CPK, Stop Marketing Soda to Kids

As a dietitian and a parent, I'm very sensitive to how foods are marketed to kids.  This week I took my daughter with me to meet some family friends for dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.  Of couse when we sat down, my kids got their own Kids Menu complete with pages to color, crosswords, and word searches.

I'm not going to go into their kids menu but let's just say it is pretty standard and could use some improvement but that's another post.

After my daughter was done coloring she wanted some help with the word search.  Since she's not even reading yet, I was doing most of the work and as I tried to help her find words, I noticed what one of the word search words was, "Pepsi!" See the picture below.

Well, needless to say I was a little upset about why on earth Pepsi would need to be included in the word search.  Maybe it's just what CPK thinks makes up a healthy kids meal.  Pizza, pasta, sundae, brownie and Pepsi.  Why that's just all the good stuff a growing body needs.  Sugar, fat and salt. Yum!

So I took to Twitter and posted the tweet below. 

Thanks @calpizzakitchen for marketing soda to my kids!"Pepsi" in the wordsearch on the kids menu? Really?! twitter.com/BVMRD/status/3…
— Aaron Flores, RD (@BVMRD) April 17, 2013

I didn't expect a response at all but the good news is that tonight, CPK sent me the following tweet:

@bvmrd @caseyhinds Thanks for voicing your concern. We're in the process of making new crossword puzzles & "Pepsi" has been removed. Thanks!
— CPK Restaurants (@calpizzakitchen) April 19, 2013

I'm always amazed by the power of social media.  I'm not naive enough to think that just because of my tweet that CPK is changing it's word search, but the point is, when you notice something that goes against what you believe in, make your voice heard.

How have you noticed junk foods marketed to kids?