{"id":1300,"date":"2011-08-16T20:24:41","date_gmt":"2011-08-16T20:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com\/?p=1300"},"modified":"2011-08-16T20:24:41","modified_gmt":"2011-08-16T20:24:41","slug":"the-proof-is-in-the-happy-meal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/the-proof-is-in-the-happy-meal\/","title":{"rendered":"The Proof Is In The Happy Meal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In 2010, Brazilian Judge Joao Filho awarded a former McDonald\u2019s (<a title=\"MCDONALDS CORPORATION\" href=\"http:\/\/finance.minyanville.com\/minyanville?Page=QUOTE&amp;Ticker=MCD\">MCD<\/a>) franchise manager $17,500 in damages, after the 32 year-old man <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dailyfinance.com\/story\/company-news\/mcdonalds-employee-wins-weight-gain-lawsuit\/19693988\/%20\" target=\"_blank\">sued the chain<\/a> for making him fat.\u00a0 The manager claimed that free lunches the franchise provided were making him \u201cfat\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cFat\u201d, in this instance, is a total weight-gain of 65 lbs. over the course of 12 years.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>That\u2019s 5.4 lbs. per year.\n<div id=\"attachment_1302\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/big-mac-by-rob_rob-201.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1302\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1302\" title=\"big mac by rob_rob 201\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/big-mac-by-rob_rob-201-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1302\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by rob_rob2001<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>0.10 lbs. per week.<\/li>\n<li>0.01 lbs. a day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As absurd as this lawsuit may seem, it\u00a0 &#8211; and many other similar lawsuits throughout the years &#8211;\u00a0 raises a pretty interesting debate on <strong>who is ultimately responsible for the steady increase\u00a0 in obesity rates<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>True \u2013 nobody is holding us down, prying our mouths open, and shoving Big Macs down our throats; but we can\u2019t entirely discount the power of persuasion. Whether it\u2019s a strong willed child pleading for a hamburger, or the new cool toy in the happy meal; the appeal of picking up food after a long day at work; the convenience of having a safe air-conditioned environment for kids to play in; or the necessity to feed a family on a limited budget; \u201cavoidance\u201d just may not be that easy for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Understanding the stronghold the fast food giant really has on both children and parents, lawmakers and concerned parents have raised their voices and taken action to incentivize McDonalds to improve upon the nutritional quality of their food.\u00a0 In 2010 San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to pass a law that cracks down on the popular practice of giving away free toys with unhealthy restaurant meals for children.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Whether it is banning Happy Meals or providing alternative healthy options for families, there was no doubt that something substantial needed to be done.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Currently <strong>1 in 3 Americans are considered to be obese<\/strong>, and it is no coincidence that it is estimated <strong>1 in 3 children<\/strong> (born in or after 2000) will develop diabetes in their lifetime. In fact, one recent study showed that obesity rates in adults actually rose in 28 states this year.Only the District of Columbia showed a decline.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0It is truly <em>a growing problem<\/em><\/strong>; but now McDonalds has decided to implement healthy programs to become a part of the solution.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/im-loving-it-Mc-Donalds.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1301\" title=\"i'm loving it Mc Donalds\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/im-loving-it-Mc-Donalds.jpg?resize=120%2C100\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"100\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>July, 2011 <\/strong><strong>McDonald\u2019s\u00ae announced its \u201cCommitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices,\u201d a comprehensive plan to help consumers make nutrition-minded choices when visiting McDonald\u2019s<\/strong><strong> or eating elsewhere.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0So for those of you who think that speaking up and using your voice to make positive changes to improve the health of families and communities doesn\u2019t make a difference\u2026. The Proof Is In The Happy Meal.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t think the driving force behind McDonald\u2019s new healthy changes were politicians, <strong>it was parents<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here are the highlights from the \u201cCommitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices\u201d press release. (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutmcdonalds.com\/mcd\/media_center\/recent_news\/corporate\/commitments_to_offer_improved_nutrition_choices.html\">Please click here to see the full article<\/a>):<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Championing children\u2019s well-being:\u00a0For example,\u00a0starting April 2012 (or sooner!), Apple Slices will be included in every McDonald\u2019s Happy Meal\u00ae.\u00a0 This means about 20 percent fewer calories in the most popular Happy Meals.