Posted 22 May 2010 - 06:15 AM
The fast food in Buffalo and the fast food here in Ontario was a very different experience, and you know, I'm going to play devil's advocate for a moment.
Fast food is actually cheap, what with being able to get a full meal for under a dollar and all. Groceries are what is expensive, and the healthier it is the more the prices are jacked. Fast food is not simply a lazy person's meal, but a poor person's meal. I was so surprised how affordable getting tacos for the entire family was. Heck, I'm paying about close to four dollars for just a little poutine at my cafeteria, yet I can buy three tacos for that same price? It fills you up, it keeps your kids from screaming, and as a person who has to cook every single day and plan every single meal, I'm surprised how much you guys shrug that off as if it is a simple matter. Toys from Mcdonald's make little children hell to deal with. They see it on T.V and they want it. Bad. These companies don't just hand out free little toys to fill our childhood fantasies. This is a marketing approach. They target the children, because the parents are overworked, stressed, probably from a lower-income family, and are likelier to be giving in and saying "Well it's just one happy meal" "let them have that toy". There is research behind these toys, don't for one second believe that they are doing this to be nice people. They are specifically targetting the kids, and combined with the inexpensive meals, the convenience, it is no wonder this company is successful.
So, why ban the toys? In an effort to combat obesity, they are removing that marketing ploy. It has good enviromental effects too. What use are little plastic figures once your kid gets bored of them? They can be a choking hazard, be doused in chemicals, all sorts of nasty things that really, your kid can survive without. Going back to the stress involved with cooking, the easier parents have it keeping their child from whining and begging, the more they can probably discipline them and get them to be eating their food. Yeah, it seems like a silly rule, but why such a disagreement with it? Those toys benefit no one. We won't be sorry without them. I agree wholeheartedly that parents should be the ones taking care of their children, but if the government can step in and make that easier, and get rid of an advertising evil, then at least I can say they did something.
Next step? Propaganda for healthy food and home cooking. Set up little free workshops where parents can get together, make food, get ideas what to give to their fussy kids that's healthy and delicious. You may scoff and say "how dumb of the parents not to know" and insult them, but speaking from experience, it's a lot of hard work, and I can only be thankful I have the proper education, resources, and mindset to be able to make concious decisions about what goes on my family's table. Not everyone has the same fortunate background or ability, and not every parent wins against big companies and the clever techniques they use to hook their children onto a product. Please, Happy Meal toys are your childhood? Happy meal toys are just what they gave to keep you happy while stuffing your face with their food, and giving you an incsentive to come back. I have few good things to say about them. Good riddance.