No Toys For Tots At Jack in the Box

Check out this article we found on the LA Times Blog.

Jack in the Box fast food restaurant will no longer put toys in the their kid’s meals. It also added a healthy alternative to its kid’s meals, apple dippers! It’s a small step toward counteracting obesity rates across the nation. What are your thoughts on the matter? Here is the entire article below:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/06/jack-in-the-box-toys.html

In a move that has drawn praise from nutrition advocates, Jack in the Box has stopped offering toys with meals aimed at children, a leading restaurant industry publication said this week.
Nation's Restaurant News reports that the nation's fifth-largest hamburger chain has posted signs in its restaurants letting parents know that trinkets will no longer be included in kids' meals.

In a news release, Jack in the Box also said it has added a new food choice for kids: apple bits with caramel that clock in at 70 calories per serving -- fewer than the apple dippers served at McDonald's.

Tracy Dunn, director of marketing and promotions for the chain, said the apple side dish was just one healthful option for kids on its menu.
“Jack in the Box offers a lot of variety with our Kid's Combos, from grilled or crispy chicken strips, a grilled cheese sandwich and hamburger to low-fat milk, juice and fountain beverages,” Dunn said.

Nutrition advocates nationwide are pressuring fast food companies to stop giving out toys to children, saying the practice makes it too tempting for kids to want to eat fast food and contributes to the epidemic of childhood obesity.
California's San Francisco and Santa Clara counties have enacted so-called Happy Meal bans, which prohibit restaurants from offering toys to children with meals that are high in calories, sugar, salt and fat.

Nick Guroff, spokesman for Corporate Accountability International, which supports the toy bans and has repeatedly urged McDonald's to stop marketing to children, said his organization was pleased that Jack in the Box has stopped providing toys.
"It's certainly a sign McDonald's competitors see a market opportunity in differentiating from the industry leader and that campaigning by health advocates is changing the marketing landscape for the industry at large," Guroff said.

Jack in the Box did not return a call seeking comment for this story.

Be an Advocate for Smoke-Free Texas and Breathe Easy

The Senate Health and Human Services committee can recommend the Smoke Free Workplaces bill to be debated on the Senate floor. Thanks to advocates and champions like you we have strong support in the House. Our chances with the Senate are good but let's make the great. This committee is the gatekeeper to this monumental of legislation, so PLEASE call today! All we want is the chance for the bill to be debated. Remember...You're the Cure!!

· Senator Jane Nelson (Chair) 512.463.0112
· Senator Bob Deuell (Vice Chair) 512.463.0102
· Senator Joan Huffman 512.463.0117
· Senator Robert Nichols 512.463.0103
· Senator Dan Patrick 512.463.0107

You can also call 1-888-Now-I-Can to get patched through to your elected officials.

Hasta La Vista To Not Knowing How Many Calories Are in Your Meal

Almost three years ago, the California Governator signed a small piece of legislation that packs a huge punch. California Senate Bill 1420, more commonly referred to as the “menu labeling bill” made it mandatory for chain restaurants having 20 or more outlets in California, with standardized menu items to list nutrition information on the menu and on menu boards via drive thru. The bill went into full effect in 2011, although proprietors’ have been using the three year threshold to make brochures with nutrition information available in their restaurants. The bill preempts cities and counties from enacting competing menu labeling provisions, as San Francisco and Santa Clara County have, though the bill’s advocates consider that a price worth paying given how many more people will now have access to calorie information.

Research is showing that more and more people are eating more meals outside of the home. More food portions are way larger than they used to be, more calorie laden and cheaper. For the price of a bag of organic apples you can have a McNuggets combo meal with a medium fry and Coke. But whereas an apple which is nutritious, filling and still has the title of “Keeping the Doctor Away” has only 95 calories and the combo meal has well over 700 calories. Not to mention, that if the calories aren’t posted on the menu patrons typically underestimate how many calories they consume per day.

A fairly recent study conducted by the University of California Berkeley suggests that if 80% of adult consumers in California saw the calorie information on the menu board they would reduce their purchases by 52 calories per visit; thusly would lose 2 lbs per year. Living in a city that doesn’t menu label I never thought that actually seeing the calories next to the price would make a difference. On a recent trip to Los Angeles I stood in line at the In and Out Burge ready to binge on a burger and fries and a large shake. After blatantly seeing that the shake was more calories than the burger and fries I could not consumer it with a clear conscious. I could not knowingly eat 1000 calories knowing I only had about 2,000 to spare per day. In my mind it was analogous to spending my rent money on designer luxury shoes. I simply couldn’t “afford” those calories so I left the shake, but I still enjoyed the meal with no regrets.

If you lived in a city that menu labels how would that affect you eating habits? If you live in a city that doesn’t menu label does that help or hinder your health.

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Desert these Desserts: The Worse “Treats” You Can Have this Summer

In January you resolved to be healthier, more fit and to make better wellness decisions for your life. You hit the gym running, you cut the fat, and now you’re a better YOU and your body is beach ready. Summertime is the perfect time to keep up the good work. Heart healthy is a life style, not a season or a fad. This summer when you’re out and a about and looking for ways to cool down and settle cravings for something cold and sweet make sure you avoid these three diet busters:

1. Denny’s Maple Bacon Sundae. Vanilla ice cream, maple syrup and bacon? I’m sure the thought of bacon flavor ice cream makes you cringe. To add insult to ice cream the of the nutrition facts (lack thereof) lists this 12oz serving as having 810 calories. Almost the same as eating an extra value meal from a fast-food joint.
2. Baskin-Robbins York Peppermint Pattie Brownie Sundae. This sundae has 1,610 calories!! Instead of this, try a single scoop of ice cream…you have 31 flavors to choose from.
3. Chili’s Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie. 1,590 calories; 76g of fat. This pie is equivalent to eating three Big Macs…which is more of a “threat” than a “treat”.

Instead of breaking the calorie bank on the aforementioned options try this:

DIY Sundae
½ cup of Breyers All Natural Vanilla Ice Cream
½ banana slice
6 strawberries
1 Tbsp of hot fudge
1 Tbsp chopped walnuts

1 Maraschino cheeryOnly 300 calories and just as delicious!!