There's no Free lunch for Children, a FAT idea!!!

Wow! While I'm confused about what "lettus" might be, I'm just plain
shocked at the person who is bitching that a theme park offered them a
free kid's meal.

I don't think one hot dog is going to kill a kid, okay?

That said, no one forced you to accept the freebie. If you are so
concerned about your kids' dietary intake, *you* be responsible for
it. Bring your own sandwiches and water.

Go to the store, buy your organic turkey, and make your kids a
sandwich. If you don't feel like buying them a sandwich, deal with
what is free... Maybe some people like to eat cookies and hot dogs
not "organic" turkey :)

Perhaps I am over simplifying things, but this lunch is FREE. You are
100% entitled to reject it. Do you follow your children around as
they trick or treat and suggest that the people at the door with candy
(they bought with their hard earned money) are bad people? Do you
have a little notebook that you write down their names so you can send
them a nasty letter, a slap in the face for their courtesy?

I'm assuming you meant iceberg lettuce? Are you aware that the
lettuce (yes, there is an e at the end, it's not lettus) is Diatetic.
That means that it takes more calories to digest than they provide.
While it tastes good, it can actually strip minerals from you? There
are many other leafy greens that would be much better. Also, the
sandwich you suggested would be dry and bland, it is likely to be
slathered with Mayo, thereby removing all the good you just did. I
would instead suggest tomato, as the antioxidants, moisture, and
flavor would be a welcome change. Also, why serve organic turkey but
then not suggest organic vegetables and bread? Is the turkey more
important somehow? Also, the Balance bar contains 14G of protein.
That combined with the turkey is WAY more protein that a child needs.
I'm not saying that the lunch you suggested is not better than the
lunch they provide (Again I want to point out that it is FREE and
OPTIONAL) but merely that you yourself do not seem to be a
nutritionist.

If the meal provided was the meal served to your children every single
day, then I could see the concern. However, if your children eat as
healthy as you portray them to eat, then one meal like this would not
harm them in any way.

Bob
(son of a nutritionist)

Perhaps I am over simplifying things, but this lunch is FREE. You are
100% entitled to reject it. Do you follow your children around as
they trick or treat and suggest that the people at the door with candy
(they bought with their hard earned money) are bad people? Do you
have a little notebook that you write down their names so you can send
them a nasty letter, a slap in the face for their courtesy?

I'm assuming you meant iceberg lettuce? Are you aware that the
lettuce (yes, there is an e at the end, it's not lettus) is Diatetic.
That means that it takes more calories to digest than they provide.
While it tastes good, it can actually strip minerals from you? There
are many other leafy greens that would be much better. Also, the
sandwich you suggested would be dry and bland, it is likely to be
slathered with Mayo, thereby removing all the good you just did. I
would instead suggest tomato, as the antioxidants, moisture, and
flavor would be a welcome change. Also, why serve organic turkey but
then not suggest organic vegetables and bread? Is the turkey more
important somehow? Also, the Balance bar contains 14G of protein.
That combined with the turkey is WAY more protein that a child needs.
I'm not saying that the lunch you suggested is not better than the
lunch they provide (Again I want to point out that it is FREE and
OPTIONAL) but merely that you yourself do not seem to be a
nutritionist.

If the meal provided was the meal served to your children every single
day, then I could see the concern. However, if your children eat as
healthy as you portray them to eat, then one meal like this would not
harm them in any way.

Bob
(son of a nutritionist)

You're complaining about something that is free???? I'm sorry, but I
think that takes ALOT of nerve!

The problem with your suggestion is that MOST kids won't eat an
organic turkey sandwich...Not to mention the cost of anything organic.
Kids are fat from parent's choices, not Knott's Berry Farm. It would
be nice if they offered a healthy alternative for those who want their
kids to eat healthy, but to blame them for the whole epidemic is
silly. It is like those girls who sued McDonald's because they were
fat from the food. DUH!

