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| Image via Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats |
If you watch TV you must have seen some of those commercials for Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats. I must admit, I have never eaten Frosted Mini Wheats, likely because in my house it would have been just the Mini-Wheats...sans the frosting. But I really LOVE those commercials. How cute that they personified the mini wheats into these cute little "guys"? Characters we can really relate to ...so much that one little boy actually blows on the milk "cooling it down". I am clearly not the only one either, because Kellogg actually has an entire "theatre" dedicated to the little guys - Mini-Wheats Theatre. It's non-stop Frosted Mini-Wheats commercials starring the "cute little guys".
Recently, I was strolling through the pharmacy - although they are hardly ONLY pharmacies anymore. I stumbled upon a box of the Frosted Strawberry Delight. I suddenly just had to have them so I bought a box. The next morning, as I enjoyed my first bowl of cereal, I found myself considering some stuff, like, depending on how you look at this cereal it can either be really good for you or really bad for you. If you weren't going to eat the wheat, then the frosting is great because it got you to eat something healthy. But if you were going to eat the wheat anyway, then you might view the frosting as the enemy. I am in the first group. Wasn't going to eat it, the frosting helped me be "sold". I thoroughly enjoyed the cereal and felt a bit healthier having consumed it.
But there was still another dilemma lurking in the periphery of my conscience, that would not rear it's ugly head until about halfway through the box. As I was eating the cereal one morning, those cute little guys from the commercial popped into my head. I don't know why, at that moment, they did...but they just did. I suddenly found myself feeling guilty about eating the cereal now...because I wasn't eating the cereal...I was eating......the little guys. How can you? I mean... How Could I? It was tough...but I enjoyed the rest of the box.
14 comments:
How could you? So the marketing campaign gets you to buy the box, but then the same campaign with the little people makes you feel guilty because you ate them! :) made me laugh...... I probably couldn't have eaten them as I'm a vegetarian! :) Just as well I have oatmeal, no little frosted guys to feel bad about! :)
Sugared breakfast cereal is something I haven't had for about 50 years. Not because I don't live in America and cannot see the ads, however: because what I have for breakfast is bacon and eggs.
Exactly,I was waiting for the punch line!! I couldn't bring myself to eat the little guys, apart from the fact that I don't eat that stuff anyway. Would seem like canibalism, wouldn't it?
Ahh, it's the cycle of life. Despite their cuteness and personable natures, the little guys must be sacrificed to keep the wheel of life turning. Know that theirs is a noble sacrifice, and so gobble them up and chew their small, broken, mangled bodies with relish:=)
Ironic...eh? They make them cute and all but we think of cannibalism. Whoever thought advertising would have such effects. But anyway, I am a non vegetarian so worrying about gobbling "cute little guys" while having breakfast seems improbable..!
Nice thought though!
Oh man Annette...it was tough....and then...I am addicted to checking out the theatre...I hope this doesn't make me a bad person...ugh! Talk about yet another thing to worry about!
Rosanne,
That is what is so funny...I didn't grow up on sugary cereals...I was probably a teenager before I experienced my first sugary cereals....and even at that I rarely eat them...and when I do...it is full on sugary cereal....like....Lucky Charms or something like that...not something healthy masked by sugar...I just felt for them...out of no where....Like you I am a bacon and eggs gal!
Lilypond...yes it did feel like cannibalism.... Sheesh! I hope this doesn't get out!...lol
Paul...I did exactly that...and I am wrought with conflict....because while I totally enjoyed them.... I still felt sorry for what I had done.
Hajra...that is exactly what makes this whole thing weird...lol....
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I may be overly sympathetic but I do not like to eat food that has been personified. I think it is creepy.
I'm with you on this one. They are cute but I always think of the kid talking to the little guys and then downing a spoonful. Yikes! And the same goes for the M & M guys.
I think they are cute, but I dont mind eating them! desensitized... the American way.
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