Living that healthy lifestyle.

Certainly one of the biggest crocks (or Kroc) in the marketing world is McDonalds.
No more Hamburgler, Mayor McCheese and Grimace.

Now, we have these healthy looking children, playing, enjoying life and having fun. Obviously these people don't eat the food they are advertising.

When calories and fat content became an issue, McDonalds was met, probably for the first time, with declining sales.
What to do, what to do.

I can imagine one of two choices coming into that boardroom.

"Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we take all the food that we shouldn't really even feed our own children and make it healthy."

"That's a good idea Mark", as the CEO reaches under the table to trigger the button that releases Mark's chair down a shaft into a pit of left over french fries (which, I think, is how they make those hash browns)

"Any other ideas?" the CEO offers up to the newly promoted team.
"How about advertising that shows kids being healthy and still eating our products".

"But can the two really exist, hmmm. You don't have to die for that comment, but I will shock you". Five thousand volts should be fine, as long as the amperage is acceptable.

"What if we show kids being healthy and active and simply imply they are eating the food by putting Bernie, I mean Ronald McDonald playing with them".

"Great, you are now CEO and I am taking a $214 million package and will put that I turned around sales at McDonalds on my resume. Meeting over".

I loved McDonalds when I was a kid. My mom used to take me there on the occasional Friday.
McDonalds used to, believe it or not, help with my math.

You see, I thought that a McDonalds Milk Shake** was twice as thick as any other shake. So, when I was 1/4 way through done, I would say to myself, "I have drunk about 1/2 of anyone else's shake". Did the same thing at 1/3, 1/2, and 3/4 marks. When I got a bit older, I even ventured the guess at 3/5th and about 8/9's. Always multiplying those fractions by 2.

Damm, I was a McDonalds stud at multiplying fractions by 2, all because of their shakes.
Now, I put an ** because they used to be called Milk Shakes. They, approached by some regulatory board that found out that there was in fact no milk in them, they had a choice to make.

Either, put milk in them, or don't call them Milk Shakes. Hence, reborn as simply shakes. (They really should be called Stirs though, there is no shaking involved).

Putting milk in them was going to kill their budget.

I am very proud to say that I have not frequented McDonalds for about 6 years. If I thought I could have held out this long, I would be more exact on the date.
It wasn't because of SuperSize Me either, I haven't seen that yet. I abandoned McDonalds before it became trendy.

The same thing applies for KFC. I did get caught once when I was having dinner and my friend's home (who also happens to be my ex-wife). She loves KFC, not because they use white meat or they care about their customers, but damm it, fat tastes good.
So, it's the one time I strayed from my crap avoidance strategy. (CAS for short).

The fact that some of their product costs less than gum is disturbing, no?

But the most troubling issue, for me anyway, still is that they put money into promoting a healthy lifestyle instead of creating healthier food.

I don't really see much of a difference between a McFlurry and a DQ Blizzard, but I won't do the McFlurry because of the strategy of keeping customers at the expense of their health.

Yes, you could say that if one does McDonalds, they really should do everyone. But, that's not practical either.

I will stick with Subway. Eat Fresh at least.