I was absolutely appalled this morning when my 8 year old was watching Disney Channel.  There was a commercal for milk (which normally Disney Channel doesn't do commercials - that is why I allow my daughter to watch it).  The mother is telling her son to drink his milk for calcium and to build strong bones.  Then it said milk helps build strong families.

I CANNOT believe the Dairy Council also has Disney in its back pocket.  I honestly consider this propoganda.  The mis-information about dairy is scary - and now they are specifically targeting my daughter on what I used to consider a safe tv channel.  If only those at Disney (and anyone else who eats dairy) would actually do some research, the conclusion is compelling.  Dairy is HORRIBLE for our bodies (not to even mention the aninmals and the environemental aspects). 

I was flipping through channels last night and found a tv show called "Too Fat for 15" about morbidly obese teens and pre-teens living at a facility that teaches them healthy eating and exercise.  I was completely disgusted at the hypocrisy of the tv station though, when it went to commercial.  For a HEALTHY EATING/LIFESTYLE show, the commercials in just one single commercial break were for: Burger King, Pop Tarts, Tyson's Chicken Poppers, Snicker's Ice Cream and Pizza Bite things...(I only remember this list because I had immediately posted it to my facebook in disgust!).  How hypocritical can people be!  And God help the poor kids actually watching this show, looking for guidance, who then see those commercials in conjunction!  I really don't understand the choices sometimes...

thats one of the many reasons I don't have tv anymore!  i get so upset!  Amii - send what you wrote to the disney channel - it may seem like it won't make a difference, but if everyone does stuff like that, it sometimes does!  and danielle - its all about the money - those companies could give a rat's ass about anyones health!

Danielle - Here's my theory on why all the junk food commercials after a show focusing on obesity - believe it or not, I think shows like that make a lot of viewers hungry!  It completely defies logic, but an anecdote to share along these lines - a couple years ago, my husband, father and I were watching "Super Size Me."  This was when I was vegetarian, but before I went vegan.  At the end of the documentary, I never wanted to look at another McD's again, much less eat there.  My dad and husband both said the documentary made them hungry for Big Macs.  Wha-huh?!

I know that the producers of the Biggest Loser are very strict with the commercials that air during their shows (the only fast food commercials are Subway, etc.), and I just figured that all weight loss shows would have the same consideration!  ESPECIALLY one geared at helping KIDS!!

But what what freaks me out is that - ok - not even McDonalds is going to claim a Big Mac is healthy.  But the lies and deception by the dairy and meat industries are unbelievable.  To actually make a statement or claim that meat and dairy are good for you???  I honestly don't get how they can continue making these claims - and everyone continues to believe them!!!  I know I used to - until I actually did my own, independent research.  It is undeniable that a plant-based diet is best for us and that meat and dairy products are litereally killng us.   I may sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the propoganda put out by the industries are out right lies. 

That is why I got rid of cable/satellite.  Just because it is Disney doesn't mean squat!  This weekend we were listening to Radio Disney and they played a song by H*Wood called "Could it be you" if you have time, google the lyrics to that song!  I was so discusted that little kids everywhere would be singing that song.

I stopped watching TV four months ago (I didn't think it was worth the cost), and when visiting a friend I was shocked to see all the advertising on TV these days. I can't stand it, and even worse for young impressionable children to be seeing these things constantly. I read somewhere that even if you teach your kids healthy eating every single meal of every day, the average kid will receive at least 3 times more "eat unhealthy" messages from advertising. Imagine that! 

That's why, even when I have the money to have both internet and cable TV, I'm not going to bother. There are so many options for watching the shows you like without needing to have a television. You can purchase them online, watch them through the websites of the TV channels (these have advertising, but much less than traditional television), watch them with a netflix subscription, or buy favorite kids DVDs. I don't like the way the Dairy Council and a lot of junk food advertising tries to hook kids...honestly it reminds me of the early tobacco advertising days. Hook them when they're young and you'll have customers for life...

We've been tv free for over 4 years, and we really don't miss it at all.  We watch stuff online and get videos from the library mostly.  The main reason we did it was to save money after my son was born, but we also realized that most of what's on tv is cr@p anyway, and I'm definitely glad my son is not constantly watching tv and being bombarded by commercials.  It's a lot easier too to control what he's being exposed to - not like there's a family hour like when we were kids.

We don't miss it at all!  We have a Wii and now have hooked up with Netflix on the Wii.  I can go and select exactly what I want my daughter to watch and she can watch it instantly.  They have a ton of great documentaries and educational shows.  I even found some Yoga and workout videos on there.

Nicole you are so right it is just a bunch of cr@p!  It influences our children way too much!