July 8, 2013 Update: Join the #MomsNotLovinIt Twitter chat about McDonalds and other fast food giants specifically targeting kids of color, and the new study in Journal of American Medical Assn on … [Read more...]
Kids Think A Blackberry Is A Device Not A Fruit? Eat Real.
October 24, 2011 by 3 Comments
Oct 24, 2012 Food Day 2012! On Twitter, follow #FoodDayConf with great tips on label lingo, decoding kids aisle food claims. In honor of the day, I'm reprising "Food for Thought: Media to Digest for … [Read more...]
KFC’s “Assvertising”–A Double Down of Unhealthy Cues
September 22, 2010 by 3 Comments
September 22, 2010 Would you like a sideorder of sexualization with that heart attack? If the excess sodium from KFC’s Double Down innuendo-laden sat fat monstrosity doesn’t raise your risk factor … [Read more...]
FTC Food Marketing to Kids Update: Are Watchdogs All Bark No Bite?
September 9, 2010 by 5 Comments
Sept. 9, 2010 Where are we now with the whole junk food marketing to kids/obesity prevention discussion? Feels like we’ve been TALKING about "candy bars for breakfast" and citing Pink Princess … [Read more...]
A HUGE Breakthrough for TV: Nuance Trumps Vapid Vixens Aplenty
August 12, 2010 by 4 Comments
August 12, 2010 In part one and part two of my posts about ABC Family’s Huge premiere, I hoped to see the show evolve from the hope and promise of some stellar scriptwriter ‘attachments’ to actually … [Read more...]
Dialing for Disorders: Let’s Move To Prevent Them By July 12!
June 29, 2010 by 3 Comments
June 29, 2010 As a kids' health advocate (inside and out) I’ve been covering the "HUGE" conversation pertaining to media’s responsibility and accountability in how the portrayal of being overweight in … [Read more...]
A HUGE Opportunity: Don’t Blow It ABC Family (Pt 1)
June 24, 2010 by 13 Comments
June 24, 2010 “An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.” ---Bill Bernbach Those timeless words of the venerable ad legend capture the power and potential of … [Read more...]
Media, Misinformation and Unhealthy Spin
August 14, 2009 by 6 Comments
August 14, 2009 I'm very thankful that Shaping Youth Nutrition Correspondent Rebecca Scritchfield, RD takes the helm today with her piece "The Price of Misinformation in Media," as I’m trying to … [Read more...]
Fast Food Chains Are Slowly Getting Healthier: Yum?
July 31, 2009 by 6 Comments
July 31, 2009 With Health magazine coming forth heralding “Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants,” and even Center for Science in the Public Interest giving kudos to KFC for their grilled chicken … [Read more...]
Food Inc. Review: Will Kids Be Hungry For Change?
July 22, 2009 by 6 Comments
July 22, 2009 Food, Inc. is making the rounds in art house theaters throughout the nation, and though I have yet to see it (going in Palo Alto soon!) we have Amy Vachon of Equally Shared Parenting … [Read more...]
Raising Girls Amidst Meat Marketing: Carls Jr., Burger King Raunch
July 16, 2009 by 32 Comments
Jan. 27, 2015 Update: It's achingly sad that I can reprise my own prose about "meat marketing" women with gobsmacking sexualization and objectification commodifying bodies as edible objects to be … [Read more...]
Starbucks Filters In Feedback For Healthier Choices
July 2, 2009 by 2 Comments
July 2, 2009 Back to part three in our series on healthGAMERS in a jiff…but first, a quick coffee break, with some health news you can use. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Starbucks' ubiquitous media and … [Read more...]
When It’s Not Hip To Be Square: Sexist Spongebob & Burger Shots
April 17, 2009 by 25 Comments
April 17, 2009 “Booty is booty?” I say give BK’s agency a boot in the backside out the door for this one… I've been trying NOT to cover this ad absurdity to avoid the media baiting and instead … [Read more...]
“Better for You” Foods in the Snack Aisle?
March 8, 2009 by 5 Comments
Mar. 8, 2009 "Lately all this low-fat health talk has been taking the fun right out of snacking, not to mention the flavor," reads the Popchips all natural bag I’m chomping on from a Costco impulse … [Read more...]
Deconstructing the “Eat This, Not That” Book for Kids
February 22, 2009 by 8 Comments
Feb. 22, 2009 It’s Sunday, and I rarely post on the weekend, but I have to say, I’m having a book for brunch, digesting and devouring the Eat This, Not That! For Kids by David Zinczenko with Matt … [Read more...]
Kidney Stones In Kindergarten? Put Down the Sports Drink, Kiddo!
October 28, 2008 by 24 Comments
Today’s New York Times reports "A Rise in Kidney Stones Seen in U.S. Children," naming high sodium intake of processed foods as one of the culprits, sending wee ones into urology clinics (no pun … [Read more...]
Filmmakers Amy Kalafa and Amy Jussel Team Up Oct.20!
October 7, 2008 by 5 Comments
For those fed up with junk food in school lunch programs come stir up a recipe for change, as Shaping Youth once again hosts our “screen a movie, make a difference” film fest, this time … [Read more...]
Will California’s New Menu Labeling Help Kids’ Health?
October 1, 2008 by 8 Comments
Congrats, wellness crusaders, the L.A. Times reports California is officially the first state in the nation to enact menu labeling policy for calorie count info on menu boards and food displays of … [Read more...]
Youth Riffs On HFCS Ads: Web 2.0 Satire Is Snowballing
September 23, 2008 by 6 Comments
What do ants and rubber tree plants have to do with syrupy HFCS ads and high hopes for the future of youth media mobilization? Stay with me after the jump to find out... Last week I wrote about my … [Read more...]
Two Angry Moms Bring A Fresh Approach To Shaping Youth 9-21!
September 11, 2008 by 7 Comments
Filmmaker Amy Kalafa will be with us in October in person instead of September! Haven’t lost my ad agency headline-writing ability to cram all the vital sponsorship info into a log line, but … [Read more...]
