Has the prospect of saying the word “no” to a child become so daunting and draining for today’s parents that they have resorted to presenting the cheery, grin-wearing Ronald McDonald as a predator — someone to be feared? A petition to shut down HappyMeal.com certainly seems to do just that, claiming, “McDonald’s has perfected the art of predatory marketing to children.” Is it true that McDonald’s toys and games are meant to entice children? Of course it is; Dick Brams, the “father of the Happy Meal,” knew exactly what he was doing when he introduced this strategic product in 1979. But come on, parents, when it comes to your kids, you have the power of attorney.
Some may argue that the Happy Meal should be banned because it fosters childhood obesity and promotes unhealthy eating habits. To those people I say, use some logic. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one third of adults in the United States are obese. That means that a significant number of adults are probably more likely to visit the drive-thru window at 5 p.m. than they are to cook a healthy, balanced meal at home. Since children typically depend on their parents for meals, they too are forced to settle for fast food. Whether the child-friendly option exists or not, this instance of laziness in America will not change. If we ban the Happy Meal, mom and dad will not suddenly alter their habits; they’ll simply modify their to-go orders.
As with most companies, McDonald’s realized that its continued success is contingent upon its ability to comport with the revolutionary transformation that society has undergone in the 21st century. In layman’s terms, McDonald’s created HappyMeal.com — a website offering games, activities, videos and e-books aimed at children. The horror! And the sign proclaiming “Eating Fruit and Dairy is Fun”? I mean, why not just shove apples and milk down their throats?
Sarcasm, people. Sarcasm.
In all seriousness, I see nothing concerning about HappyMeal.com. Do we immediately associate those familiar golden arches — presented to us on the home screen — with an unwholesome, fatty, juicy Big Mac? Probably. But I expected to find a website dedicated to chicken nuggets and a sedentary lifestyle based on the petition’s staunch rejection of the existence of such a site. Now, I find myself asking what the fuss is about. It is beyond me why people are so quick to ignore the fact that McDonald’s has made an effort to promote healthy choices to children; a little boy sits on a haystack eating an apple, drinking from a clearly marked container of milk — the picture of innocence — while dairy is praised as being part of a healthy, balanced diet. Parents, the corporation has done its job. Now it’s time you do yours.
If we are going to say goodbye to the Happy Meal, we should be prepared to address the inevitable complaints that will come flooding in about other corporations that capitalize on children in order to make a profit. Sorry Yoplait, Trix may not be for kids after all. Oh and that little leprechaun whose little jingle assures us that marshmallows are indeed the best part of Lucky Charms? You can say goodbye to him. McDonald’s may have a monopoly when it comes to the fast food industry, but it is by no means the primary determinate of the extensiveness of childhood obesity.
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