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How to Keep Junk Food Ads Off Your Kid's Plate
Filed under: Nutrition: Big Kids
Nothing says "summer" like a good fast food tie-in. Among my favorites? The first Transformers movie, which was rated PG-13 but lent its brand to Happy Meal toys aimed at kids 4-9. Too bad the adult meal didn't come with a person to explain why the movie was a non-starter for kids that age.
Age-inappropriate targeting -- arguably begun in 1992 when McDonald's got scolded for pushing toys to kids for Batman Returns (rated PG-13 for violence) -- has become a time-honored practice. This summer, Burger King is promoting the PG-13 Transformers: Dark of the Moon by giving away Transformers toys with a BK Kids Meal. Subway is shilling Green Lantern.
Does this stuff work? Take one look at our country's childhood obesity numbers, and you'll be convinced.
According to a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics entitled "Children, Adolescents, Obesity and the Media," ads for junk food and fast food increase kids' desire for these foods. And what's a great way for your fast food message to reach kids? When it's wrapped up in an ad for the latest movie. [Read the AAP's Policy Statement.]
At Common Sense, we believe in age-appropriate entertainment. So why do these companies get away with marketing violent movies and fast food to little kids?
One way to combat the messages is to assert your views loud and clear. Start a conversation with your kids about the way that food is marketed and the tricks advertisers use to make it look appetizing. Get more pointers for keeping junk food advertising off your kid's plate.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
7-05-2011 @ 10:42AM
Romy Boxxmen said...Hey, ads are designed to make us want what we see.
There's a lot of psychology that goes into advertising. Anything to make the consumer spend more. In this case, anything to make the kids beg, whine and plead with mom and dad so that they're willing to spend more. If you check out hTtp://tiny.cc/v031v there's a couple excellent articles that point out simple ways to be aware of traps and tricks to make us over-spend as well as a great top 10 tips list of ways to eat healthier on a budget.
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7-05-2011 @ 2:56PM
MaryMom said...I would never feed my children the foulness that is "fast food". My children don't watch ad-fueled TV and enjoy commercial-free documentary shows chosen by my husband and myself. Sit your kids in front of a TV and let the ads convince them of what they want or parent your children and turn the darn thing off.
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7-05-2011 @ 8:04PM
Amanda said...That junk advertising is one of many reasons channels such as Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and even the Disney Channel are banned in our home (Disney may not have commercials so much, but the behavior and attitudes of the shows' characters have taken a sharp downhill spiral since we were younger). If the shows aren't educational or at least provide intellectual stimulation, then they don't get watched I've told my children that commercials are just come-ons to get you to buy a bunch of crud you don't really need, and fast food is junk glorified junk food with no real nutritional value. We don't get fast food very often, thanks in no small part to the nearest fast-food places being 12 miles away at the miniumum and our ability to make good-tasting and nutritious imitations at home, and when we do it's usually off the Dollar Menu and not Happy Meals. Last but not least, they know that no means NO and if they keep whining, we're going home!
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