By Anya
Officials in Santa Clara County – the heart of Silicon Valley – voted 3 to 2 recently to ban Happy Meal toys and other similar give-a-ways from being included with children’s meals. Although the measure will not be implemented for 90 days to give restaurants time to come up with a voluntary program to comply with established nutrional standards for children’s meals, as it stands now, going forward restaurant proprietors will not be permitted to include toys with their higher calorie and higher fat children’s meals.
Supervisor Donald Gage who voted against the measure stated “if you can’t control a 3-year-old child for a toy, God save you when they get to be teenagers.” Supervisor Ken Yeager, who sponsored the measure disagrees. “This ordinance breaks the link between unhealthy food and prizes.”
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35 Responses to Poll Question: Happy Meals Toys Banned In CA?!?
I agree with Mr. Gage. I guess the assumption is that the meals are consumed more often bc of the toys? Buying or not buying is up to the parent- the child shouldn’t be the decision maker. There is nothing wrong with the occasional happy meal- or the toy that goes with it. The toy (junky as it may be) is a simple childhood pleasure. Also paired with fruit and milk- its not something I feel guilty about giving our child occasionally.
I guess I am on the fence with this one. I really like that they are banning them, to me that just stops the temptation. I dont like the idea that kids feel they need to eat fast food just so they can get a toy. Often times I hear parents “make” thier kids eat the cheeseburger and fries before they can have the toy and it makes me cringe. You are making your child eat somthing SO unhealthy and then they get a reward?!? But for someone like us where fast food is a treat, we make our children get the healthy option, with apples and milk. So the question is, is it up to the parents to make the choice or is this a good thing and eliminate it all together?
Hi! I used to post at GDDNNOP as Daisy. I saw this on facebook and being from California this really strikes a nerve with me.
I completely agree with Samanth. It’s the parents decision what to feed and give their children. In my opinion this is government butting in where it doesn’t belong. This is America! Land of the free. Government has no business telling parents what they can and can’t give their children. Setting up healty food guidelines is one thing, dictacting how to live is another. This is one step closer to socialism.
oops, sorry for spelling your name wrong Samantha. I guess that really did strike a nerve. I didn’t proof read carefully.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
The toy (junky as it may be) is a simple childhood pleasure~Samantha
In the 80′s, Taco Bell had the coolest Star Wars stuff.
Oh Sam, some of them are wonderful. I will be ordering the How To Train Your Dragon set off Ebay for my little one. I have 2 of each Simpsons The Movie figures from BK. They each say something and were an awesome BD present from a friend a few years ago. Yes, not one, but two Golden Homers.
This ban is directed at children who don’t get to McDonald’s by themselves (mostly). I see no point in this whatsoever. I know Americans eat too much fast food, but taking the prize in the box away isn’t going to fix that. While I think the some of the premiums are cool, I see the convenience of an inexpensive meal that is the biggest factor, not the toy. I hate these ordinances being imposed. The parents are responsible for the nutritional needs of their child and a blanket ban for everyone isn’t right.
It’s seldom that we hit McDonald’s. I want a toy in the box when we do go. It makes it more of a treat.
I can’t stand Ronald. What a freaky character.
Hi Daisy! Good to see you. I would feel the same way if I lived there. I would be so mad. If they feel that strongly about what I eat and feed my kids, they can come over and fix it themselves. Parents have the option to ban these toys themselves. It’s not a requirement to take one when you buy a Happy Meal.
Debbie, sorry, couldn’t help it, I went right to your GDNNOP name. I was merryway back then.
No problem Lily
My daughter used to get beanie babies from MacDonald’s. We went once a week with the kids I babysat. She had quite the collection. I’m not up to date with the current toys.
Oh, and they worked their lunch off by going to the park afterwards. There are ways around eating at MacDonald’s Santa Clara County folks.
I completely agree Debbie and Lily- aren’t there bigger fish to fry?
I’d move. Take away my Happy Meal toy? Think I control my kid with prizes do you?? I’m removing my family from your tax base for wasting my money on idiot legislation.
Seriously.
In the 80’s, Taco Bell had the coolest Star Wars stuff.
No, I’m wrong. that was the 90′s that they had the cool stuff. The ones made for foreign markets were even cooler.
Often times I hear parents “make” thier kids eat the cheeseburger and fries before they can have the toy and it makes me cringe. You are making your child eat somthing SO unhealthy and then they get a reward?!? – KatherineDenise
Ugh. That would probably rub me the wrong way too, but I generally don’t think it is effective to “make” your kids finish their meals anyway (unless dessert follows, in which case, I think it is logical to say if the kid isn’t hungry for the main meal, they don’t get dessert). I speak from experience dealing with a picky eater….
