The Cookie Monster promotes behavior that leads to obesity.

My opponent is clearly exaggerating the Cookie Monster's sweet tooth and love of cookies to the point of calling it an addiction, this is simply not true. As I have stated before, and will state again, the Cookie Monster in addition to his love for cookies have also endorsed and encouraged healthy foods and healthy eating behaviour. A mere addict would not champion such a cause if it conflicted with him in the first place, it would be likened to a cocaine user advocating abstinence from drugs, it would simply not make sense. If the Cookie Monster was indeed an addict then he would not have offered his endorsement and encouragement of eating healthy foods and healthy food choices, nor would he have consumed the food in the first place, in regards to the first video. The consumption of the healthy foods in the first video solidifies the fact that the Cookie Monster is capable and willing to enjoy other foods aside from his favourite cookies. In the second video, in his song "Healthy Foods" he has said, and I quote the lyrics: "When me filling up plate, Taking only cookies is all wrong! 'Cause you also got to eat Fruit or veggies and meat If you want to be healthy and strong! " Also later in the song I would like to again take another quote: Me promise that when you eat varied menu, You get more out of every meal. You need balanced diet, Come on and try it! Not believe how great you'll feel! Clearly a strong message such as that would not be muttered by an addict as Pro has tried to demonize him as such. I will give Pro credit for accurately describing the health factors which associate obesity, however my praise for his argument stops there. Cookie Monster is not obese as he has promoted a healthy lifestyle of balanced diet and healthy food choices. It's ok to enjoy snacks on occasion, and the Cookie Monster is a good example of this, bringing to life the childlike enjoyment of sweets, as a good majority of children had, or even still have upon growing up and maturing. As for Cookie Monster's consumption of cookies at the rate he does, i would like to bring to the attention of the nutritional value of a single, 1 oz cookie. Serving Size (g): 11 Calories Per Serving: 54 Calories from Fat: 20 Total Fat (g): 2 Saturated Fat (g): 1 Trans Fat: 0 Cholesterol (mg): 0 Sodium (mg): 58 Potassium (mg): N/A Total Carbohydrate (g): 8 Dietary Fiber (g): 0 Sugars (g): 5 Protein (g): 1 Citation: . http://www.nutritiondata.com... At first glance this would not appear to be the most healthy choice one could choose for a snack, and I will admit healthier alternatives exist. However if the Cookie Monster did truly promote behaviour that lead to obesity and related ailments, he would consume and endorse the Fast Food Industry? Why Fast Food as an unhealthy choice and not cookies? This answer is very simple, fast food has been notorious for being America's choice for a fast meal ticket. After work, events, or simply travel many, Americans especially, flock to fast food counters and driveways from far and wide for a quick, convenient meal. However it is this choice that I would suspect of being the culprit to the rise of obesity, and behaviours that encourage obesity, and not cookies. Lets take Jack In the Box, a popular fast food chain available in 18 states for example. At this time I would like to provide nutritional values for the Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger, a popular item amongst patrons of this particular fast food chain. Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger Serving Size (g): 301 Calories Per Serving: 940 Calories from Fat: 590 Total Fat (g): 66 Saturated Fat (g): 27 Trans Fat: 3 Cholesterol (mg): 125 Sodium (mg): 1840 Potassium (mg): 480 Total Carbohydrate (g): 45 Dietary Fiber (g): 2 Sugars (g): 10 Protein (g): 41 Citation: . http://www.jackinthebox.com... (also available for download in PDF format) In comparison, the Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger can damage one's balanced diet much more than a mere cookie could ever hope to do, and you take this into account with how popular fast food has become, the results can be staggering to say the least. With the difference in nutritional values between the two, I have taken the liberty to comprise an example of the amount of cookies that would need to be consumed to meet or exceed the value of a one Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger. Serving Size (g): 308 (28 cookies) Calories Per Serving: 972 (18 cookies) Calories from Fat: 600 (30 cookies Total Fat (g): 66 (33 cookies) Saturated Fat (g): 27 (27 cookies) Trans Fat: 0 Cholesterol (mg): 0 Sodium (mg): 1856 (32 cookies) Potassium (mg): N/A Total Carbohydrate (g): 48 (6 cookies) Dietary Fiber (g): 0 Sugars (g): 10 (2 cookies) Protein (g): 41 (41 cookies) As one could clearly see, in all categories besides sugars and total carbohydrates and nutritional values such as potassium which do not apply in said example, one would need to consume an unreasonable amount of cookies to meet and/or exceed the above values of an Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger. Combine this with the fact that there are people who will order and even consume two Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburgers in one setting dwarfs the negatives of cookies consumed by the Cookie Monster or anyone in general for that matter. According to webmd. com "the finding of the latest Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which shows that 63.1% of adults in the U. S. were either overweight or obese in 2009. " Citation: . http://www.webmd.com... Is such a trend a result of Cookie Monster and his fondness for cookies? I think not, the true culprit here for obesity and trends and behaviours that lead to obesity is not cookies, nor is it the Cookie Monster, but Fast Food Companies. However the effects of Fast Food on the health of Americans is a debate for another day. Con rests its case, with the facts and statistics provided before you, there is only one reasonable action one can take from here on out.