The other day I stumbled upon a blog that talked about Burger King taking steps to market healthy kids meals to children. The post I read commented on how Burger King was going to be serving up flame broiled chicken and apple slices cut like the french fries that normally come with their kids meal. The kids meals are going to have 560 calories or less.
The blog then proceeded to express their views on this approach. The blog says that parents should already assume that when they go to McDonald's or Burger King that the meals that eat will be unhealthy. I would agree with this comment a couple of years ago, but with the health kick that the entire nation has embarked fast food restaurants, including the leaders, are adjusting their menus. Most fast food restaurants have already changed or are beginning to change their menus to include healthy options. People who have become concerned about their health are now hearing that the places where they used to practice their unhealthy eating habits are changing their attitudes too. This shows people that they can get a healthy and affordable meal from the fast food restaurants they know and love.
The blog also mentioned that McDonald's was too embarrassed to change their menus to include healthier options because of the Super Size Me documentary. Apparently this blogger has not been watching their television or visiting their local McDonald's lately. McDonald's changed their happy meals for children years ago to include healthier options. Also their latest advertisements focus on a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise and eating healthier.
Recently the Big Mac of the fast food industry has begun to market their healthy choice options to children. McDonald's rolled out an entirely new advertising campaign to be aired on children's channels. These advertisements emphasize the healthy choices that can now be found in McDonald's restaurants. McDonald's restaurants are now serving up fruits and veggies as a substitution for their infamous french fries. Not only do they stress healthy eating, but they are also trying to encourage an overall healthy lifestyle.
This advertising campaign sprung up after McDonald's was receiving criticism about previous commercials that targeted children with their normal greasy options. It has been said that children actually prefer foods that are wrapped in a McDonald's wrappers. The influence the media has on children within the fast food market is apparent. Advertising new food options to children with the McDonald's name is a way of encouraging children to choose these healthy options, while also driving their traffic. Also for parents to see the McDonald's taking steps to improve their options causes them to want to test out these changes.
Comments made on the article expressed the idea that McDonald's intentions are not as they seem. The comments suggest that they are not concerned with the children's health, they are only concerned with making a profit. Personally, I feel that their main concern is making profit, but they chose to include social concerns as one of their marketing tools. For McDonald's this was a good ethical decision and also a great business decision, by showing that they have chosen to sacrifice what has worked in the past for a healthy alternative.
McDonald's not only changed their advertisements but if you go to their website they have an entire section on Food, Nutrition, and Fitness. The section shows parents and children that McDonald's can be applied to a healthy and fit lifestyle.
The articles discussed in this blog can be found at these sites:
The BK to Introduce Fast Foods to Kids
McDonald's Launches Healthy Eating Children's Ads
1 comment:
this article is from 2004 - the assignment says things need to be recent. the 2004 article could be background - one of several articles you cite -but you need something from the last couple of monthe
and the 1st post doesn't have any link
0 points for hte week
Post a Comment