Since 1979, every McDonald's "Happy Meal" for children has included an enticing toy along with the food, from Star Wars action figures to Hello Kitty watches.
The Washington-based Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI, notes that a 2005 report from the U.S. Institute of Medicine found that marketing to children (1)_________________________________.
Nearly 1/5 children in the United States is obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means more kids are (2)_________________________________and other health problems. CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson says it's wrong to tempt kids with toys.
"The very practice of dangling a toy or other premium to get kids to pester their parents to go into the restaurant and buy food, junky or nutritious, is unethical and, we believe, illegal."
And (3)_________________________________, Jacobson adds. All of the 24 Happy Meal choices have more than 1/3 of a child's recommended daily calorie intake. A Happy Meal that includes a cheeseburger, French fries, and a soda contains half a day's worth of calories and saturated fat, along with nearly a day's worth of sodium, and 2 day's worth of sugar.
