The New York Times is reporting that Santa Clara County officials, in an effort to address the rising problem of childhood obesity, have voted to prevent restaurants from including toys with high-fat meals.
Because nearly one in four of Santa Clara County's seventh, ninth and 11th graders are overweight or obese, the county is working to enact the new legislation. According to the meeting agenda, including toys with high-fat meals encourages children to select these unhealthy food choices.
As a die-hard "healthy-food mom," I think this is a positive step, but I prefer the more direct approach Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is taking by reforming the school-lunch program. After all, parents can choose to not take their children out for fast food, but school lunches (food options dictated by the USDA) are put in front of them every single day. I'd like to not have to pack a brown bag to ensure that my child gets a nutritious meal.
How do you feel about the proposed ban on Happy Meal toys?