Holy mackerel! Had no idea how much fat was in some of these kids meals. Do these companies not realize that we're in the middle of an obesity crisis? Kids today are really struggling with their weight. They do not need corporate America using toys and cartoon characters to sell food as unhealthy as this. Unbelievable.

I knew these meals could not be healthy but I had no idea they were so awful! I am definitely not feeding this to my kids.

Really, B. Boardman? Really? I wouldn't put the blame on the companies. They are living the American dream. The blame should be put on the parents who let their kids eat this stuff. Having it every once in a while is fine. I know some parents who eat this more than once a week. Don't say the toys are at fault either. If a parent was doing their job, their little kid wouldn't be able to convince them or whine enough to force them to go eat at these places. I wish people would, for once, stop blaming corporations and other people for their own ignorance and choices.

Marketing is a powerful tool. Not everyone is as skeptical and untrusting as I am, and even I had no idea exactly HOW bad the kids meals were. 37 grams of fat? Nearly 900 calories in one meal? Geez. That's more fat, salt and calories than an adult needs in one meal, and it's aimed specifically at kids.

McDonalds is in the business of making money, not in teaching people about healthy eating and calorie control. The issue of becoming healthier is complicated and it's quite easy for people to say "don't eat fast food all the time" but a lot harder for some people to make that change.

Because all young children earn money with their jobs and drive their cars to the local fast food places, right? Isn't that what happens?

Don't buy the food for your kids if you don't want them to have it! All these nannies want to lecture about happy meal toys, cartoon characters and corporations causing these problems. Just feed your children better and teach them about a balanced diet.

I'm shocked that people are shocked by this.

Have you not seen Fast Food Nation, Super Size Me, Fast Food Nation, or even just the news paper.

If you are aware obesity is a huge problem with children, and don't do your part to look out for your child by doing research, I blame you, not McDonald's.

It's up to the parents to set good examples. Again, once in a great while may be OK, but these meals do not have enough nutritional value to serve the growing needs of children. Grown-ups planning healthy meals is the way to go!

Forget the kids meals' for the moment and take a look at the saturated fat, cholesterol, & sodium content in the regular food.

We regulate tobacco in the US because of its deleterious health effects, yet allow all the additives to cigarettes. Why do the fast food joints get a pass, when their products continue to inflict severe health effects as well?

Once my wife and I decided to begin eating healthier, we've been continually stunned by how much fat and other garbage we'd been eating prior to our daily decision to eat smarter.

Peter did you mean to add Food, Inc?. That's a great documentary, too. And any books by Michael Pollan.

Earl - we regulate tobacco in this country because it is a painless way for politicians to collect tax money. After all, who is going to protest the extreme taxes put on those cancer sticks? Especially when the tax revenue is often (supposedly, at least) aimed at programs to help the children? I assume you have a choice as to whether you buy and use tobacco products. As long a smoker does not infringe on my right to breathe air that is smoke free, he/she is free to choose to smoke away, in my opinion. In 2010, a smoker can hardly argue that he/she is unaware of the dangers.

And why do fast food joints get all of the bad press? Most restaurants have menus filled with high calorie, high fat, and high sodium items. Most fast food places have some healthy choices on their menus. As with tobacco products, people have a choice whether to consume these items or not.

I am glad that Earl and his wife have exercised their freedom to choose to eat healthier. Would that more Americans made that choice. But it is a choice. Let's keep it that way...

Have a look at Michael Moore's movie "Capitalism: A Love Story." He follows one family of four who find it cheaper to buy 4 fat-, salt-, and calorie-laden breakfast sandwiches from McDonald's than 1 pound of peaches at the supermarket. That's one reason why there is such great obesity among lower income families. The fast food conglomerates make it cheaper to eat crap than to eat healthy food.

Of course it's cheaper to buy the food from McDonalds! That is the business model of fast food restaurants. If they made their food more expensive, it completely defeats the purpose.

Just because it's cheap and you can afford it, doesn't mean you have to eat it! That's the beauty of a free society like we have, you have choices and you have to live with the consequences.