The Happy Meal is NOT a Healthy Meal

I have spent a good deal of time and emotional energy on the Campaign Against the Happy Meal, beginning with Corporate Accountability International's call for Ronald's resignation. I shared my opinions with the Wall Street Journal's online community, a process that I found challenging, inspiring, and frustrating. Last week, the McDonald's heeded the call for healthier food and marketing practices, and in their own McMinds, they have taken a big step...

In an NPR Report, a VP from the company says:
"When you have a combination of a right size french fry for children as well as introducing apples into that mix as well, then parents can feel good about that choice and we think it's a really good match." It's great that the Happy Meal will now feature 20% less calories, but McDonald's is ignoring the bigger issue here: They are spending millions of dollars marketing downright unhealthy food to children. Slightly healthier junk food does not equal health food. The happy meal is still full of saturated fat, sugar, sodium, hyper-processed meat, genetically-modified potatoes, and a little plastic toy. Kids and parents need to learn how to eat healthy, fresh food - and no, sliced apples served in a little cellophane bag does not qualify as fresh.

What surprises me is the reactions my views draw from conservatives, who argue the government ought to stay out of our food choices and let capitalism do it's work.
-- "McDonald's only obligation is to it's shareholders"
--"Keep government nannying out of our restaurants"
--"It's up to the parents, not the restaurant to decide what's best for children to eat."

McDonald's has a Corporate Responsibility program which includes a commitment to the nutrition and well-being of its customers. By marketing unhealthy food directly to children with toys and clowns, McDonald's fails to standby this promise. They may have taken a baby step towards making their kids' meal healthier - but let's not celebrate.

Get out your forks and VOTE for the restaurants that standby a commitment to nutrition. Get out your wallets and VOTE for local farmers growing fresh produce and raising quality meat products.