You know how they say “you go chop breakfast”, omoooo mine was brunch!😩
Hands down, one of my most traumatic experiences, and perhaps the beginning of my trust issues. During my primary school years, noodles were the best meal option for any child.
😄You’d arrive at school the next day boasting to your classmates, “I had noodles with plenty of chicken yesterday.” Or you open your lunchbox with pride and all the shoulder pads that begin to mount as you bask in the envy of others saying, “Your mom gave you noodles, my mom gave me yam and egg… but you are too busy enjoying the moment to give two hoots about what other people’s mothers gave them for lunch. 🥰
But how did noodles achieve this status? It was the presentation in ads.
The ads showed you that when you unwrapped noodles and dropped them into boiling water, what emerged and landed on your plate were well-garnished noodles topped with green, yellow, red, and runner beans, with a large chicken drumstick on the side. The wrapper showed the same.
🤕My dilemma: Finally, it was my turn to boast at school for the first time that I was going to have noodles for lunch. My mom had promised that my aunt would bring my lunch pack, and it was going to be noodles. The joy was palpable. I had pictured all the garnishes I had seen in ads and had told my friends in class to prepare to be wowed. Lunchtime arrived. My aunt had delivered my lunchbox. The tension mounted, counting down to my proud moment, my turn, the Queen, the kid who would be welcomed into the school’s “Rich Kid” gang.
🤮Lo and behold, it was plain noodles and stew!! Not only had my aunt not garnished my food with all the necessary colors codes, she had put stew in my food! It was pure horror! The torture! I was disgraced, disappointed, shocked—no wow moment for me. No rich kid gang. 😩Just looks of confusion.
Araolu even said, “I think this is spaghetti and fish.”
Wait, what? She put fish? Where is my chicken drumstick!!! I died inside. 😩
We talk a lot about the power of ads and the importance of authenticity in storytelling and brand messaging. As strategists, creators, marketers, all these little details matter. Our ads go a long way and touch hearts differently. Let’s keep it real.