Happy Meals with no toys!?

Kelly - posted on 05/05/2010

We do have a dollar menu, not sure what all is on it, but a happy meal is still close to $5. I know he's not going to eat the food, but he'll want to play and get a toy, so I buy fries $1, water $0.25, and toy $1.25 for a grand total of $2.50 plus tax. In my state there is no tax on junk food, but in my city we have a "convenience tax" which is 9% on all quick serve type places and 12% on sit down restaurants.

I LOVE the idea of a higher federal tax on foods with higher sodium, calorie, or fat amounts. I think it would do three things:
1) To avoid the tax, consumers (who would ultimately be paying the tax) would look for restaurants with healthier options, and thus lower taxes. (The tax would have to be enough to make junk food more expensive than healthier options, which in my area would be around a 12%-15% tax)
2) That would lead restaurants to create healthier options in order to bring back their costumers or reduce prices on junk food items to compete with healthier restaurants, which would eat into profits and reduce advertising and service quality.
3) The tax would be used to cover healthcare for conditions linked to high sodium, high fat, and high calorie diets. Now, I'm not saying that everyone who eats this diet will have higher healthcare and that no one who eats always healthy will not, but numerous studies have shown that people who eat those diets are MORE LIKELY to suffer certain conditions, so taxing those diets makes sense since the choice to eat that way is completely optional. Also, lower income families are more likely to follow those diets,and more susceptible to the same conditions, but are less likely to be financially prepared treat these conditions, so it will help lower income families with their medical bills.

Rebecca - posted on 05/05/2010

You don't have a dollar menu!!!!?! That's just crazy. Every state I've visited has a dollar menu

Rebecca - posted on 05/05/2010

That's just crazy. I know grown adults who still buy happy meals. Definately not the solution. I heard they were going to band happy meals in certain states. What's this world coming to? If I want my kid to have a free barbie who's hair never stays down, by george she'll have one.

Morgan - posted on 05/05/2010

Wow I dont know where you live but we dont have a "dollar menu" THANK GOD!!!!

and a happy meal is about $4.99.

Tiffany - posted on 05/05/2010

my kids want mcdonalds weither or not they get a toy.... in fact half the time they don't because i order off the dollar menu, it's cheaper that way. alternately the toy it's self can be purchased for $1 at most places. i think this is silly. instead of removing the toy they should alter their menu, which my mcdonalds has. my darling daughter makes good health choices all on her own. she always chooses the apples over the fries (i actually give her the choice)... my mcdonalds also offers their snack wraps as a happy meal choice! i think they're on the right track... why not just make any combination of 2 dollar menu items plus a drink a happy meal option... for example a side salad, a parfait, and a white milk...all 3 are dollar menu items and a happy meal is about 2.30 or so...

Morgan - posted on 05/05/2010

@Noel each their own right?

as I said if you saw all the things that go into a nugget, in a bowl you would barf.

but you'll still feed that to your DD to save a few minutes?

What a shame.

you can throw some ham and some veg in a pita in the same time you sit in the drive through at Mcdonalds. time is not the issue. its just gross, and sad that people want to feed their kids this stuff knowing what it is. so what if you dont use the dips?? there are 38 things that go into a chicken nugget 38!!!! if I made a nugget at home theres chicken, bread crumbs, spices and mabye some egg and milk as a binder thats ummmmm maybe 8 things if you count all the spices, where are the other 30??

I

Kelly - posted on 05/05/2010

I agree with those who said there is nothing healthy at McDonalds--even the "healthy" options are basically junk. I do not agree that taking the toy out would solve the problem though.



For our family, the McDonalds "experience" is a reward for my son after he as accomplished some other feat. He loves it, we go as a family and he gets a small fry, water, and a toy. We don't do the happy meal b/c he doesn't eat the nuggets or burger and those apple dippers taste like chemical to me so I won't let him eat those (anybody know what's on those??). We go because he likes the experience, I don't think he has ever in his life actually finished the small fry I buy for him each time.



I would NEVER EVER EVER tell my son he couldn't have the toy until he finished his fries! Hello, the fries are totally junk, and while I think it's fine for him to get a few as a reward every now and then, I would never actually make him eat them. That's like saying "I'll give you a toy if you finish this candy bar!" I just don't get that theory.



