[photo source: MacMonkies]

by Jean Pascal Hebert
via Creative-ReporterIn case you haven't see this in the news, parents and advocacy groups are suing Nickolodeon and Kellogg's for fast food problems plaguing the western world, namely the US.

Their claim is that they want to stop marketing of junk food to kids, which by itself is not a bad thing at all. Kids are fatter than ever and if I had to re-do my career, I'd become a doctor because those kids are going to have serious problems in their 30's according to a bunch of studies. So kids, become doctors so you can make much moolah. But I disgress.

You have to ask yourself "why are kids fat"? Well, it's not because of corporation. I do wish for corporates to be more ethical and find better products to sell to younger audiences and sadly this suit may be the only way to get them to move in that direction. If you haven't seen the documentary "Supersize Me", you really should. We cut down our fast food intake by probably 90% in this house after seeing it.

But from a naive marketing point of view, corporates are simply reactive to demand: parents keep on bringing kids to fast food joints, buying high fat/sugar/sodium products at the supermarkets and use TV-related activities waaaay too much (DVDs, video games, TV shows, DVRs, GameBoys, etc.). In this household, we're not saints but we make an effort to get our kids to move a bit and eat healthy.

So where does the problem really lie? The corporates being sued agree with me, with parents unable to say a 2-letter word: "no". If you go foodshopping with the kids and get into a fight in every isle because of Spongebob, you need ot review what the heck you're doing to raise your kids. I'm no "Dr. Phil of parenting", but here are some suggestions:

• Leave your kids at home when foodshopping
• Cut down their TV intake, and everything else that involves sitting (OK except reading)
• Get your kids into team sports with their friends, get other parents involved. And dare I suggest become a little league coach? I'm doing it and loving it. Sure beats arena coffee
  
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• Rid your kids's bedrooms of TVs and such devices
• Plan your meals, this book has proven very very very useful to us. This way you save $$'s and go less to the restaurants. Get your kids to help out in the kitchen too.
• Ban bad food from the house. If you don't buy it they can't eat it. And get other parents to join in so they can't cheat at their friend's houses.
• And most importantly, say "no". And hold your ground - good or bad decision - you're a hockey referee here and the decision can't be reversed. Pick your battles smartly.

There ya go, I just solved the problem!
Ok kidding, I'm no Stephen Colbert, but please parents, before suing, try disciplining your own kids first.

Jean Pascal Hebert, President of Socius Technologies. He has been involved with security vendors for the past 8 years in sales, marketing, relationship management roles. Having worked at Symantec and Sybari Software, consulted for LastSpam.com and Vircom, he has developed expertise which enables vendors to maximize their potential through strategic relationships.

His new project, www.vbiznetwork.com will assist business networkers maximize their networks.