Page 18 | To take DD 5 to McDonald's every other weekend?

quincyquince · 2025-03-27T18:51:31+00:00

She's gluten free, so has a portion of small chips and either a small mcflurry or orange juice or sauce with the chips. We go after swimming. This is ok, right? My friend thinks it's awful that she goes twice a month. But it's not like she's having the processed bread and cheese and stuff all the time?

Onelifeonly · 27/03/2025 19:58

OldCottageGreenhouse · 27/03/2025 19:27

Don’t be so utterly ridiculous! “No way” to Chips once every two weeks?!? You’re just being contrary for attention.

Try having a DC with ASD who only eats chips, sliced carrots & chicken fillets every single day without fail, even though I never willingly gave said DC chips from the moment of birth! Tried it once at school and like many Autistic DC, was hooked on that one meal and stopped eating anything else from that moment forward. Then spent 5 years working with an NHS dietician who has tried & failed to get DC eating other things and has reassured me, in detail, around 400 times that what my DC is eating is more than meeting child’s nutritional requirements and is perfectly healthy.
DC’s GP regaled a story of a school friend of his whom only ever ate jam sandwiches. Not just for school lunches but every meal. He’s now a rugby player for rugby union and is 6’3. Dr said “Most people don’t realise that the majority of food these days is fortified, even things you’d never imagine. It’s overconsumption that’s the biggest issue”.

Just imagine if I came onto MN and said “Is it ok for my child to eat chips every day?” People like you would have a field day. When the reality is, it’s really not that bad! Ffs the poor Victorians living in the slums, ate bread & butter for the majority of their meals and this was long before fortified bread & butter. Can you even imagine….
If anything, demonising treats is going to set up more bad habits with regards to food, than allowing them in moderation!

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I taught an autistic child once who would only eat potatoes.

dontjudgemeagain · 27/03/2025 19:58

I was never allowed McDs or any fast-food as a child - some of these comments really remind me of what my mum used to say - and now I'm an overweight adult with a binge eating disorder. Teach her about fun stuff in moderation and she'll be grand.

PeppermintPatty10 · 27/03/2025 19:57

Of course it's fine! Sounds like a lovely afternoon.

Stressfordays · 27/03/2025 19:57

MrsSunshine2b · 27/03/2025 19:55

@FreeSausages she's right you know, I ate chips as a child and I still eat chips now, it's been a 30 year habit so far.

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I've given my kids a pretty serious chip addiction then 🤣

Gelatibon · 27/03/2025 19:57

SwanOfThoseThings · 27/03/2025 19:52

Less processed? A McFlurry?

Ingredients: EITHER: Allergen Ingredient: Skimmed MILK, Sugar, Cream (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Whey Powder (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Glucose Syrup, Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Carrageenan), Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Flavouring.
OR: Allergen Ingredient: Reconstituted Skimmed MILK, Cream (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Sugar, Whey Powder (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Glucose Syrup, Allergen Ingredient: Skimmed MILK Powder, Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Carrageenan), Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Flavouring.

Galaxy Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (36%) (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skimmed MILK Powder, Cocoa Mass, Vegetable Fat (Palm), Lactose (MILK), Whey Powder (MILK), MILK Fat, Whey Solids (MILK), Emulsifier (SOYA Lecithin), Natural Vanilla Flavouring), Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Sweetened Condensed MILK (MILK), Sugar), Water, Thickener (Modified Starch).

Galaxy Chocolate Drops

Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Allergen Ingredient: Skimmed MILK Powder, Cocoa Mass, Lactose (from Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Vegetable Fat (Palm), Whey Powder (from Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Allergen Ingredient: MILK Fat, Emulsifier (Allergen Ingredient: SOYA Lecithin), Natural Vanilla Flavour.

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Have a look at fancier brands and the ingredients are much the same. Or is all ice cream evil?

faerietales · 27/03/2025 19:56

Fancycheese · 27/03/2025 19:55

Good. Junk food should be normalised and kids need to know how to be around it and eat it in moderation. We live in a world where it’s everywhere. You’ll potentially set your child up for a lifetime of issues and hang ups with food if you ban a particular food type outright. It’s a small portion of chips and ice cream a couple of times of month.

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Exactly. My parents did the whole "no junk food" thing and it set me up with a whole load of issues around food. They even acknowledge that they got the balance wrong and should have been more relaxed.

Winter42 · 27/03/2025 19:56

My kids are probably healthier and have a more varied diet than the majority of their peers. They had a mcdonalds breakfast most weeks after swimming lessons when they were younger. Dont give it a second thought.

Fancycheese · 27/03/2025 19:56

And OP, your friend is a sanctimonious arse. Tell them to mind their own bloody business.

Fancycheese · 27/03/2025 19:55

SwanOfThoseThings · 27/03/2025 19:34

It's normalising junk food. The DD won't always be of an age where her mum can monitor what she is eating, and good habits should be formed before it's too late.

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Good. Junk food should be normalised and kids need to know how to be around it and eat it in moderation. We live in a world where it’s everywhere. You’ll potentially set your child up for a lifetime of issues and hang ups with food if you ban a particular food type outright. It’s a small portion of chips and ice cream a couple of times of month.

faerietales · 27/03/2025 19:55

FreeSausages · 27/03/2025 19:52

you can laugh react to my post all you like love, you’ve answered your own question - it’s both. They’re an addictive combination when processed like this, more you have the more you want.

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And heaven forbid anyone ever eats food that tastes good and that they want to eat again, right?