Besides that, the happy meals are WAY too much food for smaller kids and most are full well before the meal is finished, so by bribing the kid to finish a meal that is too big for him, you teach him to ignore his natural body signals that tell him when he has had enough. That phenomenon plays a very big role in the obesity epidemic--people simply don't thing they are full until they are so full they are actually sleepy and "about to bust" as they say here.

Rebecca - posted on 05/05/2010

I agree with you 100%. its up to the parents what their kids eat. A kid cant hop in the car and drive themselves to Mickey D's.

Eva - posted on 05/05/2010

You are so right! I never really saw it that way but it is very true that it is the parents who are the ones who are in charge of what their child eats, and so if the child is obese the blame always goes to the parents because they are the ones who early in the childs life chooses the food they are going to eat, if you raise a child on veggies, he will grow to opt for that but a child raised on junk food will tend to prefer that over healthful foods, so it is really what you feed your child that determines their health in the future, remember like the saying goes, "You are what you eat?" and it is so true.

Jasmine - posted on 05/05/2010

It is true that the older kids want the happy meals just for the toy. Sure they may be hungry, but that toy is more appealling than the food itself. Like just last week my brother was dying to go to burger king for a freakin Ironman toy! and barely ate the food, But some people don't know YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY THE FOOD TO GET THE TOY! I think the solution should be just to limit the number of toys, like someone said above when they have like 10 toys you can collect which usually changes by the 2nd month, it keeps them wanting to come back for more so they can see what toy they will get next. There should be 1 toy each month, which should be sufficient since many of you claim you don't go much anyway. I think anyone who force their kid to eat that food to "earn" the toy is just wrong, whether you believe the food is healthy or not...apple dippers are not healthy once they are dipped! and chicken nuggetts or just a burger? Why not just make this stuff at home?

Sarah - posted on 05/05/2010

I think it's a little silly to take away a toy because they want children to be healthier. I rarely buy fast food for my children, I make them food and when crunched for time or for simplicity when busy running errands, I will get them fast food. They prefer fresh fruits and veggies but that's a lot to do with parenting. Since when is saying "no" so difficult for some parents...they are the adults and choose what their children eat so it's up to the parent to be an adult and teach their children how to eat healthy and be healthy!

Charlene - posted on 05/05/2010

For the "child obesity" ravers, it's not the child. If the parents don't teach them healthy eating habits early in life they're going to gorge themselves on fast food and junk. So, someone should ruin it for all children because a few parents out there don't care what their child is eating? That makes a lot of sense. They have healthy alternatives, you can get milk instead of chocolate milk, orange juice, apple juice, heck you can get water. Apples dunked in caramel sauce, if you're that worried about it, do what I do, don't let your child have it. The parents of obese children are to blame, because 9 times out of 10 the parents are also obese, or at least one of them is. People need to stop blaming fast food places and gas station food for obesity and start taking the blame for their own choices.

Nicole - posted on 05/05/2010

i do not see the big issue about the toys in the meals...before my daughter was born i used to take my niece out for a once a month outing when she would come visit her dad. ...if we did land at mc d's it was for the play place and a drink...something to do really...and most McDonald's if you ask them you can buy the toy separate. i only ever paid 60 cents for it. since i have gotten pregnant i have not eaten mc donalds..maybe except for once...same with other fast foods. and even after my daughters birth i have not eaten fast food....and to some extent when her grandmother on my bf's side talks about giving her candy/fast food..i have to bite my tongue tough , i think to myself that she gives her that crap she will not stay there alone.

Melody - posted on 05/05/2010

Personally I wasn't raised on McDonalds. I actually was raised on Arbys and they never gave me a toy. I agree with you. It is your child and your choice what you feed them. Even if you go to the drive thru or decide to pick up that box of mac and cheese because it is "easier". Which trust me I am all for the box of mac and cheese or I wouldn't be the size I am. I ate it a lot when I was pregnant. Anyways, taking the toys out may make it less appealing to children but it is not going to keep children from getting them. Another thing that "lures" children to those places are playscapes and the ability to have parties catered by them. The only thing I have to say in closing about toys are that I wish that they were more worth while. My son either tears them apart quickly or the pieces get lost. Toys are just not like what they use to be. My mother and I would go and buy the mini tys.