<\/li>\n<li>Expanded and improved healthier nutritionally-balanced menu choices:\u00a0By 2020, McDonald\u2019s will reduce added sugar, saturated fat and calories through varied portion sizes, reformulations and innovations.<\/li>\n<li>Increased access to nutrition information: McDonald\u2019s will expand its in-restaurant, website\/mobile communications, and marketing vehicles to make it even easier to access the information you want before you order. To begin, McDonald\u2019s is now making available its first mobile app so customers can access nutrition information on-the-go on iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Android devices.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Actions in support of the nutrition commitments are already underway at restaurants.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sodium Reduction:<\/strong> McDonald\u2019s has already reduced sodium by 10 percent in the majority of its national chicken menu offerings \u2013 most recently Chicken McNuggets\u00ae, a Happy Meal favorite. Sodium reductions will continue across the menu in accordance with the Company\u2019s 2015 commitments.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>New Happy Meal: <\/strong>McDonald\u2019s will begin rolling out the new Happy Meal in September 2011, with the goal of having them available in all 14,000 restaurants during Q1 2012.\u00a0 The new Happy Meal will automatically include both produce (apple slices, a quarter cup or half serving) and a new smaller size French fries (1.1 ounces) along with the choice of a Hamburger, Cheeseburger or Chicken McNuggets, and choice of beverage, including new fat-free chocolate milk and 1% low fat white milk. For those customers who prefer a side choice of apples only, two bags of apple slices will be available, upon request.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Children\u2019s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative:<\/strong> Since 2006, McDonald\u2019s has supported the Council of Better Business Bureaus (\u201cCBBB\u201d) Children\u2019s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (\u201cCFBAI\u201d) involving a voluntary Food Pledge to only nationally advertise products to kids that represent healthier dietary choices. McDonald\u2019s was actively engaged in the process to help develop CBBB\u2019s recently announced more rigorous pledge standards, which include stricter sodium and sugar criteria, zero grams artificial trans fat per labeled serving, and requirements for nutrient components to encourage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Listening Tour:<\/strong> To ensure that the company\u2019s ongoing commitments are supporting parents and communities, Fields and McDonald\u2019s U.S. executive leadership team will embark on a national listening tour in August. They will hear directly from parents and nutrition experts about how McDonald\u2019s can play a role in this important topic. McDonald\u2019s will launch a new online parents\u2019 community that provides a forum for McDonald\u2019s and parents to more frequently engage in dialog around these important topics.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Accountability and Measurement: <\/strong>To evaluate McDonald\u2019s progress and the impacts of its nutrition commitments, McDonald\u2019s will rely on independent third-parties with expertise in children\u2019s well-being. The company is establishing a Kids\u2019 Food and Nutrition Advisory Board comprised of parents and experts in children\u2019s nutrition, education and behavior to help develop effective nutrition and active lifestyle marketing messages and programming for kids. McDonald\u2019s will also enter into an agreement with a third-party organization to collaborate on a comprehensive measurement process that sets benchmarks and annual progress against commitment goals, which will be reported publicly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/My-profile-pic.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1287 alignleft\" title=\"My profile pic\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/My-profile-pic-150x150.jpg?resize=88%2C88\" alt=\"\" width=\"88\" height=\"88\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>ABOUT ME: My name is Marlayna. I\u2019ve recently shared my story about why I chose to LIVE MY LIFE WITH INTENTION-\u00a0my life\u2019s\u00a0journey\u00a0towards becoming who I am today\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com\/?p=1187\">(click here to read it<\/a>). I\u2019m a mother, wife, friend, and a diabetes prevention advocate. I occassionally blog about living a healthy lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0* The opinions represented in this post are my own, and\u00a0do not express those\u00a0of the Skinny Gene Project or J. Moss Foundation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2010, Brazilian Judge Joao Filho awarded a former McDonald\u2019s (MCD) franchise manager $17,500 in damages, after the 32 year-old man sued the chain for making him fat.\u00a0 The manager claimed that free lunches the franchise provided were making him \u201cfat\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cFat\u201d, in this instance, is a total weight-gain of 65 lbs. over the course&#8230; <\/p>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/the-proof-is-in-the-happy-meal\/\" class=\"excerpt-read-more\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[68,231,222],"tags":[786,787,73,74,788,789,201,790,791,792,793,81,82,83],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p90Iz0-kY","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1300"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1300"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1300\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}