Happy Meals for Good Grades

In Seminole County, Florida, kids who get good grades get rewarded by getting a coupon for a free Happy Meal.  Sounds like a good idea… not!  This just adds to the list of ways fast food companies try to target children.  Not only is this unhealthy for the children, but it puts parents in a horrible position.  Parents trying to make their children have good eating habits end up feeling like the ‘bad guy’ by taking what their children earned.  Rewarding children with unhealthy food is foolish, and will contribute greatly to obesity in America. 

Mother Knows Best!

Parents influence their children to have certain habits and to make certain decisions, especially when the child is very young.  So why not teach them good eating habits?  From the start, parents should set good examples, and restrict what their children eat.  Everything the child puts in his or her mouth should be nutritional.  It should also go as far as limiting time in front of the television.  If the child doesn’t see as many advertisements, they won’t be as inclined to eat the food.   Starting children off with good eating habits will lead them to have healthy eating habits throughout their lives.

Television=Obesity!

It has been found that high school students who watch over 5 hours of television also eat less fruits and vegetables.  Consequently, they eat more fast food and snacks.  This proves that the advertising by the fast food restaurants works!  “Television watching impacts diet choices adolescents make five years later,” said Daheia Barr-Anderson, an assistant professor of kinesiology and the leader of the study.  Teens who watch a great amount of television eat 200 more calories on average, which is a big difference.  Ultimately, this will change the teens eating habits down the road, causing them to have poor health.