Food For Thought

a quick look at how some countries advertise food to kids

• Ireland: All television commercials for fast food and candy are banned.
• Sweden/Norway/Austria/Luxembourg: All television advertising to children is banned.
• Belgium/France/Portugal/Vietnam: All marketing is banned in schools.
  
• United States: Spending more per child than any other nation in the world, the U.S. plugs $15 billion per year into marketing food to kids, which is more than what it would cost to provide health insurance for all uninsured children.

I at least agree with Ireland. Marketing to children is difficult for all parents to deal with, and fast food and candy are hard and by banning them, you might get healthier children with little loss (except to candy companies). But I do think that educating your children about what they see on tv is important. Just hiding them from the assault of pathetic marketers doesn't necessarily prepare the little guys for used car salesmen and Amway snake oil deals.

*edit-- and I agree with france. School is school.