Are companies like Coca-Cola and McDonald's, which in September promised to stop putting fizzy drinks on its "Happy Meals" menus, cynically determined to hook children in other ways?
In several states, for instance, the school-meal menu now includes eggs, a very valuable source of animal protein for growing children.
Delta's in-flight entertainment system has a new "white noise" channel, and the carrier is creating an express meal menu, with lighter fare and one-step delivery, for transcontinental business-class passengers.
This means, according to a spokeswoman, that within five years, "sodas will no longer be listed on the Happy Meal menu boards in the specified 20 major markets that represent 85% of our global sales".
Jamie Milkman (formerly of Jamie's in Englewood Cliffs) started this restaurant with a design-a-meal menu, built around lists of meats and seafoods, toppings, sauces and sides (risotto, creamed spinach) from which diners could pick and choose.
The banner ad asks the viewer to list any foods in the refrigerator, then returns with a possible meal menu, and offers links to the site itself.
So Thursday morning I'm on the website looking at all the BOGO's which also helps us plan our meal menu each week.
She said there were complaints about the temperature in the beginning but it has since been adjusted, as has the meal menu.
In other words, a kid could buy extra slices of pizza or a basket of fries only so long as those items are also on that day's school meal menu.