Kids are obese because their parent's are obese. We all see it
everytime we're out in public. Thin people usually have thin kids.
And vice versus. Your kids are what you eat. Plain and simple. You
eat healthy, they eat healthy. You eat a lot of crap, they eat a lot
of crap. Don't blame your guilty conscience on Knot's Berry Farm.

I'm sorry but you can't complain about a free product. If someone
offered your children a free balloon at a park would you scream at
them that the balloons aren't environmentally safe, your kids could
POSSIBLY be allergic to the latex, and that their irritable because
they got blue instead of green? Toss it. Or better yet complain and
have the whole free lunch for children thing taken away. They can all
get an ear of corn for free. Now that would make children irritable.

No one said your kids had to eat it.

I just wish you composed your letter more professionally. Your points
are very valid and important.

As a mother of children with food sensitivities, I am challenged all
the time trying to feed my kids on the go. They have reactions to
chemicals in foods. Red dye, nutrasweet, and sadly react with corn,
so ALL items with high fructose corn syrup, or even corn syrup (if
it's within the first 4 ingredients) give them a reaction.

I also do not put anything with transfats in their bodies (or mine)
which in and of itself is a monumental challenge since the labeling on
"trans fat free" items is often a bald face lie (who eats just the
serving size?!)

For the record people, anything with a hydrogenated or partially
hydrogenated oil has transfats. don't be misled by the 0 grams on the
panel. If it's less than .5 they can say 0...but It all adds up and
there is no "safe" amount of this fat to eat. It wreaks havoc in your
body. Write all your food companies and insist they switch to healthy
versions of fat.

I wish we could start a campaine to really improve the eduation of
what the food industry is doing to our bodies. Read. watch
documentaries. read some more...

And what do propose they do?
Make a special healthy version just so youll bu...oh! you didnt its
free!
"dont look a gift horse in the mouth" some of the best avice ever
given.

A child who is running around a theme park all day long is not going
to be harmed by eating a hot dog, some chips, cookies and a Pepsi. It
isnt like Knotts Berry Farms is walking around passing these meals out
to every child every single day. Its a SPECIAL DAY..and....ITS
FREE!!!!!

Do you REALLY expect a FREE organic turkey sandwhich with lettuce and
wheat bread, a balance bar, apple and bottle of water? That stuff is
WAY expensive! And it sounds like something an adult MIGHT eat. Not
any child that I know. I know my son wouldnt eat it.

What kid has EVER been made irritable by a hot dog?! ROFL!!

If you dont want YOUR children eating it then do yourself a favor and
pack your own food. Or pay for your kids to have an over priced turkey
sandwhich.

Those who appreciate what a free lunch is dont need you ruining their
fun, special day.

Give me a break!! A hot dog, potato chips, cookies and a Pepsi aren't
going to kill anyone!!! Let the kids have a treat every now and then.
I wouldn't recommend this lunch everyday but as a company promotion
these definately won't hurt. If you restrict your child's diet the
minute they get away from you they're going to eat what they want when
they want! You're setting them up for failure.

there's no such thing as a free lunch.

its free, throw it away!

what are you doing at a place that serves that kind of food in the
first place? Sounds like you missed the turn off to the health food
store. It's FREE, for the love of baked beans! You don't HAVE to eat
it.

Why don't you try buying food for your children, that would be a good
idea. You are just as guilty of feeding your children unhealthy food
as they are by taking the food for your children just because it is
free rather than buying something more healthy for them.

You got what you paid for. Quit being cheap!

In addition to the commonly used, "There's no such thing as a free
lunch", I'd like to add this little saying from days gone by:

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth".

That means, if someone gives you something FOR FREE, you're not
supposed to look it up and down and find things WRONG with it.

See, that's what happened with Little Madeline. Her parents weren't
happy with the FREE babysitting that was offered. They preferred to
lock their child in a room while they went off and had a few glasses
of Rojia. Look a gift horse in the mouth and decline the horse? Don't
be surprised when free horse kicks ya where the good lord split ya.

This is a free lunch that Knott's offers to children and it is your
choice, as a parent, to either let your child eat it or not. Although
your suggestions are valid, I seriously doubt that any child would
choose an organic turkey sandwich and an apple over a hot dog, chips,
cookies and a Pepsi while visiting an amusement park.

