Subway: A Healthier Option for Kids…Also a Dangerous One
Posted on 01 20, 2008 under Current Events, Doodads by Noodad |
On a Saturday filled with errands, my wife and I decided to stop for lunch at Subway with the kids. From a marketing perspective, Subway has done a pretty good job differentiating themselves from the generic sandwich shop market by being the healthier option. “Eat Fresh” certainly keeps Subway above the “Mmmm…Toasty” and “Funny name, great sandwiches” that Quiznos and Schlotzsky’s provides.
We bought our daughter a turkey and cheese sandwich with apple wedges and an apple juice. That’s no comparison to the 5 piece chicken McNugget Happy Meal with french fries and a Hi-C orange drink.
My son got a salami sandwich with no cheese (milk allergy) and even though the meat was greasier than his sister’s turkey, compared to a hamburger, we were feeling pretty decent about our healthier choice for them.
Here is what Subway says on their website about their kids meals:
INTRODUCING SUBWAY FRESH FIT FOR KIDS™
Now you don’t have to compromise nutrition when you need convenience.
Choose a Mini sub, add a better-for-you side, like apples or raisins. Then select 1% low fat white milk or 100% juice for a tasty, better-for-them meal that kids will love.
But as happy as we were for the healthier QSR food options, we were equally disappointed with what came in the bag. This is what my daughter and son got for a kids meal toy:
Here’s the problem with this toy. It is a piece of plastic that is utterly useless, completely inappropriate, and just plain dangerous. Sponsored by Trek bicycles, this is basically what the pictures describe: a red plastic box that shoots out round cardboard discs.
The only thing that even remotely relates to Trek is the logo ont he box and the images of bikes and bike parts on the disc.
Although I am conscious to not confuse healthy initiatives with educational ones, it does seem to be disconnect. Almost as if Subway is saying: “Let’s keep our kids healthy so they can go and shoot their eyes out.”
In this case, we would have been better off not getting a toy at all. Come on Subway, you can do better than that.
January 21st, 2008 at 4:27 pm
You know, my daughter’s three and a half and I still couldn’t trust her not to put those discs in her mouth (and choke…yikes). That’s just not good design.
A bike tool would have been so much cooler, or some little basket or bag to attach to a bike. Those things make little kids so proud. Makes me think whoever approved this campaign does not have kids.
- Lea at Quick Serve Kids
January 21st, 2008 at 10:13 pm
you’re absolutely right on the toy. Just doesn’t seem worth anything: no play value, not even a short time with fun. When our boy was young, we got him the “3 and under” toys long past his toddlerhood because regardless of the play value, they were safer.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:15 am
The real problem, is this thing, after a week, is still being played with. Grrrr. I’m going to have to hide it away and then eventually chuck it.
P.S. I wrote Subway to complain about this and despite telling me I would get a response in 48 hours, have not received one yet.