Darcie - posted on 05/05/2010

This is ridiculous. If people wanna live there life being unhealthy then it's there choice. This country is suppose to be the land of the free but everyone's trying to control our every move even down to what we can eat come on now.I rarely go to Mcdonald's myself but either way like i said if this is what people want to eat then it's there choice there the one's making themselves unhealthy. And as far as why i feed my son Mcdonalds when i do(which mind you is hardly ever) it's because he's MY son, theres bad things in a lot of food get over it. My son is healthy and happy. This is MY opinion on the whole thing, you don't have to like it and your entitled to your own but this is mine.

Danni - posted on 05/04/2010

omg happy meals with no toys?? that is the most riddicolous thing i have ever heard.. what will they think of next?

Kailey - posted on 05/04/2010

thank you. im happy someone said what we all were thinking. if a child is getting fat from eating to much fast food it is the parents fault. like you said they cant drive to or buy the food then why should they be punished. i think when this law was passed they just needed someone to blame so that it could sound credible or something. im happy im not the only one who thinks this

Jessyca - posted on 05/04/2010

well i think that its the parents desision to get a happy meal my mom never got me a happy meal and beside the price for one i think its wrong to take the toy out when i did get a happy meal i loved the toy and barely ate.

Ashley - posted on 05/04/2010

i totally agree.i also take my kids to mcdonalds and fast food once in a while. I chose a meal that is the healthier choices on the menu for my children. My kids are three and four, yes they know they get a toy and to be honest it is easier to convence them to get all of their meal with the allure of the toy. Taking them out won't help anything, it is the parent's paying for the toy and picking the eating place. If you took away what is luring the parents there that would be different but i don't see them doing that

VALERIE - posted on 05/04/2010

I don't think kids should get toys in their meals, in fact I take them out of the bags before I give the food to my kids, and most of the time I just throw them away (they are crap anyway). I agree that it is the parents choice as to what to feed their child, however I for one don't want to have to listen to whining about it (from the kids :)) so I just take the toys! I don't want them to associate toys with food, but that's just me.

Morgan - posted on 05/04/2010

I agree with September.
I would still like to know why so many people think that nuggets chocolate milk/juice and apples dipped in caramel are healthy choices? chocolate milk has just as much surgar as soda, the dip totally defeats the purpose of apples and the nuggets are made from chemicals and ground up chicken bits that no one else wants.
how can feeding you kids this stuff be ok with you even "once and a while" no one seems to have an answer, you can clearly see from other posts what goes into this food, please tell me what makes you all feel ok about putting that into your child, and no one has let me know if they reward there kids with toys for eating healthy meals at home, if you need a 25 cent toy to get your child to eat that crap maybe their trying to tell you somthing.

Nadine - posted on 05/04/2010

I agree!

Jessica - posted on 05/04/2010

As a teacher I have to say, it's the Grab bags of Cheetohs, "finish your fries for a toy," crystal lite packs in the water, dippin sauce for every morsel, and sooooo much more that is leading to obesity. Oh ya, the goodie bag AND pinata, 50lbs of candy b/c kids are still trick o treating at 15, and Valentine boxes of chocolates for 5 year olds that is contributing to FAT America. I agree, "big Brother" shouldn't tell us what to feed our kids, but it looks like SOMEONE needs to set some boundaries.

Charlene - posted on 05/04/2010

I don't think they should take the toys out of kids meals. It's not the kids fault if the parents buy them unhealthy food. Most fast food places offer healthy choices in kids meals, like fruit instead if french fries. We don't eat fast food much as it is, the only time we ever do is when we're out running errands and we need to eat on the run.

Zara - posted on 05/04/2010

Wow that would be pretty horrible i'm pretty sure my son wouldn't eat his food if he didn't get a toy. They would loose a lot of business.

Zara Nichols
Helping Moms Work From Home
www.4AHappyLife.com

Meghan - posted on 05/04/2010

the toy is part of the fun. You are right the parent is making the choice to being the child there...if you don't want your kids eating crap don't take them to eat it.

Tannisha - posted on 05/04/2010

I think it's funny because you can replace the fries with apple slices and the soda pop with juice or milk. Not really sure why it's supposed to be so unhealthy now. You're right. It's completely the parent's decision.

