COMMENTARY | Do you want fries with that? The common questioned asked through a little metal drive-thru speaker was not muttered for a little while in the Chicago area, but has now returned. Bending to pressure from health advocacy groups and supporting lawmakers, McDonald's temporarily pulled french fries from their Chicago area Happy Meals. Outcries from disappointed children and parents prompted a quick return of the famous tasty fries, but in smaller portions. The famed fast food chain is now also adding organically grown fruit and vegetables to the kid-sized meals which come with a small toy.
No adult in their right mind could argue with the benefits of eating healthy and introducing more pesticide free fruit and veggies to their child's diet. But local governments have over-stepped their authority in a growing number of cities across America. The "food police" in Cleveland, San Francisco and now possibly Chicago are taking parental authority out of the equation.
Preschool children do not typically wander into the local McDonald's with their piggy banks and "chow down" on chicken nuggets and salty fries. Non-profit children's advocacy and health groups are entitled to share their views and attempt to educate parents about proper nutrition, but should not dictate governmental policy.
Shame on McDonald's for caving into the loud voices of grant funded organizations. Responding to parent requests for healthy meal substitutes is good business, but altering an entire business model against the wishes of customers may become a financial bottom line issue. The nutritional attributes of the new version of Happy Meals which will be available in specific regions of America are undoubtedly an improvement. Menu offerings will vary depending upon available seasonal fruits and vegetables. Parents can now choose to add a healthy side dish to Happy Meals which include carrots, pineapple slices, mandarin oranges and raisins.
An attempt to add a healthy component to McDonald's Happy Meals in 2006 did not produce the results health advocacy group anticipated. Even though the fast food giant added the option of including "Apple Dippers" in Happy Meals, only 11 percent of customers chose to include the apple slices. You simply cannot legislate or mandate healthy behavior. Forcing restaurants to become defacto parents or dieticians will not solve the childhood obesity problem. Responsible parents will make reasonable food choices for their children, which will likely include the occasional unhealthy meal with a toy.
To truly foster a healthier generation of children, the rising cost of purchasing fresh fruit and vegetables will need to be addressed. Low-income families often choose the $2 frozen dinner or $1 package of Ramen noodles not because they do not care about the health of their children, but because it is all they can afford. County social services agencies who partner with local farmer's markets and offer produce waivers will foster more healthy children than obsessing about the connection between a cartoon themed toy in a fast food kid's meal.
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