My daughter used to get beanie babies from MacDonald’s. We went once a week with the kids I babysat. – Debbie
Hi Debbie/Daisy. Yes, we did the same thing back in the mid to late 90′s. My daughter had a lot of fun collecting them!
Hi Kelley. Nice to see you posting.
I think it is great that healthier options for both adults and children are now being offered and I think that should be encouraged. While this legislation at least gets people talking, it smacks of the Nanny State mentality that many find annoying and restrictive.
How sad. I have a five gallon bucket of these that I secretly call “crappy meals.” My kids LOVED them. Their favorites (and mine) were the small Barbies and the Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars (I forget which.)
“This ordinance breaks the link between unhealthy food and prizes.”
No it doesn’t. Unhealthy food is the prize. French fries just taste good.
Hi Debbie,
Great to see you! Virtually
Unlike the ban on Pepsi or Coke on school campuses, I am opposed to this. With the soda, parents have very little control or decision making on how much their child would consume during the school day. I was mostly concerned by the incoming 9th graders who can be only 13 or 14 at the beginning of the year.
The Happy Meal ban however is unnecessary in my mind because small children would not be able to consume these meals without their parents purchasing the meals for them. I think that parents are capable of deciding what their children should and should not eat.
I like the toys! When my kids were little they thought the toys were the meal. I would drive through the drive-thru and buy just the toys. I would make a regular meal and put the toys on their plates. They didn’t know the difference until they reached about 9 or so. Worked like a charm. I hardly ever fed my kids fast food. Once they could bike or drive it was all over.
I agree that this ban is overreaching and that ultimately it’s the parents’ decision whether and/or how frequently their children get Happy Meals. My only caution would be about the perniciousness of advertising. We think we are making choices with free will, but we don’t necessarily acknowledge the ways that products are marketed to lure us in.
I have to agree with Ann on this one – the Happy Meal IS the treat! LOL! Our toddler gets, on average, one HM a week. He loves both the processed chicken nuggets AND cheeseburgers! And, the fries, too! LOL! I have to admit the toys McD puts in the meals are actually pretty decent! We have one bin designated for the cheap freebie type toys. Matchbox, beanie babies and the new dragons were hits!
It is my responsibility as a parent to decide what my child does and does not eat. The toy is secondary in my opinion.
It’s great to see you too, Pam!
It is my responsibility as a parent to decide what my child does and does not eat. ~Nancy@IW
It’s also your right to decide what your child does and does not eat. We can’t let the government take away our rights. I don’t know how to go about doing that. It seems that things that we take for granted as rights are slipping away from us.
I agree Debbie and Nancy. I will decide what my children eat. My children eat McDonald’s. They also eat apples, which government studies show, are full of pesticides. They eat fish high in mercury. They drink water from plastic bottles that have chemicals. When the government can get their act together, I’ll believe their recommendations. Until then, I pray a lot, and do the best I can
.
Our local McD’s used to put up a sign in the window that you had to buy at least one meal to be able to purchase toys separately. I am not sure if anyone else ever had that problem? I think it might have been on the most popular Happy Meal toys.
They didn’t serve apples as a side dish around here when I was still buying Happy Meals.
Wendy, great comment.
Ann, I’m not surprised that you have to buy a Happy Meal to get a toy w/some of the popular premiums. Mean old adult collectors would clear them out and not leave any for the kiddies.
My kids got a whole collection of any of these toys. In fact, they often wanted the same toy twice, since that meant a different kind of play. Twin barbies, team race cars, etc.
I never minded the requirement to buy food to get a toy. As I said, the “prize” was the food anyway. It was a “rare treat”.
As I said, the “prize” was the food anyway~Ann
I so agree. It’s the fries that are my prize. The fries! The fries are so good.
I know when I take my kids to McD’s it’s junk food and know it’s not healthy eating. I don’t think taking away happy meal toys is going to curve obesity amongst children. But that’s just me!!
Lily, the fries are the best too with their barbeque sauce. So good!!
I agree with you Darlene. My husband calls fast food “place holders” you know like 0 (zeros). I have never had to purchase food to purchase the toys. I paid $2 just recently when they had the American Girl little books. Most local McDonalds/Wendys etc donate their extra toys to schools and libraries for literacy prizes in our area. My reason for not eating at fast food (though I do like Jimmy Johns) is that I worked at fast food as a teen. Work there and you won’t eat there again. It’s not dirty or anything. In fact fast food is usually spotlessly clean. The list of ingredients on the packing boxes are the reason for me.
