Fast food industries have taken over with advertisement everywhere they can. Why has fast food evolved into one of the most consumed foods? Why is it so popular with children? Is it because of the advertisement posters hanging in their school hallways? Possibly, and because of this it affects the health of the people who do choose to eat fast food, especially children.
Advertisements of fast in schools support an unhealthy lifestyle. Allowing posters by Mc Donald’s or Burger King to be put up around the school makes it seem as if the school suggests kids should eat fast food. Yes, fast food is cheaper for a kid who only carries a few dollars around for lunch, but promoting fast food also gives them the impression that it is okay to eat fast food. Schools say how they want to help kids eat healthier, yet you walk into a school cafeteria and there are 2 to 4 vending machines full of candy, chips and soda, while the lunch menu is serving processed cheeseburgers, French fries and pizza. Having advertisements for fast food restaurants and having the school serve greasy food, isn’t helping the child’s help but affecting it more. Kids consider school their second home because of how much time they spend there, so they should have healthier meals to choose from.
Fast food advertising and school lunches aren’t the only reason for unhealthy kids. The reason why they eat fast food and school lunches whether they like it or not, is because they either choose to or they are used to it. In one article written in 2006 by The Post Standard, it says banning junk food from school isn’t the answer. This article believes that eating better begins at home. Parents should be responsible for what their children eat and should help them choose meals more wisely. If they don’t like what their children are eating in school, they should pack lunch for them or make healthier meals at home. This will influence the child to want to eat better food.
When I was in high school, I realized how unhealthy I was eating. Between my school being surrounded by fast food restaurants and being filled with vending machines didn’t help me make wise decisions in eating. Since McDonalds was close by, they said that they would deliver to students in the school if they paid over a certain amount. Their advertisement of delivery made it more accessible for students to get fast food quickly, and instead of walking to go by food, they will sit and wait for it to be delivered to them, which also isn’t very healthy. Having options such as delivery by a fast food restaurant is one step before other unhealthy decisions.
If advertisements for fast food restaurants are going to be placed in schools, then advertisements for sports or activities should also be posted on school walls. Since children are beginning to be less active and rather play video games than go out and plays basketball or soccer, then more options should be available and noticeable for them. In the book Fast Food Nation, one chapter named “You’re Trusted Friends” by Eric Schlosser says that the typical American child now spends about 21 hours a week watching television. (pg.46) Kids aren’t as active as they used to be which causes them to be lazy out of school. This is where parents should come in and limit the time they spend watching television or using the internet and help their child become more active. Parents know how much television ads, posters and commercials influence their children to want to buy something, so they should take more control.
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