Every parent knows that come Saturday morning, their kids will be asking for the hottest new toy, the fun new cereal, and to go to the drive thru for the kid’s meal that comes with the must-have collectible action figure. And parents know this because Saturday morning cartoons are littered with company advertisements aimed at their target audience, their captive audience: children.
Research points in many directions when it comes to the effectiveness of these ad strategies, especially when it comes to the sway the fast food and junk food companies have over our purchases. Many don’t believe that unhealthy food should be promoted to children. Others don’t think it has any effect.
Recently a Canadian study was revisited to see what kind of effect advertising has on our purchases.
There was a complete ban on junk food advertising in the Canadian province of Quebec from 1984 to 1992. Evidence found that the ban reduced fast food expenses by 13 percent per week. That equaled up to 11 million to 22 million fewer fast food meals eaten per year. All that further added up to 2.2 billion to 4.4 billion fewer calories consumed by children. Those are significant numbers. Those from the University of Illinois who researched this study believe that if the U.S. as a whole banned such advertising, the results would be similar.
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October brings about the official start of holiday parties. For parents of school aged children, this season will last all the way until February. It’s a fun and exciting time for kids. It can also be a frustrating time for a child with a gluten allergy.
The season kicks off with Halloween and fall classroom parties. Whether you’re the parent of a child with gluten allergies or needing to be conscience of other children, there are several easy and fun treats you can prepare.
While there are many brands of gluten free flours to make particular baked goods, this list is comprised of items that are naturally gluten free and available at all stores. When it’s understood how easy gluten free cooking is, it’s even simpler to make the extra effort to accommodate.
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A picture may say a thousand words, but it doesn’t always tell the truth. Katie Holmes has come under quite a bit a criticism due to some pictures of her daughter at a New York treat shop. Tabloids have been making numerous slams regarding Suri’s diet and Katie’s responsibility as a parent. Holmes’ has rebuked the headlines and not let the buzz effect her parenting.
Paparazzi recently snapped shots of little Suri Cruise in the famous Serendipity 3, a New York Dessert hot spot. Suri was in the shop late with her mother, Katie Holmes. The various shots caught the child with candy and getting ice cream. Of course the media had a hay day. The images led to alluded facts claiming the child has an unhealthy diet full of sweets and treats. Holmes, surely irritated, was quoted stating, “she’s fine, thank you.”
All of this celeb hub-bub about the young daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes is almost simultaneous with other tabloid accusations that the child will surely be put on a rigid Scientology-based diet. According to a recent article about the Church of Scientology, at age five, children are required to embrace a low fat and sweets free diet. As Suri is now at that age, the gossip media has more than they can handle.
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