Annoying commercial #22

I'll hand it to the folks at Jimmy Dean...these commercials crack me up! And yes, kids certainly need to eat breakfast to do their best at school each day. But is a frozen and microwaved processed breakfast sandwich the best cure for the "morning villians"? It is just as quick and easy (and far healthier) to opt for whole grain cereal, fruit, yogurt, etc. That'll really get your kids ready to face the day at school!

Annoying commercial #21

I despise everything about Lunchables, so of course I would find the commercials annoying. I couldn't find the newest one on youtube, which is the worst one I've seen yet, but this one conveys the same message - eating Lunchables is healthy and makes you "powerful." WRONG!

Here is the ingredient list for the product advertised in this particular commercial:

Ingredients: INGREDIENTS: WATER - SPRING WATER. APPLESAUCE - APPLES, WATER, CONCENTRATED APPLE JUICE, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C). SUB BUN - ENRICHED BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR ([WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE VITAMIN B1, RIBOFLAVIN VITAMIN B2, FOLIC ACID], MALTED BARLEY FLOUR), WATER, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: SOYBEAN OIL, YEAST, DOUGH CONDITIONERS (MONO & DIGLYCERIDES, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, ENZYME MODIFIED SOY LECITHIN, DATEM), SALT, GUAR GUM, MODIFIED CELLULOSE, CALCIUM PROPIONATE PRESERVATIVE), XANTHAN GUM, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, ENZYMES. CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY. OVEN ROASTED TURKEY BREAST - CURED - SMOKE FLAVOR ADDED - BROWNED WITH CARAMEL COLOR - TURKEY BREAST, WATER, POTASSIUM LACTATE, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, DEXTROSE, CARRAGEENAN, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ASCORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SMOKE FLAVOR, CARAMEL COLOR. REDUCED FAT CHEDDAR PASTEURIZED PREPARED CHEESE PRODUCT - PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, WATER, MILKFAT, SODIUM CITRATE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, LACTIC ACID, SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE, SALT, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA (COLOR), ANNATTO (COLOR), VITAMIN A PALMITATE, ENZYMES, CHEESE CULTURE, WITH STARCH ADDED FOR SLICE SEPARATION. CONTAINS: MILK. NILLA WAFERS - UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL, WHEY (FROM MILK), EGGS, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SALT, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES (EMULSIFIER). CONTAINS: WHEAT, MILK, EGG. NONFAT MAYONNAISE DRESSING - WATER, VINEGAR, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, SUGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SOYBEAN OIL*, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR, CELLULOSE GEL, ARTIFICIAL COLOR, XANTHAN GUM, EGG YOLKS*, MUSTARD FLOUR, LACTIC ACID, PHOSPHORIC ACID, CELLULOSE GUM, VITAMIN E ACETATE, LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE, DRIED GARLIC, DRIED ONIONS, SPICE, YELLOW 6, BETA CAROTENE (COLOR), BLUE 1, WITH POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA AS PRESERVATIVES. *TRIVIAL SOURCE OF FAT AND CHOLESTEROL. CONTAINS: EGG. TROPICAL PUNCH ARTIFICIAL FLAVORED SOFT DRINK MIX - SUGAR, FRUCTOSE, CITRIC ACID (PROVIDES TARTNESS), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), VITAMIN E ACETATE, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE (PREVENTS CAKING), ACESULFAME POTASSIUM AND SUCRALOSE (SWEETENERS), ARTIFICIAL COLOR, RED 40, BLUE 1, BHA (PRESERVES FRESHNESS).

I know this is not what I want my kids eating. Nor do I want to spend my money on garbage that I can easily prepare at home in a healthy manner with far less packaging. It takes five minutes to make a turkey sandwich at home, with good ingredients...and it is cheaper! What is the advantage of Lunchables?

Annoying commercial #16

The first ingredient is sugar (22 grams/serving), and there is plenty of saturated fat as well. Is that really what you want to start your kids' day off with? No thanks, Nutella! Let's keep this as what it is - a dessert item. Instead , try smearing your kids' toast with a healthy nut butter instead.

I can't find the video on youtube.com, but you can watch the commercial here:
Nutella Breakfast Commercial

Annoying commercial(s) #15

And so it begins...commercials to make us parents believe that HFCS (my bad...corn sugar) is A-OK. Please keep in mind that these commercials are put out by those who stand to profit from HFCS being used in all the products you love to buy (Corn Refiners Association).