What I do like about McDonalds is that since they are franchises each owner can use local produce in their stores.
Here’s a couple of link on buying the toys.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5513610_buy-happy-meal-toys.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080623110208AA8pLHb
I collect any toy that goes with books myself. I have the complete sets for Richard Scarry (from 1980!), Stuart Little, Wizard of oz, American girl, and others. My son wants me to will him my Curious George set. It comes with Curious George parachute.
I really don’t see how taking away the toy will work toward healthier eating for kids anyways. My friend has young kids and she often feeds them McDonalds twice a day EVERYDAY. On the way to school they get breakfast and then she takes them there for dinner. They have so many health problems and weight issues but nothing will convince her to cook or even have healthy food available at home. If Iwatch her kids and offer them grapes or carrots with dip they love it. She says grapes are too expensive.
“Mean old adult collectors would clear them out and not leave any for the kiddies.” — Lily
OMG LILY! That is SO funny and TRUE! I remember when I collected beanie babies (mostly the dogs, cats and teddy bears) back around 1999 or 2000 when McDonald’s did their first round of beanies. The old bitties were the ones in line first. I swear many of them were just dragging a kid in the restaurant so they could get their beanie! LMAO!
I still have about 40 or so of the old beanies – back when you actually could sell a “Princess” bear for $200! LOL! I get the bears and bunnies out for special occasions and holidays where they fit it – July 4th, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc. My toddler loves them and became attached to a red, white & blue bear. It still has the tag on it! LOL!
Nancy, it is so true. On Ebay, I settled for just the Hiccup & Toothless figures instead of an entire set. Way too much for a set that would get played with. She already had a couple per a weekend w/Grandma. That is one of their things. It would be so sad to take away that pleasure from both of them if there was no toy. The Beanies were a phenomenal craze. That was one I didn’t indulge in. The adults were crazy for those things.
They also eat apples, which government studies show, are full of pesticides. They eat fish high in mercury. They drink water from plastic bottles that have chemicals.
Wendy- so true, I oculdn’t help but laugh reading this!
Why am I not surprised? The government knows better so they outlaw happy meal toys, salt, smoking in restaurants and on and on and on. I saw a study here in California that stated that after they mandated helmets for bicycle riders, that accidents increased. Turns out when you mandate safety items people have a false sense of security and riskier behavior ensues. I just want them out of our lives. Take care of border security, defense highways and airplane travel and leave everything else to the People.
By the way, this is the same group of County Supervisors that banned red ink from teachers grading as it was easily seen by other students and it would have hurt the poor kids egos if other kids knew they were dumb losers. Please!
I saw yesterday that a group is getting ready to take on the McDonald’s Corp. for this marketing practice. They want all the McDonald’s to get rid of the toys. I bet they would they take the prize out of the CrackerJacks too. This is ridiculous. Marketing is enticement and Happy Meal Toys are fun (as long as they’re not poisoned w/bad paint). It’s so silly. Will the ones w/the slides have to get rid of those? Those playgrounds are certainly enticing.
Good point, Lily. I guess they need to shut down Chuck E. Cheese also and probably a hundred or more other establishments.
Ah, I’d forgotten about the Beanie Babies from McDonalds. My kids loved them and it was a fun and inexpensive treat.
Parents who consider McDonalds to be serving healthy food are the same ones who will be feeding their children junk at home. So is anything really being accomplished?
It’s a small thing, but I feel sorry for the kids who won’t be getting their Happy Meal toys.
happy.mom says:Parents who consider McDonalds to be serving healthy food are the same ones who will be feeding their children junk at home.
I agree. This really accomplishes nothing. The majority of parents regard a trip to McDonalds for a Happy Meal as a treat. The minority who make it a regular habit are probably engaging in plenty of other bad habits themselves and with their kids.
And Lily, you are right – I can see the playgrounds being next. Oh my. When my daughter was young, that was a great way to kill an hour or so after lunch.
With all the REAL problems going on in the world, I can’t believe what we choose to focus on some times.
With all the REAL problems going on in the world, I can’t believe what we choose to focus on some times.-Anya
Wow- I say this all the time! Can you imagine what type of place we’d live in if we put the effort of time we spend commenting on the world of gossip into something beneficial! Paradise could be waiting for us