There is a bit of flap over the Center for Science in the Public Interest suing McDonalds for putting toys in the Happy Meals that kids want, primarily for the dumb toy, but also to get kids hooked on their food(s). I've read several articles about this and just the other day heard someone on NPR have an absolute tirade against CSPI for taking the FUN away from children - like what is next? banning the playground?
Could they be missing the point? Or are people really so adverse to change and so uniformed about nutrition that they will actually fight for the right to continue feeding their offspring garbage?
The Center for Science in the Public Interest admittedly is tackling a huge giant, and one with (unfortunately) mass support. I believe they are trying to bring attention to the fact that what kids eat there is not really food, but what they call (in their Nutrition Action newletter) food porn. This organization is a strong advocate for health, nutrition and transforming the American diet - we need this help as the diet these days, full of so much "stuff" its no longer food your grandma would recognize!
Now I've heard that McD's is offering carrot sticks to shut up people who might just be starting to wake up and holler at the crap level of their food. I don't think people are going to McD's for carrots, especially the kids. How far removed from where-does-our-food-come-from are we getting?
I watched in horror when Jamie Oliver (on tv) replicated Chicken McNuggets - grinding the carcass of a chicken, (devoid of breasts, legs and wings mind you, just the carcass) bones, fat and all, and added flour and some yummy additives, then he took this gook out by a tablespoon, patted it in a patty, rolled it in bread crumbs, fried it in oil, and voila - a chicken McNugget. UGH. People eat these, kids eat these, all believing they are eating chicken. I suppose technically they are. Then add your fries, coke and wow, food porn!
As an aside, the reason they can grind up bones so easily is because the chickens are so loaded with hormones and antibiotics and killed so much earlier, that the chickens bones are weak. And let me add, that if THIS is the chicken you are eating, all the goodness of those hormones and antibiotics are yours free with your McNugget.
My neighbor teaches in a pre-school. She said she surveys the kids about what they had for dinner the night before. On average 2/3 of her class has McDonalds for dinner at least 3-4 nights a week. I know working parents have their hands full, but there has got to be a better choice! What would YOU suggest? How about sandwiches at home? I get it that women don't want to cook but there has to be some food plan other than this! REAL food. Help me help them!
The only way we will EVER get healthier food anywhere, let alone at McDonalds, is to make our voices heard, or boycott, or support CSPI at the very least. I invite you to go to their website and check out the information you can get from this organization. They are not on any "take" from any company - no payola - and they really tell the truth about products, espeically in their newsletter which I've been getting since I joined in 2007.
So no, dude on NPR, the CSPI is not a bunch of wealthy, health nut vegetarians out to ruin any kids fun!
(He actually said that and more!) Educating kids to make GOOD food choices is hard enough without bribing them with toys to eat junk. I think that is the point.
http://www.cspinet.org/
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Oh SuZen, that chicken nugget thing is just awful.
ReplyDeleteWhat has annoyed me was that the lunches at school the children could buy were rubbish, THAT really got up my wick big time. Why as a school not providing only good food. But no, they could order pies, those horrible white buns with sugar and cream, and more crap. Even the school food shop sold rubbish. There is so much more that can be done to feed us good food, when we collectively understand the value of nutrition. But it was really hard to change what was on offer at the school. There were hardly any suppliers who offered good food to boot as well, arrgghhh.
It is a huge topic and I do admire and am grateful for people who are taking it on to educate us and then having to deal with replies like that as thanks for their efforts.
Therefore I am thankful for you too, SuZen, big hugs Wilma
These fast food chains should be banned and we must stop poisoning our children with lies, diet drinks and caffeinated sodas. It should be mandatory for teenagers to be educated on nutrition to learn important information like lemon in water will hydrate them at a cellular level as opposed to diuretics that will cause them to crash and their skin to break out.
ReplyDeleteYou are just the one to send the message!
Hi Wilma! Yes, it can be shocking that organizations like CSPI who are really trying to educate people with the truth about what they are eating totally unconsciously, are often seen as the bad guys - a result of brilliant (yet deceptive) marketing and the publics disdain for change - especially when it might involve not being so lazy and apathetic about nutrition! The school lunch programs are tied in to government - enough said!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister! I'm headed to that web site right now to bookmark it, and read up a bit. I'm so glad you posted about this. With the help of you and Evita, and my own desire to be healthier, I'm moving toward more of a raw diet (fruits, veggies, nuts) and I cannot tell you how good I feel as I make small changes each day. I never thought I could live without certain foods, especially since I'm a former bulimic and food addict. But you know what? Not only can I live without certain things, but I can THRIVE and be happier without them. Amazing! My skin lately? Glowing. My stomach? Flatter. Aches & pains I had on occasion that I couldn't explain? Disappearing! Funny that!
ReplyDeleteLove & perseverance to you!
Hi Jillian! Boy you're right about teens needing manditory nutrition education - trouble with that is, it won't happen on a natural health level. The government is too involved and the USDA regulates school lunch programs. We are on our own educating our own kids - and since moms buy the groceries..........
ReplyDeleteHi Megan! YAY you! You know I used to wonder how I could "give up" certain foods and I'm so over that. I don't really long for the things that I know darn well are not nutritious and the cravings are so minimal. Glad you are feeling so wonderful! Perfect poster girl for healthy eating!
ReplyDeleteHi suZen - I've always been a big fan of CSPI. They do great work. So what's with NPR lately? They used to "get" these kinds of things. But lately my husband and I have noticed that it seems like, in an effort to be "fair and balanced" they've swung too far the other way. Sad. And that story about how McNuggets are made is incredible!
