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Disney marketing now includes healthy foods

Colleen Duran's photo
Philadelphia Family Health Examiner

The Disney marketing juggernaut has used their various movie and cartoon characters to market thousands of products over the past sixty years. It’s become expected to find an entire aisle of toys dedicated to the characters from their most recent movie or cable show in the local Toys R Us.  But Disney characters have become even more pervasive than that - now you can find them in such unlikely places as your optometrist’s office.  Yes, Disney eyeglass frames are available for the little girl who loves all things princess.  Who knew that Snow White could help your child see more clearly?  Needless to say, if there is a product that is made especially for consumers under the age of 12, Disney has probably made an attempt at marketing it.

Your weekly trip to the grocery store is no different. When your kids walk with you down the aisles, they're sure to be drawn to Disney products there, too: Winnie the Pooh smiles from the front of a box of sugary cereal, Hannah Montana calls to them from the yogurt display, and in the check-out aisle there’s a package of gum with Zac Efron posing on the wrapper. You know what you’re about to hear: “It’s Troy, Mommy!! Can I get some, please?” Never mind that Pooh’s cereal lists sugar as one of its top three ingredients.  Ditto on the yogurt.  And there’s no need to even consider the nutritional value of the gum – there isn’t any.  Nevertheless, we buy the stuff anyway.  Perhaps because Pooh has always made us smile, too. 

Princess Pomegranates 

Well, perhaps now there is a reason to feel good about being influenced by Disney. The country's strongest brand name is now promoting a line of organic foods called Disney Gardens. In the light of the green movement, coupled with rising instances of childhood obesity, it seems Disney has been rethinking its marketing image. Teaming up with Imagination Farms, Disney Gardens is offering products such as Hannah Montana Bananas, High School Musical Avocados, Tinkerbell Corn on the Cob, and Mickey Mouse Eggs. Go ahead and laugh – it’s funny. And brilliant. This effort may be introducing a new world of foods to some households that arent's quite as healthy as they could be (cue the Aladdin theme song “A Whole New World”). Instead of shopping for Mickey-shaped ice cream bars, kids will instead be attracted to buy fresh and organic fruits, vegetables, and snacks. There are currently over 40 products available and some are actually comparably-priced to the other products you might find in the produce and packaged snack aisles. 

Tinkerbell Sweet Corn
Tinkerbell Sweet Corn
By checking out imagination-farms.com, families can even learn about the importance of farming and caring for our environment by seeing the actual farms their foods came from. Also on the site: Disney-themed educational games, parent tips for getting kids to eat their veggies, and a full list of Disney Garden products. Ask your local produce manager what products are available at the store nearest you; our local supermarket, the Giant Food Store in Horsham, is currently offering Disney grapes in the produce section.  The store also stocks "Foodles" snack-packs, which contain various combinations of carrot & celery sticks, pretzels, grape tomatoes, apple slices, and raisins. Hopefully, for my kids sake, those Hannah Montana bananas are not too far behind!
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, Philadelphia Family Health Examiner

Colleen Duran is a mother of two living in Horsham. Her perspective on health and prevention has changed enormously since she became a mother, inspiring a quest for in-depth information on family-related health issues. She welcomes your input and comments: DColleenKelly@comcast.net.

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