Fast Food Ads Are Responsible For Your Fat Kids

[TulsaMoon]

It's a combination of lousy indoctrination and poor education.  There you go BLAMING the less fortunate. They are victims, believe it or not. Let's just refer to them from here on out as "the victims" and just maybe you will feel better by offering a hand up. You would no more see it as a hand out.

What separates the US from the rest the world when it comes to "fat"? One night, I was amazed at all the hangerovers on the edge of their Brady Theater seats. Fat means someone's got a big issue....

So lazy parents are now less fortunate? You have issues man.

[Conan71]

So lazy parents are now less fortunate? You have issues man.

No, but their kids sure are

[pmcalk]

Ahhh, so you were the mother with the three hellions   I always pitied the women trying to herd cats through a department store so my heart goes out to you on those days.

Actually, we both worked, so we generally did shopping together.  Look, I'm not saying we NEVER got terrorized into buying a stuffed animal we didn't need, but I am pointing out there are a lot of parents who simply abdicate their responsibility to showing their kids some restraint and are not a great example because they are junk food addicts as well.  And while we are at it, if they want to improve health via restricting advertising, the biggest favor they could do is do away with coupons for food products, it's usually for canned or boxed poison anyhow.

I will also argue quite strongly that I can put together a quick healthy meal cheaper than a happy meal.  For instance, a black bean & rice burrito for your active little athlete takes 20 minutes of prep and cooking time and you can make enough at one time for an entire week.  Cost for a huge, healthy, and tasty burrito is maybe .50.  Throw in an orange or banana for dessert and that's another .25 to .50.   There's so many other inexpensive and healthy alternatives.  The trick is to figure out when you have the time and cook ahead for the times you don't have time to cook.  The drive through is a cop out.  You don't have to shop at Whole Paycheck to eat healthy either.  There's plenty of healthy choices even at Warehouse Market.

I'm one of the busier people I know and somehow I manage to cook or otherwise prepare all but probably three meals a week.  I work five days a week and generally train (or am going to or returning from) for 2 to 4 hours a night as well as up to 10 hours on weekends or I'm off competing somewhere, manage to keep my house up, and spend about 1/2 my weekends out of town.  The future Mrs. and I usually will cook an overage of proteins on the weekend for re-use during the week, that's another time saver.

It can be done, it's like exercise, you simply have to plan for it.  There's been some initiatives to try and help people in more poverty-riddled areas start making better choices in nutrition as it's no secret that has a whole lot of impact on overall health.  I don't have a problem with social programs like that, I think they are quite worthwhile as is any program which actually improves the human condition.

I'm not saying it can't be done.  Obviously, it can--especially if you eat lots of beans.  Just saying that a typical meal at McDonalds frequently can be cheaper than an (unplanned) dinner cooked at home.  And as much as we try, we have several "unplanned" dinners a month (late meeting, school play, forgot to pick something up).  I know (sadly) that I can feed my entire family for around $15 at McDonalds.  To make a healthier--but comparable--dinner at home, I will spend as much, if not more ($3 for whole wheat buns, $5 for lean ground meat, $2 for fresh potatoes, then throw in a vegetable, milk, condiments, etc--you get to $15 pretty quickly). 

For poor Americans, the problem is compounded by the fact that so many live in food deserts--large areas where the only food available is in convenience stores and fast food restaurants.  If they have no car, then any unplanned meal will by necessity be fast food.  It isn't surprising that the fattest states are also the ones with the highest concentration of food deserts (compare http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/the-fattest-states-of-america/
with http://labs.slate.com/articles/food-deserts-in-america/).

I fully believe that parents should be ultimately responsible for their kid's diet, and I don't believe for a minute that eliminating commercials aimed at kids will get rid of obesity.   I think getting rid of corn subsidies would be much more beneficial.  However, I do believe that advertising has a big affect upon our attitudes.  Eliminating cigarette ads didn't change attitudes overnight; however, coupled with additional changes, I believe that it helped. 

[DolfanBob]

Just a thought here. Could it possibly be a fat gene in the family.
Up until I hit 40 I had no problem staying thin, after that milestone was hit I now have to walk and excercise to even have a hope of getting rid of what I eat.

I only say this because my kid's are the Worlds worst at eating junk food and playing hours of video games and in general being lazy.
Having said that. Both my boy's are thin and in good shape for the lack of not excercising and eating healthy, but they are 15 and 17 years old.

[guido911]

So lazy parents are now less fortunate? You have issues man.

Just now figuring that out? 

