Burger King announced last week they’ll be reducing the sodium in meals for kids and in some items for adults in an effort to be, or appear, more healthy.

The nation’s No. 2 hamburger chain said it will now limit sodium in its kids meals advertised to children under 12 years old to 600 milligrams or less.

Virtually every major chain has rid the majority of its menu items, if not all of them, of trans fat, which raises the level of bad cholesterol in the body and can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. Others have added healthier items like salads and yogurt parfaits to their menus, partially marketing to moms looking for lower-calorie options when eating with their kids.

I have to say, I give them credit for at least trying. But really? They could do better.

Burger King and all fast-food chains can do what they like about adding ‘healthy’ to their menus. But after reading Fast Food Nation and watching Super Size Me, I think there are more issues to be addressed other than less sodium and the addition of more nutrients. Perhaps something along the lines of sanitation in the workplace and at the meatpacking plants, food preparation and the relentless advertising thrust at children.

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Black Friday, the busiest day for shoppers and businesses, took on it’s namesake when, at a New York Wal-Mart, an employee actually died from being trampled to death by rabid shoppers.

A Wal-Mart worker was killed Friday when “out-of-control” shoppers desperate for bargains broke down the doors at a 5 a.m. sale.

People were then asked to leave the store, but apparently, death could not  sway the customers from a savvy deal, even proclaiming “Do You know how long we’ve been in line?”

Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers shouted angrily and kept shopping when store officials said they were closing because of the death, police and witnesses said.

Among those injured, an eight month pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. depending on what you read, she was either treated for injuries or had a miscarriage. However, as the day went on, it was confirmed there was  no miscarriage.

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was knocked to the floor during the mad rush. She was hospitalized for observation, police said. Early witness accounts that the woman suffered a miscarriage were unfounded, police said.

People will do anything for a deal, I suppose.

- There are roughly 27 shopping days until Christmas. More if you give up sleep and simply shop round the clock in ceaseless 24-hour increments. Which is what our nation’s retailers would prefer you do.

Super sized shopping. To accomplish this goal, retailers have helpfully created huge “super centers” where they offer everything you could ever want, hope to want, or didn’t even think you wanted until the fluorescent lighting and Muzak wore you to a nub and you relented.

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Oprah’s annual over-the-top freebie extravaganza, better known as Oprah’s Favorite Things, got dialed down several notches this year, focusing instead on gifts you can make/purchase for very little cash.

Can you imagine finding out you were going to be in that audience, dreaming about what cool items you were going to score and then learning Oprah’s Favorite Things went on a serious spending freeze?  I’d be thinking, “Damn! I was expecting all this loot and bling and instead I got a book and a few Christmas songs. Bah humbug.” Oprah said that with the economy in the tank, it wasn’t appropriate to feature big-ticket items this year.

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With Black Friday looming ahead, many of us are looking at our lists and figuring out what we want to give those we love and what we can reasonably afford to do without losing our homes in the process.

Everyone I’ve talked to is planning a for a skinnier Santa this year. We’ve opted for one larger family gift for us with only two to three smaller items for the kids. Most of our friends are getting memberships to support some of our favorite local organizations that need support more than ever.

Homer and I have not even begun to consider gifts for ourselves. It appears we’re not alone. According to a New York Times article this week, more and more parents are opting to shun their own desires to give their kids the best Christmas they can afford.

The concept of self-sacrifice isn’t anything new. Most of us would starve lest to see our offspring experience a pang of hunger or the disappointment of an empty stocking on Christmas morn.

If times weren’t as tough as they are, what would be on your Christmas list?