Hunger Killing Facts

Blogpost #3 Why do kids loves fast food?

There are four things why kids loves fast food. First, is the toys that are sell in every fast food chain or what we call sometimes "Happy Meal". Toys is one of the most powerful marketing tools that fast food restaurants use is the promise of a toy with the purchase of any kids' meal. The food inside the meal is not really important to most children than the toy that comes with. Mostly when fast food restaurants offer versions or release some of the popular toys on the market, children want to eat their food so they can get the toy in it. The problem isn't about the toy, but the lack of nutrients that children eat to obtain the toy. Second, The cartoon characters that they use. When a kiddie meal is packaged in a box or bag that portray the characters, as well as the packaging overloaded with the characters. It is a powerful marketing tool to use popular characters because they can get easily the attention of the children. Third is fun, Some fast food restaurants have a playgrounds that attract children to their place. Last is when there is occasion especially a childrens' birthday party most of that occasion is gathered in a famous fast food restaurants.
According to an article "Scientific study shows kids love fast food even more than toys" from the site www.psfk.com by Yi chen states that there was a new study conducted by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Kansan Medical Center revealed that the popular fast food brands could be rooted in childrens' brains at a young age. Also they said that the research used MRI technology to monitor the brain activities of kids between the ages of 10 and 14 when they were shown a ranger of brands.

"Research has shown children are more likely to choose those foods with familiar logos. That is concerning because the majority of foods marketed to children are unhealthy, calorifically-dense foods, high in sugars, fat, and sodium." says Yi Chen

  It is true that some commercial ads might get your attention to buy fast food or the brand and the characters they used also the celebrities that endorse fast food restaurants can have similar impacts on the desire children have to eat the food.

In an article "Fast food companies still target kids with marketing for unhealthy products" from the site www.news.yale.edu by Megan Orciari states that On the year 2012 the fast food industry spent $4.6 billion to advertise mostly unhealthy products, and children and teens remained key audiences for that advertising. Also according to that article there was a report that a few positive developments, such as healthier sides and beverages in most restaurants kids' meal, but also shows that restaurants still have a long way to go to promote only healthier fast-food options to kids.

“Most fast food restaurants stepped up advertising to children and teens,” says Megan OriciariIt's true that kids and some teens are the targets of fast food companies.

 Most advertising promotes unhealthy regular menu items and often takes unfair advantage of young people’s vulnerability to marketing, making it even tougher for parents to raise healthy children.