It was only a few posts ago when I expressed my disgust at the so-called “obesity epidemic” and how it’s ruining everything for kids these days. But with Christmas right around the corner, I was reminded of one of the most egregious fallouts of the problem.

Back in 2007, the government started to toy around with the idea of passing a law that would limit advertising “unhealthy” products to kids. The list of unhealthy products was obviously lengthy, but one category stood tall above the rest: cereal.

Cereal commercials were the light beer ads of childhood. They were plentiful, they were unique, and some of them were awesome. One such commercial stood tall above the rest. Even without the picture above, I’m sure you’d know what I was talking about. It’s no secret. The legendary Fruity Pebbles Christmas Commercial has already been documented here and on many other places throughout the web for being the greatest thing that ever happened, ever.

And it’s that fact that makes my blood start to boil.

This situation is the perfect example of what I’ve mentioned many times before. The commercials aren’t just about the product. That ad never made me get Fruity Pebbles. It didn’t make me beg and plead with my parents to feed them to me. My folks weren’t buying them and that was that. But I still loved this spot. It just embodied Christmas and it made me happy every time I saw it.

I didn’t even like the Flintstones that much, but this commercial was pure gold.

It’s a memory that me and many, many other people have taken with them into adulthood. Now, there’s no chance for kids to allow themselves to enjoy things like this.

The Trix Rabbit, Lucky the Leprechaun, Count Chocula, and dozens of other meal-time mascots have been extinguished. Instead of being the stars of the small-screen they were destined to be, they’re trapped on box art and not getting the attention they deserve.

Just like McDonaldland, the characters provided loads of entertainment in between programming. They lived in worlds that inspired creativity and imagination. It may not seem like much to you now, as an adult, but these ads were a big part of our childhood.

As we get older and jaded, seeing Snap, Crackle and Pop on TV can be calming and reassuring. It brings us back to a simpler time, reminds us of our innocence and maybe makes us smile on an otherwise bad day.

Childhood just seems so sterile now. A friend of mine was telling me how his kids can’t bring in most classic treats to school on their birthdays anymore. I mean, really? Is this what we’re coming to?

Moderation is the message, sure, but we don’t need to explicitly say that in advertising. Let the parents be the mean ones telling kids they can’t eat candy all day. It’s always been like that.

Big companies need to get over it and stop bowing to the nonsense. Be unashamed and unwilling to bend in the face of unfounded public pressure. It’s bad enough that my kids won’t know what a music video is. Do we have to rob them of cereal commercials too? What’s next - shuttering up Toys “R” Us?

It’s time for Cap'n Crunch to man up and put his military skills to good use. Lead the charge, oh Cap'n. I will proudly fall in line to assist you in your reclamation of glory.

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