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Sam recently wrote about MacDonald’s new focus on fitness. We’ve all known for a long time that despite all the Ronald MacDonald House work that they don’t exactly have our best interests at heart (and if you didn’t, you need to read Fast Food Nation). But I’ve found another culprit…the Lego company.

Admittedly, I don’t know much about the folks that make Legos. I always had a vague picture of some cool Scandanavian company where the women get year long maternity leaves and animal testing is banned. But last weekend we went to San Diego and took the kids to Legoland and I’ve changed my opinion.

This was the first time that we have been to a touristy family destination outside of the San Francisco area. It was shocking how many really obese people – and even very young children – there were. I’ve read about the obesity epidemic, but the average person in the bay area is pretty fit (at least compared to what we saw at Legoland) and seems to eat fairly well (there’s no fast food in my neighborhood), so I just haven’t seen it up close and personal.

But the folks working at Legoland don’t seem that concerned.

We ordered a kid’s meal which contained a grilled cheese sandwich, potato chips, rice crispy treat and soda! I confess that I drink a lot of soda, but that doesn’t mean I want my kids to! Of course they loved the meal. We hid the treat and the soda, but let them share the sandwich and chips. My fourteen month old screamed as if someone was trying to kill her every time her brother came near the chips. I’m glad my kids were happy but really, couldn’t they have thrown in some carrot sticks or an apple?

They did have an apple snack that was heavily promoted around the park — Granny’s Apple Fries:

This unique product was specially developed to tickle your taste buds by our very own LEGOLAND Chef. We take fresh Granny’s Apples, slice them finely, coat them with our special batter and fry them till they are crisp and delicious. They are then dusted in cinnamon sugar and served warm with a creamy vanilla sauce, it’s simply delicious. It is only available at LEGOLAND California and not offered in any other known location in the USA so don’t miss out.

So does the fact that there is apple on the inside outweigh all of the fat and sugar? Does this count as a fruit serving? I can’t help but think that the Legoland chef trying to pull a little something over on us.

I was obsessed with my weight in high school and alternately starved myself and ate whole boxes of Pepperidge Farm cookies. I don’t want to obsess any more than I already am about my kids’ food. And I don’t want to pass any obsessions along. I want my kids to have healthy body images, no matter what body type they have.

Still I’m outraged. How can legos add to the problem? Are they just trying to capitalize on America problems?

My son loves his legos. We have spent many happy hours building fire stations and houses for Bob the Builder. And more importantly, he has spent many happy hours with them WITHOUT ME. But I’m going to think twice before I buy any more…

Posted on June 22nd, 2005 by Laura Norman
Filed under: The Urban Parent