ReplyDeletesuZen,
ReplyDeleteFood porn...what a good way to describe it. Not only that but the toys are on the floor of the car forgotten by the time they arrive home and then they are trashed (in our earth) until the next "rush." I also saw Jaime ask kids to identify fruits and vegetables he held up for them to see and they couldn't. It's beyond sad. Ohhh I was getting sick when you described how the chicken is made. I'll take what Megan is having! I'm so grateful for my farming background. What a gift of a life time!
Hi SuZen .. fast food is mostly awful .. and I hate to think where most of it comes from; cheap food too often .. if it's processed.
ReplyDeleteThe good old basics that Mama cooked are not that difficult - it's just a) knowing how to cook (and that could be a big problem!) and b) planning the meals ..
A friend has a big roast on Sunday, then uses cold meat, baked potato, and salad or fresh veg, a hotpot of left overs (delicious), a pie or a white sauce mixed with veggie and the meat .. it works for them - cheap and good food .. through the weekday.
I'm just glad I was brought up with fresh food, appreciate fresh food and still cook for myself every day .. with fresh food .. and that I was taught to cook ..
My brother was at home as a late teenager in Cornwall (my mother was away) .. and rang me in London & said my supper's ready .. now how do I do baked potato? - we had an Aga ... I said put it in the top oven and wait an hour .. he was horrified - what about this supper NOW???!!! I laughed and so does he now ...
A young couple here .. well mid 30s .. I've just given her three of my 'base' cookbooks and some of my decluttering kitchen things (I had rather a lot?!) .. as she wanted to cook like her Mum cooked .. so she's looking forward to giving it a go.
That's me done .. food porn .. horrific two words together .. byeeeee - salad lunch beckoning .. Hilary
This brings all the grossness of Super Size Me flying back.
ReplyDeleteTG we don't eat McDonalds. Well, actually it's a conscious choice for us. And more people need to wake up to how they CHOOSE to go to McD. It's not like MCD is knocking on their front doors with trays of junk on nights when they don't have a thing in the larder.
Suzen thanks for posting this. I hope many who need to, read it.
And I hope you have a pulse down there at
dock. :) (As per your comment to Tess the other day.)
Much love and hugs!
Jannie
xo
McD is out there to make money and I must say big big money and will try different tactics .I hope we all can take more responsibility for what we put in our mouth and support our children too....I am not too sure if anyone is going to think of banning them McD I bet they would rather pay off court charges because they can.....Majority of us give them McD our money to feed us when we are too busy doing what not..... Hey suZen I have got strong views on this so I must stop here. Thanks for posting
ReplyDeleteDidn't the kids in Jamie Oliver's show eat the nuggets even though they knew what was in there? THAT's the real issue. How do we make people care about what they put in their bodies? Education. Invest in informing the public. It's the only way to go.
ReplyDeleteAnother great post. Thanks!
Maryse
I think we need every voice we can get to turn this food era around. Eating Vegan I am feeling so much better, and I stayed home from work to raise children from a fresh garden and organic foods ....
ReplyDeleteOf course, now I am being penalized again with no Long Term Care INS. and maybe not SS and no Medicare...aren't I in the lucky generation...I gave up my career to work and raise healthy children - we could not afford McD's because we could not afford ill children and Dr's appointments ....we have to be healthy.
Also Insurance companies makes lots of money from diabetes and cancer....not to mention the drug companies...
To be defiant is to be healthy
Hi Patty! Yeah, I don't know about NPR any more. I thought they should have represented both sides - maybe payola, who knows? I was shocked they seemed soooo ignorant in their comments!
ReplyDeleteHi Tess! Yes there is a LOT of food porn out there, not just at McD's either. Tess, those kids watched what it was made out of and wanted to eat it anyway when it "became" a fried McNugget! I almost threw up!
Hi Hilary! There was a cooking show on tv about 15 yrs ago called The Frugal Gourmet. He did a lot of what you are talking about - stretching the roast, or chicken for several other meals. I'm putting together recipes for a workshop (and future clients) that shows exactly how to do this so first of all you don't really have to cook each night, but secondly, you CAN afford organic meats with some meal planning.
Hi Jannie! Pulse is fine - haha. Seems the people who read me already do a lot of healthy eating - its the OTHERS I want to reach but they aren't here :(
Hi Fatima! Yes, I hear you. It is hard not to be all ruffled up about McD's and all the other junk out there - I'm going to do my best to just present information - calmly, if possible! ha!
Hi Maryse! Yes, those kids were all ready to eat those disgusting things as soon as they "recognized" them as McNuggets. Guess their little brains disengaged. I can forgive them that - but not the parents who should know better but they are too busy to listen to nutritionists!
Hi Patricia! No surprise but lots of delight that you are feeling better going vegan! And yes, oh boy, don't get me going on the drug companies - Big Pharma is raking in billions with so many sick people they couldn't possibly be trying to find cures! We are on our own kiddo!
An interesting thing about fast food. After giving it up for a long time, and choosing healthier alternatives, I got a craving for some fast food. I was completely disappointed and ended up with an upset stomach.
ReplyDeleteHi Eric! Sorry to hear that but were you really surprised? I've had the same experience - can't believe I did it, knowing better! Maybe it's a good thing we both reacted badly - like the Universe is giving a clear message!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this well supported post SuZen. This is a crucial time in our lives when we must wake up and take responsibility for what we are eating and feeding our children. How can we keep feeding them food porn and expect them to perform with excellence? It's just not sensible. We have got to look at some other options.
ReplyDeletePeace and blessings to you.
Ethel