to not understand why people consider McDonalds to be a "treat"

[TalkinPeace]

if I want a family "treat" meal I go somewhere with fresh, favoursome food made especially for us.

Why do people take their kids somewhere that sells the lowest common denominator of food and call it a "treat" ?

Because it's very cheap and poor people don't have much money.

is it actually that cheap for what you get?

Children like it, no waiting about, relaxed and informal, no judging

the real issue is why do so many NOT think of it as a rare "treat", and consider it acceptable fare several times a week.

it is not that cheap, we cannot afford to go there at £7 a throw

Because its not very healthy do people see it as an occasional 'treat'?

I'm with you though. McDonalds is not a treat. The Fat Duck would be a treat.

Good for you. We like McDs and it's an occasional treat because it is a load of rubbish and unhealthy, so we don't have it very often.

Dd enjoys the chicken.nuggets and she gets a toy. Cheap fast fun.

*so not do

Yes it's very cheap, like £5 for a meal.

Round here that wouldn't get you coffee and cake in a coffe shop (south east ) - in fact a coffee is £4 in my local coffee shop.

I went out for a sandwich last week and it cost £9 in a coffee shop.

9 fucking quid, more than an hour at minimum wage.

It's cheap and children like it. Not everybody can afford to take their children to somewhere that offers "fresh, favoursome food made especially for them".

YABU. It might be hard to see that all the way from that horse you're on though...

Is it just because they don't have it very often? Like a cream cake, or ... something else.

i bet you live in Lewes Laurie

Surely, healthy and nutritious should be everyday and naughty stuff should be left for 'treat days'. Happy meals, toy, chicken nuggets and chips. Certainly these things don't get eaten on a normal day in our house.

What adults consider as treats is far different from what children do.

YABU by the way

"The Fat Duck would be a treat"

Ah yes, as a £200 meal is in the reach of most people.

This place is beyond parody sometimes.

OP I'm amazed you need this explained to you, but to those who go to McDonald's, the food there is tasty.

Furthermore, I despise this consent that you either like fast food or "fresh flavoursome food". Many people like both.

£9 for a sandwich?? what was it, caviar and gold leaf?

DD loves an ocassional McDs and knows it shouldn't be a regular thing.

You're just being an enormous snob.

Because kids like the bright appeal and toys... as you insinuate with it being unhealthy it's not somewhere that people go a lot ... so once in a while is a treat.

But you probably already know that.

the real issue is why do so many NOT think of it as a rare "treat", and consider it acceptable fare several times a week

This.

Children like it. It is fatty and unhealthy, therefore should be considered a treat once every blue moon.

My DC won't eat it. And you won't hear me complaining about that!
(Except when I want to feed them quickly and the only option is the £9 sandwich, at which point I do mutter about it!)

I've just been to lunch in Ikea.
Less than £5 a meal.
Real food (smoked salmon, salad and extra bowl of salad)

the kids meals are even cheaper - and NOT stuffed full of fat, salt and sugar

Nope, bog standard club sandwich - bacon/cheese/lettuce.

In Hertfordshire Nigella .

Children like it. Some have play areas. There is the chance of a helium balloon. You eat with your fingers.
I like the quickness, and sadly yes it's the cheapest place (bar a supermarket cafe when they do those kids-eat-free deals) I can find.
I treat for ME would be getting to eat "flavoursome food" with no dcs!