DS1 is eating approx 10 meals per week from McDonalds

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He's 18yo and I suppose it's his problem but....

He's working there. It's not supposed to be long term but while he applies him self to achieving his dream. I can;t knock him for that, he's working hard both at work and on the "project" and paying his way. He's also doing well at McDonalds with management opportunities etc.

However, he gets one free meal per shift and a staff discount. So he's basically having the free meal in his break and buying another either at the beginning or end of his shift, depending on the timings, every day he's working. He's mostly working late shifts, so he's not at home for our home cooked family dinner, although I do leave him a plate to warm up next day, which he usually eats, so he's getting maybe 4/5 decent meals a week.

So far there doesn't seem to be any adverse affects. He's still tall and slim, his skin's fine, he's well, he's still playing sport at a fairly decent level.

How long until it start's taking it's toll?

We had two. McDonald's meals in a day one, breakfast and dinner. We called it doubledonalds.

Point him in the direction of the fruit bowl.

Leave him to it, it won't be forever, be grateful for his work ethic. I can't believe some of the replies on here, you'd think he had a cocaine habit. Don't bother with the 'crunchy lettuce leaves and celery sticks', he's 18 not 8.

I wouldn't worry too much , if he was an 18 year old at uni he would probably be eating a lot worse and drinking lots too

The NHS recommend anyone eating more than 90g of red meat a day to reduce it to 70g because of the risk of colorectal cancer. I don’t know how much meat is in a McDonald’s burger having never eaten one, but 90g isn’t much so I can suppose he is eating more than that.
That said 18 year olds often think they are immortal so won’t care a jot about NHS guidelines.

Yep I worked in mcdonalds at that age and was doing similar. Used to work the breakfast shift, so breakfast, then a happy meal..... worked there for 5 years!

Novelty wears off and I took my own food in in the end!

My friend worked in McDs and said the 'best' burgers were the just expensive ones. She said the cheap burgers you could tell were a bit yuck by how they spend and what came out of them. If you're actually cooking, you'll soon realise a quarter pounder is better than 2 normal burgers.

Let him get on with it. I lived off one Ginster pastie, cereal, zero fruit and veg and loads of booze in my first year of uni when I was 18. My tongue actually grew a black fungus I was so unhealthy! I'm ok now and I'm 46.

The burgers are all made from exactly the same stuff. It's just the size of them that changes.

One for a cheeseburger, one for the QP.

I used to do the same as a teen working there. Filet o'fish, fries, milkshake and a hot apple pie. Every meal time!

I thought some are fattier than others. Beef fat is still beef. She said the posh ones were better quality meat.

I worked in Mac Donald's at that age and the novelty DID wear off!!! I did have a degree of self awareness though in terms of the crap I was eating. I worked with many staff where the novelty did not wear off...

@MerryMarigold

I work for McDonald's. The burgers are made from exactly the same meat.

I wouldn't worry too much, short term.

My sons have mates with shockingly bad diets. They look a bit whey-faced, but are slim and seemingly healthy. They'll grow out of it.

Another vote for leave him be.
Certainly don't make a packed lunch for him as suggested by a PP!