🧃Inside The Food Detectives Workshop: Become A Marketing Master

Ever wondered why a kid is suddenly obsessed with a hip new cereal or neatly packaged snack you’ve never heard of before?

Spoiler alert: it’s not an accident.

Food companies spend billions every year trying to grab your child’s attention — and they’re very good at it. From Saturday morning cartoons to TikTok, they know exactly how to make kids crave what they’re selling.

🔍Inside The Food Detectives Workshop

In our free workshop, students learn how to think like a marketer so that they can outsmart them.

  • What Marketing Strategies is the company using to make you want to buy the food?

  • Who is the Target Audience? Bright colors and cartoon characters mean it is being marketed to kids, while health claims or celebrities may mean a product is being marketed to an adult.

Once students learn how to identify the Marketing Strategies and Target Audience, they can then start to analyze the product more objectively - is there really fruit in Froot Loops? - instead of falling for the emotional reaction the food marketers are aiming for.

🏠Bringing Food Detective Skills Home

Food companies know that marketing to children works, and the majority of the billions spent each year goes to marketing highly processed foods. So, how can you, as a teacher, parent, or guardian, help your children become smart consumers?

🎯 Why Target Kids?

Kids influence over $100 billion in food purchases every year — both directly and indirectly. Even if they don’t hold the wallet, they have serious pester power. Marketers know that if they hook a kid early, they may gain a loyal customer for life.

đŸ“ș The Tactics: How They Market to Kids

Here are some of the most common ways food companies get kids' attention:

1. Bright Colors and Characters

Packages are designed like toys: cartoon mascots, glittery fonts, rainbow colors. These visual cues are made to scream “fun!” — even if what's inside is ultra-processed and loaded with sugar.

2. TV and YouTube Ads

Commercials are fast-paced, loud, and entertaining. They often show kids having a blast while eating the product — creating an emotional connection to the food.

3. Product Placement

That bag of chips or soft drink in a popular TV show or YouTube skit? That’s not random — it’s paid placement.

4. Online Games & Apps

Many brands create their own “advergames” — fun online games that feature branded characters and products. Kids engage with these without even realizing they’re being marketed to.

5. Influencers and Social Media

Social media influencers — even kid influencers — often feature snacks, candy, and fast food. It’s the modern version of peer pressure
 multiplied by millions of followers.

🧠 Why It Matters

Marketing isn’t inherently bad — but when it’s designed to push high-sugar, high-fat, ultra-processed foods to kids who are still developing critical thinking skills, it becomes a health issue.

Research links heavy exposure to junk food advertising with:

  • Increased calorie consumption

  • Higher preferences for sugary or salty foods

  • Higher risk of childhood obesity

And these early habits often carry into adulthood.

đŸ‘šâ€đŸ‘©â€đŸ‘§â€đŸ‘Š What Can Grown Ups Do?

✅ 1. Teach Media Literacy

Start young! Ask questions like:

  • “What do you think this ad is trying to get you to do?”

  • “Do you think this cereal really makes you a superhero?” The goal isn’t to shame, but to spark curiosity and awareness.

✅ 2. Limit Exposure Where You Can

You can’t block every ad, but you can:

  • Put snack foods like cereal, chips, and crackers into clear containers at home so that kids see the foods in your pantry without the flashy labels

  • Choose games and apps without food-based ads

✅ 3. Make Grocery Shopping a Learning Moment

Look at labels together. The next time you’re in the grocery store together, ask “can you find something with a cartoon character? A Health claim?” Etc. The goal is to keep those detective skills sharp, not to demonize or penalize any particular food choices.

✅ 4. Celebrate Real Food

Make fruits, veggies, and homemade meals an exciting part of your routine. Get kids involved in cooking and presentation. When kids feel ownership, they’re building a healthy relationship with their food choices.

💬 Final Word:

Kids are growing up in a world where marketing is everywhere — and that's not going to change. But with a little awareness and a lot of conversation, you can help raise a child who’s not just a consumer, but a critical thinker.

Because the best defense against flashy ads and cartoon-covered boxes?
A kid who knows what's behind the curtain — and who’s confident in making choices that reflect their preferences, not the flashy tactics used by those powerful food marketers.

Kelly Lake