldn't affect my kids any. I rarely get the kids happy meals anyways. My kids only eat cheeseburgers, that's all we get them if we go to a burger joint. They're thin and eat healthy at home so one burger every other week is fine.
Depending on the toys, we will buy them separately.

[sweetcakes736]

ok, maybe as a parent I was just a radical liberal. when we took our kids out to eat I had a seperate "purse" full of stuff for them to do at any restaurant we were at. It had crayons, coloring books, tic-tac-toe, hangman, go-fish cards etc. My kids preferred those over a piece of useless plastic, which was usually used to promote a movie.

[candy love]

to be honest i think its a good thing, kids don't need that kinda crap in their bodies it just encourages unhealthy life styles tbh

[beerab]

Yes but do you think a kid only goes to these places just for the toy? I mean you can buy the toys seperately anyways- my parents did that all the time! The stores aren't going to refuse the customer's the toys if they ask to purchase them.

[freeqeegrl]

Thats great. one less reason for parents to give their children crap. maybe if we stop feeding our children junk like happy meals they will no longer be destined to be the first generation EVER to have a shorter life expectancy then their parents.

[MyBestYear]

On the rare occasion, my daughter will get the BK mac&cheese (not healthy but at least a healthy-sized portion), apple slices, and 100% juice (we do primarily water in the home but again, this is a very rare occasion with the juice). She is a healthy weight and receives this 'meal' about once every 3-4 months at best.

I think if someone is feeding their child happy meals on a regular basis, they've got bigger issues than the toy. I mean, it isn't about the toy. It is about parents who choose a lifestyle for their children (as opposed to a rare meal). It's about perpetuating an unhealthy lifestyle.