Tricky Treats

Halloween!
A most wonderful time of the year, full of candy, chocolate, and costumes! Walking through the grocery store there are boxes of treats everywhere, waiting to be bought, then given away to tiny 'trick-or-treat-ers' wanting a sugar high. When I was younger my brothers and I would go trick-or-treating, come home with bulging candy sacks, and then trade our least favorites for the yummiest level of candy we could negotiate for. Then, we would sit down with our treats, and put on the TV...all night marathons of Halloween shows ensued!

Recently I watched one of my old Halloween favorites - Scooby Doo! I remember sitting and eating candy and chocolate til my stomach hurt, mesmerized by Scooby Doo and Shaggy's adventures, and marveling at their eating patterns. Those two can sure pack some food in! Plus, with the reinforcement of Scooby Snacks (click to see the theme song!) every time Scooby does something right, the show makes me realize that a lot of children have their behaviors reinforced with snacks...hmmmm...

This got me thinking about how children are influenced by what they see on T.V. After school snacks were eaten while watching 'Arthur' (D.W. is such a picky eater) or 'Sesame Street' (Cookie Monster anyone?).  Eating behaviours in children are influenced by what they see on TV, with the additional factors of eating snacks while watching TV, as well as not playing/running around outside, becuase they are watching TV.  However, I do know that 'Cookie Monster' has been replaced with 'Veggie Monster' but then why are childhood obesity rates on the rise?

This brings up the question about the rising rates of childhood obesity (see the 'Additional Information' tab) - If childrens' shows are getting more health conscious , why are childhood obesity rates on the rise?

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Everywhere you go you see food being advertised on billboards, magazine ads, or the internet, heightening your senses with visual imagery.  Sometimes these ads mean nothing to you at the time, but  you'll remember an ad for a certain brand of pizza when you are craving pizza - you call up the phone number from the ad because it is on your mind, and the food looked GOOD.  Sometimes these ads stop you in your tracks, and you are headed to the nearest McDonalds asap.

Target populations: if you saw an ad and did not understand it, chances are the ad isn't targeting you.  A target population is a specific age group, gender, or race that the advertisement is directed towards.  

Below are a series of advertisements that show you some examples of how media works to pull you in.

Does anyone understand this ad other than the fact that McDonalds delivers?  Who is the target population for this?

Target population - Teens/young adults.  Yeah, Id hit that too. Is this ad appropriate though?

Starbucks is getting in on the Holiday cheer by exploiting our happy feelings of the season, so that when we're out shopping we'll buy a toasty drink to warm our spritis

Using attractive famous people to sell things:  You will see a lot more of this as you scroll down.  I personally like Jennifer Aniston, and her clear-cut image suits this ad.  But really - selling water? Cant we pour from the tap for free?  O wait, this water makes me smarter.... Ironic considering it is asking you to pay for something that is naturally free in North America.

McDonald's is touching on your romantic evening time with this ad - maybe insinuating memories of star gazing as a child.

Got Milk?  Healthy ad - I like it!  But once again, Famous Sells! Especially if it means that by drinking milk I can look like the Olsen twins! 

No wonder more and more children are over weight.  Who wouldn't want a toy with their meal?!

Everytime I see this ad I melt inside. I want this soooo bad.  McDonald's here I come

Purposely showing you how juicy and fresh McDonalds products are - does this make you crave a burger?

Hilarious ad - definitely attention grabbing.  

Using a sexy, famous woman to sell a burger? Naughty. 

And again....o Brittany.

YUM! And the popular Shrek appeals to a large variety of age groups...as does ice cream...group consensus means we are now headed to McDonalds

This is taken from a commercial for Starbucks.  Scarlett likes Starbucks, I like it too!  AND its sexy.  obviously.

Making a regular afternoon activity, tea time, upper-class and more expensive.  Does this influence you to go to Starbucks?

An incentive to go to Tim Hortons: Prizes!!!

Introduction - Time to Eat the Media

Think of your favorite movie - you are sitting on a cozy couch, good company, enjoying some delicious snacks.  After the two hours of laughter and tears, the finale of the film has you realizing that the entire bag of chips is eaten, along with some ice cream, cookies...mindless eating.  

Walking down the street you see a billboard advertisement for Tim Hortons begging you to grab a coffee and donut if you are on the go.  Lucky you, you ARE on the go, and you definitely need some caffeine for your upcoming class.  Tim Hortons, here you come!

Running at the gym, breaking a sweat.  Whether you are running to tone, maintain, vamp up your cardio, or lose weight, the tv's help make time go by faster.  However, the Food Network is on, and 'Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives' is tempting your taste buds as the host goes from diner to diner trying pancakes or pulled pork sandwiches dripping with deliciousness....it's a hard life going to the gym only to leave craving the calories you just burnt off.

You see in the news that there is a shortage of food in Burkina Faso - are you more likely to decrease the food you waste?  Are you more likely to eat simpler, less processed foods to remain in good health; are you thankful for that health?

Fiber Plus granola bars - advertised in your magazine as a healthy option full of chocolate peanut butter goodness - is it time to change your snack brand?

Gossip Girl - you religiously watch this show every week.  The girls are so classy, and sushi is on your mind for lunch now...mmmm

This blog is to focus on what the above topics are insinuating - how various forms of media effect your mindset and thereby effect what you choose to eat and when.  This blog will also be touching on the idea of mindless eating, tips to counteract this, and also healthy alternatives to the sinful sweets you are tempted by on tv.  As a fourth year nutrition student, I know the ins and outs of what is healthy and what is not.  However, I'm always tempted by the idea of new fad diets in the clean-smelling books of Chapters.  I watch a film and eat mindlessly.  It can be hard to be healthy when there is so much health education within our lives in Canada, with media is still knocking at the door, tempting.  Through this blog I hope to explore how I feel when influenced by different types of media, based on the way the food is portrayed.  And hopefully, by reading my blog, you will become more aware of how media, specifically media promoting certain foods, influences you, often subliminally, and sometimes by socially acceptable means, such as popcorn at the theater.  There's a whole world of food to be discovered, and we are about to do so, mentally, while learning more about how food and media effects our daily lives.  Bon appetit!