And I totally agree with Jeffrey - - the demanding tone of your letter
will not achieve the desired result.

Arguments about parental responsibility aside, your letter seems
reasonable. The suggestion to provide a more varied (particularly
healthier) food offering is a reasonable one.

However, there's a line between making a suggestion and being rude.
You crossed that line. There's no need to get sarcastic ("Thanks for
contributing to childhood obesity").

Might I suggest that, the next time you write a letter like this, that
you phrase it in a more respectful manner. For example: "I have a
great idea that I'm sure would make a lot of parents happy. Perhaps
you could provide healthier options for kids, such as turkey on wheat
bread, vegetables, bottles of water, and fruit. I appreciate that
you're able to provide kid's meals for free, but if you were to
provide a healthier option, I'd be willing to pay a few dollars for
it. It'd be well worth it. Thank you for any consideration you can
give to my request."

By the way.. its lettuce.. not lettus. Hope you don't help your kids
with homework! sorry.. I HAD to..

TANSTAAFL - "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch."

The reason Knott's gives out this "free" lunch is to help promote
brand loyalty among it's sponsors/business partners, hence the
"branded" items. That, and these items are a lot easier and cheaper
to keep/store/serve than fresh products, which is why they use them.
Not to mention the fact that they are trying to appeal to kids, and I
don't know about you, but put their "free" lunch next to your
suggested healthy one and see which one the kids are more likely to
take. I would recommend you carry some nutritional snacks with you if
you run into this sort of thing again, and be assured, at least you
didn't have to pay for it. =)

My son eats plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and
whole grains. The periodic hot dog or cookie is not going to make him
fat. It's all about moderation.

The other thing is that we're talking about children visiting an
amusement park. If my son is any indication, when he goes to one of
those, he wants to do as much stuff as possible. Stopping to eat
isn't high on his list. Blood sugar easily bottoms out, transforming
him into Kidzilla, which makes for a less than fun time. Something
quick and easily consumed on the go is a blessing for most parents.

I usually carry a decent snack (granola bar, raisins) in my purse for
just such an emergency. At least then I know he's getting something
good for him.

You are the parent. First and foremost it is your responsibility to
make sure you child has a healthy diet and exercises regularly. While
it is nice that businesses and restuarants are doing their bit to
help, in the long run it is entirely up to you to make sure your child
learns healthy habits.

Even though I understand what you're trying to convey, if a child has
an otherwise balanced diet with healthy choices 20 meals a week, is
somewhat active (and there aren't any medical or religious issues
involved) what harm is ONE free meal as this as a "treat"?. They offer
it, yes, but the choice (and expense) is up to the parent ultimately,
not the restaurant.

The child obesity issue is a health problem. It would be obscene if
they refused service, had a "designated area", or otherwise offended a
child (or anyone for that matter). There are cases where obesity is
not caused by overeating.

When you write a letter of complaint you need to leave out the
snottiness if you want them to listen to you.

As you pointed out, Cindy, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

So why does Knott's Berry Farm offer "free" meals for kids?

Well, it's probably a combination of their wanting to say "Kids eat
free!" and a bunch of other corporations wanting the time to nudge
kids a little closer to brand loyalty. After all, wouldn't it be
awesome if the kids associated the Doggie Bag with fun and went on to
eat Hoffy Hotdogs at least once a week for the rest of their lives?

If the park forbade you to bring in your own food and there was no
place to buy anything to eat, then I agree with you: they should
provide a better option. But I suspect that any parent who's not
happy with the Doggie Bag is free to buy their kids something else.

And ultimately, that Doggie Bag sounds awfully cheap and easy to
assemble, which may not be a plus to you but which I guarantee is a
plus to Knott's Berry Farm.

