Monday, January 29, 2007

Super Size Me


Last night PR Dad and I watched the documentary "Super Size Me" on TV. I remember the hoop-la when this movie came out but never had seen it. It was pretty interesting. In the movie the creator eats McDonalds food for 30 days, 3 meals a day. He had to order everything from the menu at least once and he had to super size it, only if they asked him. Before he started this experiment he was a very healthy guy who was above average in his physical fitness. After 30 days of eating McDonalds 3 times a day he had gained 24.5 pounds and his cholesterol was sky high and his liver was on the fritz. He experienced the sluggishness and the headaches as well as the euphoric feeling of eating it. This lead doctors to believe that fast food has addictive components and that he was addicted to fast food. Part of the documentary showed how McDonalds with its fun commercials and playlands, gives kids a positive and happy feeling toward McDonalds. So when they are adults McDonalds is a happy place for them.
While growing up we did not eat at McDonalds very often. It was a big treat to go. During elementary school we had a reading incentive program. When you read a certain amount of books you earned a trip to McDonalds. We would all pack in our teachers VW bug and head down the street to the local McDonalds for a happy meal. I remember Patty undressing her chicken nuggets and bathing them in sauce. And I remember when Carmen went and we were in awe because it was her first Happy Meal ever! I am not so into fast food, but PR Dad is definitely addicted. He needs it. We have been very good when it comes to The Phi and fast food. She has only been to Mc Donalds once and has only had 1 happy meal in her life. We are going to do the best we can to limit her intake of fast food. Once in awhile is okay, but there are kids out there that are eating fast food 3-4 times a week!

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:13 PM

    did you check out the special features? if not, they are very interesting too! ~pap

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  2. Anonymous6:06 PM

    McD's has a very effective marketing campaign. They are proud sponsors of PBS Kids. Even before we ever took Elias to McDonald's (which we only do when we are on 5-hour road trips to my parents' house) he could spot one a mile away. BTW, I too remember Mrs. Ayers and the trips to McDonald's. It surely could not have been legal to pile 7 second graders into that convertible bug. . . . JVS

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  3. Anonymous8:51 PM

    But before we got to McDs we had to complete the sticker ice cream cone...We were also in awe because Carmen would order a Big Mac and eat the WHOLE thing while all of us were ordering Happy Meals- we couldn't believe a fellow 2nd grader could eat so much! :) ~pap

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  4. Anonymous9:30 PM

    Why do I not have these memories of Carmen? I do, however, remember Patty's naked McNuggets. . . JVS

    ReplyDelete

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