[TheArtist]

  One of my latest discoveries is Sams Mesquite Grilled Chicken, per pound its cheaper than gound beef.  Pop one in the microwave for 3 minutes and they are deelish.  Also I keep my eye out for the vegetable steamers at Reasors, they often go on sale for a dollar and are a good amount for 2 people.  Add some bread and then for desert a bowl of yogurt with fruit ( I buy the mixed bag of frozen fruit)  and you can have a nice, quick, well balanced meal for less than 3 bucks.    

[Teatownclown]

So lazy parents are now less fortunate? You have issues man.

Who doesn't, Moonie? Are those that die from lung cancer associated with inhaling tobacco victimized by an industry or by their own choices? Both. They're still victims of being less fortunate. We as a society need to have stronger mores. If people walked around with body odor more than overhanging you can be sure they'd be called out for their issues. Scorned and marked would curtail much of their issue and make their stench unacceptable in a crowd. Do you wear perfume?

[Red Arrow]

 One of my latest discoveries is Sams Mesquite Grilled Chicken, per pound its cheaper than gound beef.

Be careful if you are salt sensitive.  Some of the chicken (Tyson's) has a lot of salt in it.

[Hoss]

Be careful if you are salt sensitive.  Some of the chicken (Tyson's) has a lot of salt in it.

In my old age (ha 44 is old now) and actually in the 10 or so years prior, I've really really cut down on my salt intake.  Genetic disposition of hypertension in my family, but so far I've avoided it.  My mother's didn't onset until she was nearly 60, so I have hope.  Now I just need to get down to about 205 (I'm about 245 right now) and that would even lower the risk.  Problem is that another thing I have in my family reduces my metabolism markedly, which the doctor now tells me he is seeing signs of (hypothyroidism).  I still try and be as active as all this allows me, and my bad right knee that can predict weather.

But, to keep the talk OT, it is ultimately up to the parents to control what their children can and cannot eat.  Once again, the term 'food island' or 'grocery island' comes up, and if a fast food place is offering 99 cent hamburgers to a 2 child parent who has 5 dollars in their pocket to spend for food, and no transportation, will typically walk to the nearest McWhatever and get five of those, as opposed to getting some fixins for salads (which I love to make and started eating more with those salad spray things here lately).

[TulsaMoon]

Who doesn't, Moonie? Are those that die from lung cancer associated with inhaling tobacco victimized by an industry or by their own choices? Both. They're still victims of being less fortunate. We as a society need to have stronger mores. If people walked around with body odor more than overhanging you can be sure they'd be called out for their issues. Scorned and marked would curtail much of their issue and make their stench unacceptable in a crowd. Do you wear perfume?

A bad parent is just that, a BAD PARENT... Not a Victim, not less fortunate.. a bad parent. You smoke, you die YOUR FAULT. You eat 10 cheeseburgers a week and die because your bigger than the door to your house YOUR FAULT... Protect the real victims in this society, not fake ones. Oh, and no.. not like you. I am a real man and wear Cologne and not perfume. Again I say.. You have issues.. Maybe McDonalds issues but holy crap batman you do...

[Teatownclown]

Moonie, I feel bad for your children. How many do you have? Did you raise them by yourself?

Chickens are toxic ....even the kosher ones. Buy free range or organic if need be.
They're less expensive than beef but the corporate chicken hatcheries have poisoned our environment and soured our insides through lowered quality. Just think what the antbiotics and the hormones are doing to the unborn fetus.

Hoss, it's difficult governing a child's intake from birth until they reach puberty 24/7. Think of the two hard working household heads coping with that supervision over several children home and away. I know you see the choices aren't many from your post. But we can't blame the poor victims of this dilemma.

I saw a short MSM diet report on soda pop and the salt equivalency in one can equaled the same as several cigarettes to your system. Why its not reported much may explain corporate power over what gets regulated and what does not.

Is the Mayor of New York a bad man for starting a requirement for restaurants posting calories? After all, it means more government regulation....

[RecycleMichael]

I am a real man and wear Cologne and not perfume.

I did not know that was the determining factor.

My cologne drives women crazy. It smells like credit cards.

[Teatownclown]

Moonie, if I die as a result of a nuclear power plants toxins getting into my system, is it my fault because I lived downwind?

[Teatownclown]

I did not know that was the determining factor.

My cologne drives women crazy. It smells like credit cards.

LOL. It is a determining factor for those threatened by their femininity.

[Red Arrow]

In my old age (ha 44 is old now)

44 is not old age.  Been there, a while ago.

... which the doctor now tells me he is seeing signs of (hypothyroidism).  I still try and be as active as all this allows me, and my bad right knee that can predict weather.

Evidently it's not bad enough to treat yet.  I had signs of hypothyroidism for several years.  Last summer my doctor put me on medicine to prevent other problems that can be caused by hypothyroidism.  My only complaint had been being tired a lot.  No excuse, go burn those calories.  There has to be something compatible with your bad knee.  Good luck!