September - posted on 05/04/2010

Alicia I can provide you with a comparison since you asked. Your apple dipper, chicken nugget and chocolate milk meal is in no way healthier than my all natural baked garlic chicken, brown rice with homemade cream sauce and fresh steamed asparagus (that's what we had for dinner tonight). If I tried to offer our son a "healthy nugget" meal from McDonalds he would probably throw it at me! :)

Alecia - posted on 05/04/2010

the ppl who are saying the "healthy" choices arent healthy need to get over it. its not even really about that. junk food is ok once in a great awhile as a treat. everyone should not suffer because some parents in this country dont make good choices. i made the choice to turn my habits around when i had my little girl. we need more responsibility in this country and less control. they try to control whats on tv, what they sell in stores, whats in our food. some of it is good, but we are going over board. Take responsibilty and stop blaming micky d's. (if its for child labour, mcdonalds not selling toys is NOT going to get rid of that prblm...hello. its all in 3rd world countries. they make the clothes on ur back and the stuff in ur house. only way to "end" it is to buy all american.)

Sarah - posted on 05/04/2010

I agree. Parents are suppose to be making the right decision for their children. Whether there is a toy or not people will stillbuy it. If we buy fast food we usually don't get the happy meals any way because it's cheaper not to and get items from the dollar menu. People should be able to make their own choices and I feel that that is getting taken away from us as the years go on.

Tracey - posted on 05/04/2010

yeah know what i agree with you on this. i used to eat out a lot and i have now cut back a lot. but every once and a blue moon i do want to treat my daughter to a happy meal. and yes i know its not the greatest for her, she does get milk to drink cuz she hates carbonated anything, but i do want to reward her with that toy. its like a part of being a child. i remember getting the toy. i mean as a parent there are healthy choices on the menu and we can as a parent help make those choices for our children. but that is our job as the parent. its not the state or whoever it is to take that toy away.

Morgan - posted on 05/04/2010

Chocolate milk is loaded with sugar you might as well give your son the soda.

Alicia - posted on 05/04/2010

hello??? we get apple dippers and chocolate milk with our nuggets. is this happy meal a bad choice?? compared to what? he eats healthier at mcdonalds then at home sometimes! give my kid the toy!

Becky - posted on 05/04/2010

i totally agree. the parents need to use some common sense and not take their kid to mcdonalds everyday. it is a treat for my kids and they know it.

Tempest - posted on 05/04/2010

i agree...we are all adults well some of us...i dont feel like removing a toy not goin to do anything...my son is 2years old ..he dont know the different...He just happy to get a car...im happy bc its free! lol..And i feel like they tried to make it healthier by the apples a choice..so much people can do..I think a happy meal is unhealthy if the kid is eating it 3 or more out of the week..but once a week or two week for something quick to pick up ..doestn matter..

Tabatha - posted on 05/04/2010

I think your absolutely right. They already have made the healthier choices in the happy meal so why punish the kids on removing the toys. DUH!! and on another note, nothing fast food is healthy but once in awhile it does'nt hurt to make it a treat. So if they take the toy out then they damn well better lower their prices!!!

Sheryl - posted on 05/04/2010

i think its wrong myself also! my child do go there not all the time but if they do they one happy meal may be nuggets and fry and the other one with apple slice. plus i also get them both milk. they share the fries and the apple slice. not all poeple just take there kids there every night. they just have crossed the line. it like what next are you going to till me what i can and can't buy for my house. sometime kids wight is not about the eating sometimes it about the how there bodies are working. i think what would work it if they made size's of the food smaller. i guess i just feel like there is a very fine line and i think they crossed it. the toys the my child got from the happy meal my kids do play with all the time. my kids are not fat and don't eat there all the time. it not the toys! it the choice in the end. so leave the toys out of it.

Emilie - posted on 05/04/2010

They make happy meals now that include milk, applesauce, apple slices, ect. They make healthier happy meals now. If the parents want to get the child a healthier meal with a toy they already have that option. I don't think they should stop taking toys out of happy meals, some kids don't have many toys and the happy meal toy makes up a large quantity of toys that they have at home. My ex brother in law had a whole box of happy meal toys for his kids (so they obviously went out alot) but none of kids kids are fat because they get plenty of exercise.

Vixi - posted on 05/04/2010

A kid loves nothing more than a mcdonalds happy meal with a toy to play with and although its unhealthy, its ok if it is a one off!

How many of the kids play with these Mcdonalds toys once they have got home anyway?! Not many is my guess so they are a waste of time anyway.

But for the half an hour you're in McDonalds, these toys are the bees knees to millions of kids.

