New York Times editorial on selling junk food to toddlers

The New York Times published an editorial recently (2/23/06)
"Selling Junk Food to Toddlers" on the marketing of junk food and sugary snacks to toddlers. "Parents are the first line of defense," the editorial states, although "it's tough to hold the line in the grocery store against the piercing whines of little ones...."

Too true. But then again you can't give in and raise a little brat who thinks that wanting is the same as having and who creates a god-awful racket in a public place because he can't have those pink-frosted cookies staring him in the face.

Which brings me to the oh-so-obvious marketing and placement ploys in the cereal and snack aisles. Fruit Loops and Shrek candy placed right at child-in-supermarket-cart eye level. Those end caps of potato chips--brightly colored, exploding with exciting graphics, and Mommy--there's TOYS inside. And the ever-dreaded chocolate-infused, Skittles, Lifesavers, M&M-fest that is the check-out lane.

Of course, there is the "No tabloids or candy line"--which ALWAYS has the little old lady who can't find her coupons or checkbook in front of the mom with 3 teenagers who has an overflowing cart with 3 12-packs of soda and enough Tide to launder a baseball team.

It would be dreamy to have a little more entertainment value in the produce section. Love those random water sprayers. Balloons are fine. Actually, Joe does enjoy going through this section--as he yells out "Look, Mommy, carrots! Apples! Lettuce! What's that, Mommy, Mooommmmmy!?"

I was happy to buy the baby carrots with Sponge Bob on the baggie (I know, I know--they're not real baby carrots, just mature carrots tumbled in a rock polisher to give them that shape). But Joe thought he was getting a treat--something just for him--Sponge Bob is his friend--and I liked the fact that he could play with the bag and eat the carrots while we shopped (and I sped by the cereal aisle like a Mom at Nascar.)

Some marketers are starting to use their powers for good rather than evil. (I think these might be the same ones that are getting sued for junk-food marketing, though.) Joe pointed out that he "LOVES Fruities, Mommy" as we passed the Fruit Loops at eye level. I noticed the box with the "1/3 less sugar than regular Fruit Loops"--it looked the same to him, so I compromised. (Hey, if your kid will eat Grape Nuts every day, then good for you.) And did you know that Cocoa Puffs are made with whole grain? Maybe I'm being duped.

Maybe all moms should take a class on reading nutrition labels at birthing class. If someone can point me towards the less-evil choices or give some tips on what to buy that kids will eat, I'm all for it. Just don't trick me or I'll sic the FTC on you.

Super-Sized Kids--mine?

I can't believe it. I just took the online quiz for the book "Super-Sized Kids"--it will tell you on a couple of dimensions--nutrition, activity, family lifestyle and history--if your child is at risk for obesity and we got an F for nutrition. An F. I'm shocked, really, really shocked. Joe eats vegetables (loves brocolli and salad), drinks water, 100 percent juice, lean turkey and turkey meatballs, etc. I thought I was doing at least reasonably well by him. Maybe the book is really, really tough. Or maybe I should buy the book and see what it says (now there's a thought.)

Here's a link to the book site and the quiz. Take it yourself for your kid and see how you did.
http://supersizedkids.com/

Okay--I know we're doing a few things wrong right off the bat. 1) Too many snacks in front of the tube. 2) Not enough whole grains. (Note to self: buy whole grain Eggo waffles from now on.) 3) Treats (candy) as rewards. On that last one though, seriously, when you are potty-training and getting pretty sick and tired of cleaning up poop, the M&M's work, man.

I hereby resolve to do better--I wonder how M&M's would go with brown rice....

The Fight Over Fries

I'm a mom (an amateur mom of a toddler age 3) and a foodie (an overfed and over-read gourmet with a passion for the traditions of the table.) I'm trying to feed my son well and instill good eating and nutrition habits--basically not like I feed myself--and it's a battle.

Take today's battle over the Trader Joe veggie fries--otherwise known in our household as "kiddie crack." I think this is acceptable food--after all they do have some vegetable matter in them and lots of air; however, my husband considers them junk food, and given my son's unnatural appetite for stuffing his face with these until he explodes, I think my husband might be right.

But look, who's in charge of the feeding day after day, mornings, noon, night, snacks? The mom! Don't criticize the Mom! I do try to make sure Joe (the toddler) gets in his four food groups (wait, aren't there 5 now?) over the course of the day. And what, veggie crack fries are not in one of those food groups? So, now I don't buy those anymore, god knows don't feed the addiction. But hey, now Joe's moved on to barbecue potato chips that the babysitter has turned him on to.

But that's another post.