If your kid stays active and eats in moderation he will be healthy. He
could eat a bag of sugar one day but if he eats healthy most of the
time and gets exercise he will be fine.
It is your job to parent, not Knott's Berry Farm's. A hot dog, chips,
cookie, and Pepsi is a pretty standard meal for picnics, ball games,
petting zoos...
So for you to expect Knotts to be the foremost leader in fighting
childhood obesity is pretty irrational and over the top. Relax, your
kid will be fine and probably deserved a break from the organic (not
necessarily healthy) turkey he is forced to eat every day.

You're right it's not nutritious but a treat is not going to make
your kids weigh 500 pounds tomorrow.

It's really sad parents don't let their kids have any treats at all.

The only way Knotts Berry Farm's treats will make any kid fat by
offering the treats is if the kid eats all this stuff all the time.

Being a loving parent I don't deprive my kids of treats but just am
careful how much they get!

You know whats contributing to childhood obesity? This thing we're
sitting at right now. And to a certain extent, parents who bring and
pick up their children from school every day when they live right down
the street! And also, just because its free doesn't mean it has to be
nutritional.

Wha-whhaaattt?? I don't go to a theme park and expect healthy food.
Thats just the way it is! You have the ability to leave the park and
come back in, just leave and get a healthy lunch. Or, don't get the
free lunch, easy as that!

healthy stuff costs money. when you get free stuff be happy you got
something. if you dont want it dont get it, or dont eat it.

When we went there, there were places to eat where you could pick out
some regular food. I don't recall what, as it's been about five years
now but we did eat fine there and I know I wouldnt have been able to
have all that sugar myself. Free is the key word, it's a treat.

It's free...you have no say in what Knott's Berry Farm offers for
FREE! Honestly I believe that is above and beyond what they have to
do. If you want something more nutritious for your child, pay for it
out of pocket. Geez, this is why companies don't even try anymore.
They can't possibly make everyone happy no matter how hard they try.

Here's a ground-breaking idea... Don't take your kid there! Get them a
lunch at Subway; they have a kid's meal almost exactly as you
describe.

Or, even more radically, make their food yourself.

Sorry, it's a "free" lunch, if you don't like it, send something else
for your kids to eat or purchase something else. If a business is
offering a free lunch, they are obviously going to use products they
are associated with, ie: Knotts Berry Farm Cookies.

It's quite a stretch to blame childhood obesity on this free meal
offer. And if the food were healthful and organic, it wouldn't be
free. Knots Berry Farm is giving away a $2 lunch. What YOU'RE
requesting would be several more dollars.

It's the responsibility of parents to be in control of what their kids
eat.

While at the airport in Chicago two weeks ago, I watched Jerry
Springer (I was at the bar). The show was on obese children -- I'm
talking 200-pound four-year-old children. Why aren't these children
taken away and their parents charged with child abuse? We'd not
hesitate to do so if the children were being starved to death. The
same should hold true for children being fed to death.

Often these "fre" lunches are donated by sponsers...notice how
everything was brand name.

As a parent, you have the option of saying "no" and purchasing a
healthy alternative for your children. I can see being upset if you
paid for it as part of a package deal, but it was free, and you were
free to refuse and make alternate purchases.

I also agree with the other poster who pointed out that this letter
would be much better if you had laid off the hostile attitude.

While I can understand your concerns, I would have been much more
receptive to the idea if your letter had been a bit more courteous.

I completely agree with you, but the manner in which you pointed out
these tings left me with a bad taste.

If someone offered my kid a free meal and it wasn't to my liking, I'd
either suck-it-up and let them have it as a treat, or purchase other
food with my own money. Then, I'd write a letter and politely inform
them as to how they could possibly improve this program.

Just my .02 cents.

This is a great idea, Cindy. The lunch you describe is decidedly not
a great nutritional option for anyone, especially kids. I also wonder
about kids with special dietary needs, allergies, or
religious/ideological dietary restrictions. The only thing I would
say is that a lunch like the one you describe, while it sounds pretty
good, would be difficult to offer for free. The sad truth is that
healthy foods, especially organic foods, cost more to produce, ship,
and store than chips and hot dogs. I know I personally would be
willing to pay the difference, but many people would not. Anyway,
it's great that you are passionate about providing your kids with
healthy food. Good luck!