Dr. Cranium, the Midas' family doctor, warns John that his health is poor and that he is to eat only foods that are conducive to a healthy body, much to the boy's disgruntlement.

The doctor's advice is backed by John's parents, who dispose of their son's candy and have control over his spending money.

However, when he studies the coin he sees it is engraved with the image of a fat boy and the letters JM, dismissing it as an unknown token.

He then gets tired of eating chocolate and yearns once again to be able to eat foods with nutrients, viewing ham sandwiches, sliced chicken, cherries and other such prosaic fare as Earth's choicest delicacies, for the first time in his young life preferring "normal food" to candy.

Realizing as part of his reformation he ought to thank the shopkeeper for undoing all the damage, he runs back to the candy store, only to see nothing but an empty lot.

The myth of King Midas, who loved gold above all things, targets greed as its main theme, while The Chocolate Touch highlights another of the Seven Deadly Sins, gluttony.

Both stories deal with self-centeredness versus compassion, though The Chocolate Touch does so in a manner accessible to children.