Fast food chains and obesity

This is a good question. Are fast food restaurants to blame for the childhood obesity epidemic? Does that toy in the children’s food make them gain weight? I think we should look at this topic rationally.

How the blame game fails our children: If we can blame someone else for what is wrong, then we can absolve ourselves. I include myself in this, there are many issues in which I am guilty of the same. However, that will not reverse this epidemic. Guilt is what my mother calls a “willy word.” It might make you feel better, but it’s no use.

it’s our job: Can schools, restaurants and the rest of society help in this area? Absolutely. It’s his responsability? No. No, it’s my job and yours. It is the task of parents to educate their children about good nutrition, the need to exercise, etc.

That is not going to be easy, we have a lot of competition for your attention. 300 channels on the TV, computers, gaming stations and other things take up time that could be outside playing games (ie getting some exercise). If all the adults in your household work, plan, shop, and prepare a nutritious meal, you will reduce the little time you have after and before work. On the other hand, I don’t think parenting has ever been easy.

Teaching menu reading: Young children won’t understand the menus, so you’ll have to do it for them. Fortunately, many fast food chains offer healthier options for their young customers. However, once they’re old enough to look longingly at the adult menu, it’s time to introduce them to the nutritional facts.

While this information should be displayed in chain restaurants, more often than not in a fast food place it is on a wall and in type 2. However, this information is also often found on the corporate website. Show your child the calorie count, fat/sodium/cholesterol content, etc. Then explain what that means in terms of what they can eat for the next two days…a fast food hamburger often uses up two days worth of fat and at least one part of sodium.

Vote with your Wallet: Fast food restaurants are in business to make money. If you don’t buy it, they will stop making it. Reward restaurants that offer healthy foods on their menus by shopping there and purchasing the produce. This will encourage them to find more healthy items to add to their menus.

Childhood obesity is such a big problem that it is now considered a national security threat. While our society should do everything it can to help us, it really is our job as parents to address the problem.