US Government Gears Toward Healthier Happy Meals

Happy meals do not always make nutritionists and parents glad. But soon, perhaps, we might see an improvement on that, as the US government gears to make fastfood menus healthier. That is, if kids will buy it. Where it all began San Francisco California has recently taken a lead in restricting fastfood chains, on meals that they serve that come with free toys. The chains are somewhat reluctant to cooperating with the project. But the policy has already stirred controversies. It even made news. But the kids to whom the project was dedicated for, did not seem affected. On August 9, 2010, Santa Clara County spearheaded the passing of ordinance. They prohibited fast food chains to distributing toys with meals that do not satisfy the minimum nutritional content. Toys were considered as bait to attract children make unhealthy food choices. Without these toys that come alongside unhealthy meals, it is perceived that children will also be healthier. Children obesity worsening overtime Kids are regular fast-food consumers of fast-food chains. They are the ones at risk of suffering from obesity, despite their young age. On an analysis completed in 2010, only 12 out of the 3039 possible meal combinations in 12 of the biggest fastfood chain resturants successfully passed the nutrition criteria. The thing is,rnKnowing that the meals served in fastfood chains are not healthy does not really affect consumer's purchasing habits.rnThat at least goes to adults who have more ability to digest scientific-anchored news like this than kids. What more for those children who only depend their choices on the food's taste? In addition to that, fast food chains have options how they would like to respond to the ordinance. It is either they overhaul their menu, add more healthy meal options or modify their toy marketing strategies. And of course, it is given they will go for that choice that presents the least risk, which is the third mentioned. These chains are global brands. Changing menus is one big leap for the company and the results are also uncertain. Testing results revealed To assess the ordinance's impact, marketing strategies prior and during the implementation were studied. It was found out that fast food chains changed their marketing approach, but did not alter menu nor add healthier options. In case they do, the danger is that kids also switch meal choices to those that tastes familiar, which are more often than not, those considered as unhealthy. Down to the real deal While the government is striving to ensure that kids are served nutritious meals, the bigger responsibility when it comes to inculcating healthy food choices to young ones goes to parents. After all, kids dine with their guardians. With proper supervision,children can prevent obesity and malnutrition, even if fastfood chains do not pay attention to academic term papers; and do not entirely change happy meal courses.