Banning toys in kids meals

This should be the parent's choice, not the governments. The government should provide education, not physical restraints. I agree that this goes too far. It is idiocy, in my opinion, to allow the food and ban the toy. I do not think they have the right to ban the food either, but if they are against the sugar, salt, and fat, they need to target those things and not the toys, as most restaurants do have a few healthy alternatives now for those who are mature enough to choose them. I would go along with a law that children could not go alone into restaurants to buy food, though. When I see some of the outside food vendors going into public schools and being allowed to sell unhealthy foods in places where parents cannot supervise, that is alarming to me.

I don’t necessarily agree with the ban because for me, it is not so much the government’s involvement that annoys me but the fact that by banning the toys it is a way of saying that people don’t have the intellectual ability to decide how to feed their children appropriately. My little girl loves those kinds of meals and she is allowed to have one every now and again but as a parent, I am aware that those kinds of foods are not good for her too often so I allow them only as a treat. I guess such a ban can imply that parents have no common sense in what their children consume.

I think we are getting dangerously close to dictatorship--baby step by baby step. While it's true that children usually choose food with a toy, where are the parents?! Whatever happened to NO? They are beginning to control everything from what we eat and drink to how we bank, etc. I figured it was up to me to keep my kids in healthy shape. They ate at McD's or similar maybe once a month. I packed their school lunches so they wouldn't have to eat the cafeteria crap catered in from Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. I took control, the government didn't have to make me. Time to control our own lives and take responsibility for our own children. The government is doing this because we as a whole refuse to and because they are working to increase their power. Don't let them, people! To the general population: Quit being lazy and start parenting your kids again or the government will do it for you!

I don't agree with the ban. They are trying to hard to control our lives and its scary they think they can. The thing is, its not the goverment's job to control obesity, its the parents. So obviously parents need to make wise choices about how often they should allow their child to have a kids meal. But it should be our own choice, ultimately. Its like how movie theatre may be getting rid of popcorn and junk food and replacing it with health foods only. Well, those that want health food can just sneak in their own! It should be our own choice whether we want junk food or health food. Not the governments.

I'm not sure if I agree with this. I used to get kids meals often when I was a kid, and kids meals-with-toys are just such a staple in fast food/pop culture. But at the same time, they are really unhealthy and we should encourage kids to eat them by giving them toys. Maybe if they just revised portion size or changed something to make the meal healthier, and kept the toy it would be better.

When will it stop? The government needs to stick to it's own business of running the country, not peoples lives. This is outrageous to think that some government bureaucrat knows better how to raise a child.

There are some healthy choices in kids meals, and it is up to parents to teach that. Milk or juice as a beverage. Fruit or a salad instead of fries.The toys, well, I am not too fond of some of them, and I have my opinions about eating fast food a lot, but if it is a rare thing, why not make it a real value and treat? Yes, government should mind its business and let us mind ours. Parents can say "no" with out the government helping.

Sikky thinbgs what they need to do instead of that is make sure they have real meat in the food list! and no additives!

Well, with my own personal experience of having two kids, one still wanting the toys in the kids meals. It will save me money, because my youngest only wants the toy that comes with the meal. It won't stop parents from buying the food, because it's there. I think it's a good idea to take away toys that comes with a kids meal that's loaded with bad things. There should be more healthy meals for kids. Instead of the government doing it, it should be up to each fast food restaurant. Plus the toys need to be better than some of them out there. A lot of them are pieces of crap that could end up hurting the child or an animal if left laying around. I like the idea of the watches at Burger King, it teaches kids about time.

i am kind of on the fence about this one. for one, it forces the places like Mcdonalds and Burger king and the like to offer better choices for our children. if they want parents to buy their kids meals, then they need to offer healthy choices. which on the other hand gives the children a a chance to make better choices. because now you can say, if you want that salad you can get the toy, but if you go for the other meal you it doesn't have one. on the other hand, i think we as parents should be able to make those choices for and with our children. the sad thing is, a lot of parents are doing that. there are so many children now days that are not just over weight, but obese!! so like i said i am on the fence with this one. I am for the children, whatever makes them healthy is what i am for

If they are trying to ban toys being in Happy Meals or Kid's Meals, they seriously need a reality check. How about they take a look in the mirror and see if they need to cut back on the salt, sugar, or fat. It's completely ridiculous, and so absurd I don't think they will be able to do it.

I don't see what harm can come from a child receiving a toy in their kid's meal. Kids are kids. They deserve something fun and entertaining with their meals. I don't think it is a good practice to take something as trivial as a kid's meal toy away from them.

i think it is better for the kids and the parents that they r starting to have more healthy food for people at restaurants to fight obesity. but i also do agree with u that the government is always snooping in on our lives. we all have a choice about what we want to do with our lives individually

I'm okay with that.. lol. But for kids, thats pretty sad. If I want to trash my body with salt, sugar and fat then I'll trash my body. I don't think the government has any say with what we eat. And to dissapoint kids like that is definitely going way too far.

thoroughbob you would change your mind if you could see the whole family that sometimes came into the burger king when my friend and I ate there. mom and dad , big sister, big brother, little sister,little brother, all so fat they waddled when they walked and each and every child had two of the toys that BurgerKing handed out with the kids happy meals. those people ate two whoppers each, two and giant sized fries and they were waddling even worse after they ate. maybe its time someone sort of dampened their enthuisam a bit and made them eat less some way. the toys seemed to be th e big draw for that fatso family. so maybe if the happy meals fatty p ortions did not come with the toys that family might for go the fatty meals and go somewhere else to eat.. If they do like it they do not have to eat there, thats not gov interfering with our lives. we are still free to go someplace else if we get all silly because we cannot get the crumby toys.If those meals have too much sugar salt and fat in them why are you even eating them? Maybe when some one stuffed on two super burgers and has a heart attack right in the burgerking people will stop and think about what the heck they are eating.

I think they are caring it too far by doing that. Hopefully when a child has a kid's meal it's a treat & not something they have on a regular basis. I do think young people eat too much fast food, my son & his family included. It has become a way of life w/too many.

Oh now that is just crazy! Yes that is going too far. Let the kids have their toys for goodness sakes. It's up to the parents to control the obesity by limiting how much of that food the kids eat.

I really think this is extreme too. I see nothing wrong with a child getting a small toy when a child's meal is bought. I know alot of adults who actually purchase children's meals. You now have a few healthier options for children's meals too, such as apples, milk, etc. I am like you, I do think that the government does try to get involved in our lives sometimes a little too much.

I don't like my kids to eat from fast food places any way but thats one of the stupidest laws I've ever heard. Most parents buy happy meals for their kids as a treat so its not like its an everyday thing and we aren't so stupid we can't make the right choices. I wonder what hilarious rules they will come up with next.

why am I not surprised by this? maybe because the government has decided they can try to control everything we do?