McDonald's has been working for years to try and project a much healthier image to the world, introducing a variety of alternative food choices that are meant to capture the more health-conscious consumer.
They've even tried to implement their healthier approach into their toy selection that they give away in their Happy Meals. Last year, the company included a variety of fitness trackers in their happy meals, those were later withdrawn over concerns allegedly related to skin irritations.
Another idea they've come up with to try and switch things up, at McDonald's in New Zealand, is offering books now with their Happy Meal; as an alternative for those who don't want a toy.
They continue to press for solutions that might help to repair their family-friendly character; trying to establish a more positive reputation.
McDonald's is a place that families have been going to for decades to get a cheap bite to eat, but it's alleged that an increasing number of parents are becoming too embarrassed to bring their kids to the golden arches for a meal.
Market analysts suggest that now Starbucks has surpassed McDonald's in the way of offering an option to them for fast food convenience that doesn't have the same negative associations that McDonald's has; they feel less shame in taking their children there for a bite to eat.
Can apple slices, yogurt, and limited drink choices turn things around?
There does seem to be a growing number of people who are trying to turn away from fast food and they are looking for more healthier options for themselves and their loved ones. But there are still millions who are content going to McDonald's and other fast food locations on a regular basis. Fast food still remains a large part of the average American diet.
Eating healthy is a great goal for someone to have, and it's one that some feel so passionate about that they in-turn feel justified in getting force involved; to try and make other people submit to their version of what healthy eating should be.
Just recently,
Berkeley passed a new law that is going to require restaurant locations there to include only milk or water as a beverage option with their kids meals; the option for soda has been removed.
So for those who want to go to McDonald's to grab a soda with their Happy Meal, they're going to be out of luck.
Lawmakers there say that they are hoping to promote health and nutrition, with force, by moving to attack the soda beverage option that has traditionally been provided with the Happy Meal. And this isn't the first place in the US that has sought to acquire this sort of restriction as to what drinks can be included in the price of a kids meal.
There is a movement across the US to introduce a variety of taxes and restrictions on soda and other drinks that are deemed to be unhealthy, like energy drinks, sweetened coffee, some tea products, sports drinks, and more. The changes have been forcing some shoppers to have to go outside of their normal jurisdiction in order to try and find products to buy where they won't be hit with the tax. The changes have also fueled a legal battle, a number of retailers say that the tax is unconstitutional.
When we try to use force to get other people to eat healthy it can get a little bit tricky. One of the reasons being that the term “healthy” and what is to be considered healthy is a highly contentious subject, opinions vary widely as to what healthy eating should look like.
Aside from that main issue, these restrictions also limit personal freedom. If people are free then they should have the freedom to make their own choices about what they do with their body so long as they aren't hurting anyone else and therefore they should be free to consume whatever food that they wish to.
Pics:
AP Photo/Keith Srakocic via Business Insider
MentalFloss via mentalfloss.com/article/69309/14-unusual-ways-mcdonalds-did-business-60s
CBC via cbc.ca/news/business/mcdonalds-kale-calorie-questions-1.3423938
The Office via Giphy
The information that is posted above is not intended or implied to ever be used as any substitute for professional medical advice, or diagnosis or treatment. The above is posted for informational purposes only.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/17/health/mcdonalds-removes-fitness-tracker-happy-meal-step-it/index.html
http://lifehacker.com/5283646/five-healthiest-foods-at-mcdonalds
https://www.engadget.com/2016/08/16/mcdonalds-activity-trackers-happy-meal/
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140906/ISSUE01/309069980/mcdonalds-has-a-new-generational-problem-kids
http://www.businessinsider.com/r-mom-sneaks-kids-to-mickey-ds-amid-fast-food-backlash-wont-tell-dad-2015-4
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2017/08/10/berkeley-requires-kids-meals-include-milk-water-not-soda/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11898506
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2017/08/10/berkeley-requires-kids-meals-include-milk-water-not-soda/
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/opa/nr/Pages/Restrictions-on-sugar-sweetened-beverages-in-children's-meals.aspx