I'm not allowed to embed apparently, but here are the links to two commercials with the same message.

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5TkstcgLYQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyj2N-AspqU

Doesn't everyone play with their kids in corn fields and have picnics?

Annoying commercial #14

Remember my post last week on canned pasta? This commercial is timely! Why do we want to hide healthy foods from our kids when we should be teaching their importance?

Annoying commercial #13

Carnation Instant Breakfast has been around for a long time,  and I have noticed some new marketing for it lately. Be aware - the 2nd ingredient listed is sugar (39 grams per bottle to be exact, about the same as a can of soda). If you're looking for a breakfast fortified with vitamins, stick with a healthy cereal. If you want the same calcium as yogurt and the same protein as an egg, then eat those foods! Drinking a bottle of chocolate milk just doesn't seem like the best way to start a kid's day.

Annoying commercial #12

The USDA must be smoking crack if they think I will believe drinking a glass of juice is the same thing as eating 2 servings of fruit & vegetables. Why do these companies keep trying to force us to believe that hiding vegetables and tricking our kids is the best way to keep them healthy? What kind of adults are we going to produce with this method?  I'm not saying drinking juice in moderation is a bad thing (and throwing some veggies in it does make it a little better), but don't try to fool us into thinking it is something it is not.

Annoying commercial #11

Why are we being so misled??



 These "real" boneless wings (wings aren't boneless...these are chicken nuggets!) contain 500 calories, 20 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, and 1640 mg of sodium. Even though they are advertised as 100% breast meat chicken, the ingredient list differs a touch:

Boneless Wings (chicken breast, water, chicken flavor [salt, flavor, autolyzed yeast extract, maltodextrin, chicken flavor, chicken, gum arabic, sunflower oil, sugar, silicon dioxide, lactic acid, canola oil, modified corn starch, grill flavor {from canola oil}, citric acid, trisodium phosphate], modified food starch, sodium phosphates. Battered and Breaded with: wheat flour, water, modified corn starch, salt, sugar, leavening [sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate], spice, onion powder, garlic powder, dextrose, autolyzed yeast, natural and artificial flavor, extractives of paprika), Spicy Chipotle Sauce (water, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, chipotle seasoning blend [onion {dehydrated}, spice {including chipotle chili pepper}, red and green bell peppers, paprika, sea salt, tomato powder, garlic {dehydrated}, cane juice solids, sun dried tomato, citric acid, salt, natural flavor], distilled white vinegar, chipotle in adobo [water, red jalapeno peppers {chipotle peppers}, tomato paste, vinegar, salt, oleoresin paprika, natural flavor, oleoresin capsicum], honey, soy oil, modified corn starch, xanthan gum, honey flavor [molasses, ethyl alcohol, natural flavoring], extractives of paprika, chili powder, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate [preservatives], canola oil). Cooked in Soy, Corn, Cottonseed, & Hydrogenated Soy Oil. 

Do you know when it's real? 

Annoying commercial #10

This one is a doozy! Feed your kids sugary cereals and they will win awards!



Newsflash - there are tons of healthy ways to get the same nutrients added to these otherwise empty cereals.

Another retro commercial!

 Unhealthy products have been marketed to children for years - this is nothing new. 



When I was little, I wanted nothing more than for my mom to buy me Cookie Crisp cereal. What could be better than a bowl full of chocolate chip cookies for breakfast?? After begging for literally years, she finally got a box. I couldn't wait to dive into that bowl of cereal and taste the cookie goodness. I ate one bite - it was disgusting! I am a lover of chocolate chip cookies from way back, and this was not good!

Showing kids that all that glitters on a commercial is certainly not gold is an important lesson! My kids still ask for stuff they see on TV, but they know that what is marketed to a child on television is usually junk food that is unhealthy for them or a product that is not nearly as cool as it seems (just ask my son how much he liked those Bendaroos....).

Retro commercial time!

Cheerios were healthy then, and still are now! Unlike some familiar foods that have gotten worse over time, Cheerios remains simply the same.



