Cartoon characters on food - should I just get over it?

[wishitwaseasier]

I've just been dragged round Tescos by a 3 year old demanding cartoon characters on all his food. Not sure how I feel about it - any advice on how to handle?

Leave the 3 year-old behind? Let him choose just one product with the cartoon on it? ("You can have the yoghurt or the juice but not both") Just say 'no' very firmly?

I had a very inspired moment where I decanted porridge oats into a tupperware container and stuck a pic of Postman Pat on the side, worked like a charm, 3 years on and DS still asks for Postman Pat Breakfast!! But not sure how you'd get away with it in a supermarket. Blinkers maybe?

Say no every single time and they stop asking. I have relaxed a bit now they're older(if something we need is on special and happens to have a TV character on it for example) but when they're little if you say yes once you get tantrums asked every time.

I could never pay extra just for the packaging

It has its advantages. My dcs ate a whole bag of apples in 2 days because it had Buzz Lightyear on the packaging.
I only allow the cartoons in the fruit and veg dept but if they ask for organic Mickey Mouse bananas from Tesco I don't mind it at all.

mangomay - very clever - I might be stealing that one