Potatoes and oil aren't bad for you, so who bloody cares if she wants to eat it again?

MrsSunshine2b · 27/03/2025 19:55

FreeSausages · 27/03/2025 19:52

you can laugh react to my post all you like love, you’ve answered your own question - it’s both. They’re an addictive combination when processed like this, more you have the more you want.

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@FreeSausages she's right you know, I ate chips as a child and I still eat chips now, it's been a 30 year habit so far.

Dramatic · 27/03/2025 19:54

We go every week and the kids get a full meal and fizzy pop so she'd have a field day with me

Tryonemoretime · 27/03/2025 19:54

JustMeHello · 27/03/2025 19:07

That's great news! I'm currently waiting for a coeliac diagnosis and getting really stressed about what I'm going to be able to eat if I'm out and about.

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Don't worry. I'm a coeliac. When out and about, M and S do GF sandwiches and wraps. Boots do GF sushi Nd I think they sell GF sandwiches. Most restaurants offer GF food. It's fine!

LBFseBrom · 27/03/2025 19:53

I think it's fine, it's a nice treat for your daughter. Your friend is batty, it's not as if it is the little girl's staple diet. Honestly, some people.

FreeSausages · 27/03/2025 19:52

faerietales · 27/03/2025 19:42

What is it that's addictive then? The potatoes or the oil?

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you can laugh react to my post all you like love, you’ve answered your own question - it’s both. They’re an addictive combination when processed like this, more you have the more you want.

Mammyloveswine · 27/03/2025 19:52

My kids have a takeaway twice a week sometimes depending on our schedules! I’m a single parent and sometimes it just makes life easier! Your friend is a judgemental twat!

SwanOfThoseThings · 27/03/2025 19:52

Gelatibon · 27/03/2025 19:46

Where would you take a 5yo for casual gluten free food that is less processed than the offer from MCDonalds?

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Less processed? A McFlurry?

Ingredients: EITHER: Allergen Ingredient: Skimmed MILK, Sugar, Cream (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Whey Powder (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Glucose Syrup, Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Carrageenan), Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Flavouring.
OR: Allergen Ingredient: Reconstituted Skimmed MILK, Cream (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Sugar, Whey Powder (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Glucose Syrup, Allergen Ingredient: Skimmed MILK Powder, Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Carrageenan), Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Flavouring.

Galaxy Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (36%) (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skimmed MILK Powder, Cocoa Mass, Vegetable Fat (Palm), Lactose (MILK), Whey Powder (MILK), MILK Fat, Whey Solids (MILK), Emulsifier (SOYA Lecithin), Natural Vanilla Flavouring), Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Sweetened Condensed MILK (MILK), Sugar), Water, Thickener (Modified Starch).

Galaxy Chocolate Drops

Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Allergen Ingredient: Skimmed MILK Powder, Cocoa Mass, Lactose (from Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Vegetable Fat (Palm), Whey Powder (from Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Allergen Ingredient: MILK Fat, Emulsifier (Allergen Ingredient: SOYA Lecithin), Natural Vanilla Flavour.

Onelifeonly · 27/03/2025 19:52

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 27/03/2025 19:00

But why can you not do a treat that's not full of rubbish, like taking her somewhere that does proper cake made with real ingredients?

Meaning tons of sugar and butter? Very healthy.

Coffeeishot · 27/03/2025 19:51

theDudesmummy · 27/03/2025 19:41

Food is about more than nutrition. My memories of some of the very un-nutritious stuff I ate as a child are very dear to me!

I agree with this not everything needs to be nutritional all the time!

Hyperbowl · 27/03/2025 19:50

YABU to be friends with a judgemental busybody of a person like that. Sounds absolutely draining and certainly not good friend material.

Fagli · 27/03/2025 19:50

Tbrh · 27/03/2025 19:10

Personally I think you're setting her up for bad habits in the future. Occasionally sure, but every second weekend, no way.

I doubt it. There are loads of things I ate as a child that I don’t eat now. I used to have fruit or yoghurt after a meal and a proper pudding every Sunday. I never bother with that now and haven’t since I left home.

Stressfordays · 27/03/2025 19:50

And before anyone starts, all my kids are a healthy weight and all play sports to high level so very fit 😁 their happy meals and big macs haven't hurt them, quite clearly.

Stressfordays · 27/03/2025 19:49

What is the drama with giving your kids a McDonald's? Mine have had it twice in a week before now 🤣 full meals too. Bad mum.

MrsSunshine2b · 27/03/2025 19:49

tarheelbaby · 27/03/2025 19:37

Treats after swimming are essential no matter the child's age. I remember my treats from nearly 50 years ago!

My DDs loved a packet of crisps - zero nutrition there but swimming drains you (no pun intended ...).

My Dad always bought me a packet of Skips from the vending machine after swimming. If I ever eat prawn cocktail Skips now, I get a faint smell of chlorine.

arcticpandas · 27/03/2025 19:48

SwanOfThoseThings · 27/03/2025 19:34

It's normalising junk food. The DD won't always be of an age where her mum can monitor what she is eating, and good habits should be formed before it's too late.

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It's a treat twice a month FFS. I personally prefer healthy homecooked meals because I'm a vegetarian but I still take my kids to MCD or for a pizza every once in a while because they like it. My mum was a health addict (home made sour dough, garden vegetables etc etc) and I still remember how good white toasted bread with butter tasted at friend's house. As soon as I started having some money on my own I binged on crisps, sweets, chocolat : everything that was "forbidden" at home.

I think it's best for our children if we can have a relaxed approach to food and focus on variety.