Cheerios has a lot of varieties, and almost all of them are healthier than your typical kids cereal (including the fruity and chocolate versions - not great, but not as bad as Fruit Loops or Coco Puffs). But you can never go wrong with the original...only one gram of sugar and the first and main ingredient is a whole grain! This is a cereal that is good from the time you're a baby until you're old and gray. Add some fruit to the bowl, and you have a fantastic and quick breakfast you can feel good about and your kids will love.

Annoying commercial #8

I don't have a huge problem with the claim of a full serving of veggies in each serving - it does have tomato sauce, onions, and green peppers in it. Not the best source of vegetables, but it is something. What I have a problem with is the other ingredients they don't tell you about:
Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Less than 2% of: Salt, Sugar, Dehydrated Onions, Dehydrated Red and Green Bell Peppers, Chile Pepper, Tomato Fiber, Spices, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Dehydrated Garlic, Carob Bean Gum, Natural Flavors.

Sloppy Joes are extremely easy to make from scratch, which means you get to control the sugar, salt, and vegetable content. I mix l lb of lean ground beef with tomato sauce, brown sugar, bell peppers, onions, vinegar, and spices (like chili powder) and serve on whole wheat buns. It is very easy to adjust to your family's taste. I love hot sauce in mine!

A commercial that DOESN'T annoy me!

It is only fair that I post a positive commercial from time to time. Sure, we should avoid drinking bottled water because it is better for the environment, but I'm still digging the message behind this commercial. They have a newer commercial out now that talks about how water is better than any beverage, including those with HFCS. I like that one even more, but I couldn't find it on youtube yet.



Most kids (or adults) aren't going to chose water as their first beverage of choice. My theory is, if they are thirsty enough they will drink it! Then it becomes a habit and a way of life that will stick with them forever. Good habits are easier learned young.

Annoying commercial #6

Don't be fooled just because Martina McBride sings in the commercial and they show kids being active!



The ingredients for Sunny Delight speak for themselves.

Ingredients: Water, High Fructose, Corn Syrup and 2% or Less of Each of the Following: Concentrated Juices (Orange, Tangerine, Apple, Lime, Grapefruit). Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Beta-Carotene, Thiamin Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Natural Flavors, Food Starch-Modified, Canola Oil, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Sodium Benzoate To Protect Flavor, Yellow #5, Yellow #6 

Mmmmm...canola oil in my "juice"! Eh, I think I'll stick with 100% orange juice instead.

Annoying commercial #5

Ah, Capri Sun. I think all kids love the pouch. I know I did when I was little. My mom would buy them when I was going on a field trip, freezing them to keep the rest of my lunch cold during the day. It was a very special treat! But for breakfast? Why do you need a pouch of "juice" at home? That seems wasteful.



Not to mention the added sugar in this. Sugar is listed in the ingredients list before any actual juice is. Don't get sucked in by the added nutrients. A piece of whole fruit and a glass of milk would give the same benefits in a much healthier and natural way.

Don't even get me started on the Roarin' Waters they advertise...sugar water for your kids and trying to pass it off as a good way to drink water? Oh for shame!!!

But if you want to offer Capri Sun sometimes, they do make a 100% juice version.  I'm not sure why they can't just do this and nothing else!

Annoying commercial #4

Didn't you know? Froot Loops are now healthy because they've added a little fiber. Never mind the 12 grams of sugar, artificial colors and flavors, etc...



I'll give them credit, the message is good that we need fiber in our diets. But there are much healthier ways to get it. Good old fashioned Cheerios also provide 3 grams of fiber, but only ONE gram of sugar and a much simpler list of ingredients. Kashi Go Lean Crunch provides 8 grams of fiber (Harper loves this mixed with yogurt and blueberries!).

Other good sources of fiber include:

• whole grains
• beans
• nuts & seeds
• fruits & vegetables

Thanks, but no thanks Froot Loops - there are healthier ways to get fiber in our kids' diets!

Annoying commercial #1

Oh Tyson, this is just bad. I can't stand this commercial! Maybe kids wouldn't be so picky if you didn't offer them chicken nuggets every time they say they don't like something...

(Just because they boast that they are all natural, that doesn't always mean healthy. Even if you bake these, they were fried in the factory they were processed in and have 18 grams of fat in 5 of them.) Of course my kids like chicken nuggets and they get them very occasionally, but it annoys me that this commercial would leave you to believe it is ok to eat all the time.