Superficially, food marketing for kids seems fun. Bright color, toys, and other stuff kids like. Cartoon characters or course, make a frequent appearance. But dig beneath the surface, and some nutritional experts are concerned about food marketing for kids.
Why, you ask? With a couple small exceptions, the majority of food that is marketed for children is high in sugar and salt and low in nutritional content. McDonalds has fought this battle with their happy meals by creating smaller portions and healthier options, such as apples or yogurt. Yet the perception remains that children are being enticed to eat less healthy options with bright colors and free small toys.
Boxed cereal is another easy target for those concerned with nutrition. Although a staple for many childhood memories, a large portion of the big brand cereals are not healthy in the slightest. Although fortified with vitamins, these cereals are still overwhelmingly high in sugar and low in nutritional content.
Of course, not all food marketed to children is unhealthy. Annie's Organics has made great strides in changing the trend by offering affordable, nutritious, and organic food for kids, marketed with their signature bunny and often in animal shapes. It's not necessary to kid food to be "junk" food -and good marketing, be it a kids menu or a cartoon, will help to appeal to your youngest customers and keep their parents happy also.
