Lake Zurich High Bear Facts on ... healthful food

After a national story about how kids report fast food packaging making even carrots taste better, Lake Zurich High School reporters decided to investigate. The story was part of a full-page package first published in September 2007.>

The typical child fights at any mention of "healthy food," and the thought of actually eating something that grows from the ground turns them off.

But what if the health food has the McDonald's name and logo on it?

"If their carrots or apple pieces come with a toy or in a colorful package, it is more likely they will like them," Elizabeth Eckert, health teacher, said. "I think children are attracted to the toys, colors, and characters of McDonald's more than the food."

From carrots to milk, little kids have started eating anything with the McDonald's logo, even if it is good for them.

So why do children willingly eat McDonald's carrots over ordinary carrots?

Children are more likely to pick up a healthy food that has the McDonald's name on it than any other health food, according to a recent study done by the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

"People are more likely to go to places they recognize from advertising," Pat Flynn, English teacher, said.

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What made the front page at Lake Zurich High? Find out here.McDonald's is an international restaurant that has advertisements on both the television and in magazines.With McDonald's widely marketed, children recognize the name."Name recognition with the "Golden Arches" is an internationally known symbol of fast food. It's the catch-all for fast food," Laurie Michaels, registered nurse, said.Children are affected by McDonaldd's marketing because they see the logo and think of the "happy meal," according to Michaels.The national study chose 63 children between the ages of 3 and 5 to show how marketing and brand exposure toward young children affects their decisions and their taste preferences.In the study, carrots were placed in a McDonald's French fry bag and in a plain brown bag. The children tended to like the McDonald's carrots better because they recognized the name.The study asked one question: Do children prefer the taste of food and drinks if they think they are from McDonald's?The study showed most of the children preferred the McDonald's food because they recognized the name. The children admitted to eating McDonald's food on a regular basis, according to the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine web site.McDonalds is available for most people because it is a global organization and is available in low-income neighborhoods, according to archpedi.ama-assn.org.McDonald's is also cheap and quick, and McDonald's is one of the only fast food restaurants that offer all three meals.Furthermore, with McDonald's available to most income levels and in most locations, families tend to go there for a quick meal. In fact, there are over 20 McDonald's within 11 miles of Lake Zurich."Kids see McDonald's on TV and in magazines. They see McDonalds and associate it with something good to eat," Michaels said.Children are influenced by the advertisements that tell them to eat McDonald's foods."Kids receive thousands of media messages a day, many more than they get from their parents, conveyed through television and commercials," Mark Dolce, English teacher, said.People are also attracted to McDonald's because of the foods they offer."(People) associate food there with having fun, something special from what they get at home," Michaels said. "And many kids have their birthday parties at McDonald's at a young age."The study proved children would eat any food, even if it is healthy, if it had the McDonald's logo on packaging.With marketing everywhere influencing daily decisions, children are affected and will therefore choose the brands they recognize.The purpose of marketing is to convince consumers to buy products they do not always want or need, even if the advertisements are not telling the truth about their products."The goal of advertising is to get you to look at something and buy it with out thinking," said Dolce.Advertising is a part of everyone's lives, whether they know they are being influenced by it or not."People are hit with over 3000 discrete media messages a day. Advertising is everywhere and its impact is to bring specific images and ideas to consciousness," said Flynn.Whether the media influences young children's food decisions or where they want to eat their meals, advertisements are around everyday impacting lives.