Michelle - posted on 05/04/2010

Agree completely. A child does not purchase the happy meal so taking the toys away isnt going to fix anything. It is a parents responsiblity to monitor and make the healty eating selections for their kids.
I personally think it is great that McDs and other fast food chains offer healthier sides and drinks with their meals (ie fruit and milk) instead of fries and soda. That is the way I would go. I am not anti McDs but I do agree that this shouldnt be a daily, or even weekly treat. We bring my step daughter to these places maybe once or twice a month at best and monitor what she eats.
And more importantly keep her active with sports and playing outside! It is a parents responsiblity to teach their child good habits not fast food resturants.

Betty - posted on 05/04/2010

Trust me, when this new law passes fast food chains will just start to make healthier kids meals. They will not stop giving out the toys because that's why our kids tell us they want to eat there. Right now, we are rewarding our kids for eating junk food by telling them stuff like, "you can't play in that till you eat your fries" or "eat all your food and then I will open this for you". They grow up to like the food there because cheese burgers and fries= toys and playtime. I really hope this law goes into affect. :)
Normally, when I get my daughter a happy meal, I eat it myself, give her the toy and tell her to go play. I want her to be hungry enough to eat real food when we get home.

Mathilda - posted on 05/04/2010

I don't think its the toy.
The toy dose represent a bigger picture, the advertising that we all have been exposed to and the fact that knowing what this food is made out of and how bad it can be when eaten and the fact that we still eat it.

It should still be a parental choice as to if we buy it or not.

It is our choice as parents to make the decision but the question is what decision are we making, my dad actually said this to me about how he took care of me:
"we usually just do whatever now and deal with the consequences later"
I'd rather do my best to minimize the consequences now.

I think that if we all made better choices we wouldn't have other people or government trying to make them for us.

September - posted on 05/04/2010

Here is the link if anyone would like to take a look....
http://www.alnyethelawyerguy.com/al_nye_...

September - posted on 05/04/2010

IMO McDonalds is gross altogether! I read an article the other day about their chicken nuggets and it's hardly chicken at all. There are my thoughts. I could care less about some cheap toy from McDonalds.

Helen - posted on 05/04/2010

to be honest - who cares. the toys are allways bits of plastic junk that go in the bin a few days later! don't just think about the health issues what about the environment with all that plastic junk!!

Morgan - posted on 05/04/2010

its was funny to me on the Jamie Oliver show when he showed all the 2nd graders what was in a chicken nugget and they ate it anyway!!

but now as I read all these post after it was very clearly put what is really in that nugget and still no one cares, now I know where the kids are getting it from.........THE PARENTS!!! you all keep going back to apple slices and nuggets being healthy choices???? what?

why do you feel you need to reward your children with a toy for eating an unhealthy meal? do you all have a box of toys under the table that you give you kid if they eat there peas? I doubt it.

I uderstand the "easy" factor but if you had a bowl full of all the junk they put in that food youd never let your child touch it let alone eat it, why does this change when its formed into a little nugget? lighter fluid sounds like an excellant" treat" to me!!

Sarah - posted on 05/04/2010

Seriously? I'm so sick of the government trying to decide things for individuals! It is up to the parents to decide for themselves if they want their children to have fast food. Personally when I take my child to McDonald's he gets chicken nuggets or a burger and French fries. I don't care about their so-called healthy choices. We don't eat fast food very often at all, maybe once every month or two. Its a treat, there is nothing wrong with that and it should be a personal choice.

Toni - posted on 05/04/2010

I agree, the toy as nothing to do with the fact that most kids will only eat chicken nuggets and french fries when you go to those places. The options there aren't very healthy anyway so what does the toy really have to do with anything. Sometimes, we need to get fast food and the fact that there is a toy or isn't has no barring on this decision.Leave the toys alone!!

Sabrina - posted on 05/04/2010

It agree. My children don't eat out much, and the toy is not the reason why they want their happy meal...It's the cheeseburger!!

So removing the toy will do nothing but cause undo fits after they eat the cheesburger that they wanted in the first place. You can obviously tell that it's people that don't have kids that are making these decisions.

Kayleigh - posted on 05/04/2010

thats ridiculous!i get my 2yr old a happy meal every few weeks as a treat. i totally agree that it is the parents choice to buy the food, so if they want to do it whats the problem!? also as you can now change chips for a bag of fruit and the drink for a more healthier choice its not completely unhealthy anyway. fair enough some people do feed their kids crap all the time but the majority of us dont, so why change it for everyone? just another way to control what people do