Sally Squires at The Washington Post recently wrote a column about a new report that found kids see as much as 51 hours of ads for food each year. That’s a lot of time to spend watching enticing commercials for treats like sugary cereals, fatty French fries, salty potato chips and processed lunchmeats!
With childhood obesity on the rise, food manufacturers are being scrutinized for their ads that target impressionable kids. As a result, many have promised to either limit their junk food ads or spin them in a healthy manner (such as by promoting exercise and their product).
However, the best way to ensure your kids–and you!–aren’t influenced by these commercials is to use your TV wisely. Here are a few suggestions:
Limit TV time. TV not only bombards us with food ads, it also turns us into couch potatoes! Set a limit on the amount of TV your family can watch each day. Turn it off after the time limit is over, then go outside and enjoy some physical activity.
Use TV to get activity. Try video games (like Dance Dance Revolution) and children’s DVDs that encourage activity. The Baby Pro Let’s Make A Splash DVD
, for example, introduces babies and toddlers to swimming, surfing and other water activities. And the Hip Hop Animal Rock Workout DVDteaches kids exercise moves based on exotic animals!
Skip the commercials. New technology like Tivo and DVR allows us to record our favorite shows and then watch them without commercials. You’ll spend less time in front of the TV and you’ll see fewer tempting food ads, too!
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Sally Squires at The Washington Post recently wrote a column about a new report that found kids see as much as 51 hours of ads for food each year. That’s a lot of time to spend watching enticing commercials for treats like sugary cereals, fatty French fries, salty potato chips and processed lunchmeats!
With childhood obesity on the rise, food manufacturers are being scrutinized for their ads that target impressionable kids. As a result, many have promised to either limit their junk food ads or spin them in a healthy manner (such as by promoting exercise and their product).
However, the best way to ensure your kids–and you!–aren’t influenced by these commercials is to use your TV wisely. Here are a few suggestions:
Limit TV time. TV not only bombards us with food ads, it also turns us into couch potatoes! Set a limit on the amount of TV your family can watch each day. Turn it off after the time limit is over, then go outside and enjoy some physical activity.
Use TV to get activity. Try video games (like Dance Dance Revolution) and children’s DVDs that encourage activity. The Baby Pro Let’s Make A Splash DVD, for example, introduces babies and toddlers to swimming, surfing and other water activities. And the Hip Hop Animal Rock Workout DVDteaches kids exercise moves based on exotic animals!
Skip the commercials. New technology like Tivo and DVR allows us to record our favorite shows and then watch them without commercials. You’ll spend less time in front of the TV and you’ll see fewer tempting food ads, too!
No comments yet.
