Why do people love to sneer at McDonalds so much

[FinnyStory]

And blame them for obesity?

A Big Mac has 508 calories, a lot but not excessive if that's your lunch once in a while. A Costa Brie and Bacon panini has 517 calories, a no more satisfying or nutritionally valid choice surely?

In Prezzo, their hummus starter has over 600 calories! They have mains at over 1000 calories and their menu is similar to many other restaurants more acceptable to MNetters, which is why I looked them up, not because I have anything against Prezzo.

At least in McDonalds you can choose a salad or a lighter wrap if you want it, very many coffee shops and cafes don't even offer those things.

IMO McDonalds have made far more effort on these things than most and yet as soon as people talk about obesity, it won't be long before families who frequent McDonalds are vilified, although a gastropup or more upmarket restaurant chain seems to be considered OK?

I'm a very conscious cook healthwise. We eat a lot of vegetables, cook from scratch, salad with fish for lunch most days. Use olive oil. Desert is plain yoghurt et cetera. A dietician can't find fault with my diet. Even I don't see the problem with a mcdonalds once or twice a year. I think it's snobbery.

I think it is a mix of different factors. The food itself: yes there are a few healthier options but look at most DC’s tray, they have the happy meal with fries, not one with carrot sticks. Most adults have a burger with fries and soda, possibly several burgers.
Then it is also about the clientele...

Snobbery and an association between junk food and the poor, imo (even though it's clear that McDonald's and takeaways in general are consumed by most sectors of society).

I love McDonald's. I eat there weekly, usually for breakfast and have done for years. I'm a size 10 and about as far from the stereotypes about typical McDonald's customers as you can get.

Growing up we were never ever allowed to go to McDonalds. Wimpy's was fine as they had cutlery, but McDonald's was an absolute no as there were no knives and forks and you had to, shock horror, eat with your hands.

Guess which I prefer now? McDonald's coffee is actually really good, the wraps are good, I find the beef a bit grainy but love the chicken burgers. And I would never turn down a sausage and egg McMuffin.

All the fuss about McDonald's being made of chemicals and not real meat reminds me of the rumour that used to go round after KFC rebranded that they had to do it, as they could no longer legally call themselves Kentucky Fried Chicken as the chicken didn't actually contain any real chicken

Snobbery and an association between junk food and the poor, imo (even though it's clear that McDonald's and takeaways in general are consumed by most sectors of society)

Ha ha, you ain't poor if you can afford to eat in McDonalds.
I could feed a family with a good wholesome meal, cooked from scratch, you know real food, not shit, for the fraction it costs to eat there.

I don't like McDonalds as I'm not a fan of burgers. However, my kids love them and we do get it about once very 6 weeks-ish. Also DH is partial to a fillet-o-fish burger.

It all looks fairly fresh to me as the turnover is so high. Not being left under some warming lamp for ages like some gastropubs. And certainly doesn't look greasy.

NoSleepInTheHeat
Then it is also about the clientele...
Was this a tongue in cheek comment? 🤔🤔🤔

@haba

She tried one a few months ago, she had one last week - doesn't drink the whole small one because its a novelty right now.
She only drinks water, not because we only give her that but, she doesn't like cordial. I don't see an issue with a milkshake or a sugar laden treat occasionally.

We went to the beach a few weeks ago and we all had Cotton Candy, Rock and Ice Cream.
I know what it's like to worry about my food intake every day, I DO NOT want my children to see or feel that anxiety around food that I do.
Hence the reason, moderation really does work.

I just think it tastes rank. Fries are fine. But that's it.

Ha ha, you ain't poor if you can afford to eat in McDonalds.
I could feed a family with a good wholesome meal, cooked from scratch, you know real food, not shit, for the fraction it costs to eat there.

So could I. That’s because I have cooking facilities, confidence enough in my abilities to follow recipes etc, enough spare money and ingredients to not stress out if my kid turns her nose up at whatever I’ve cooked, a cupboard full of herbs, spices etc (that I only need a pinch of per recipe, but that cost £2 each +), money on my gas / electric meter, free time to cook / access to a slow cooker, access to affordable supermarkets. I could go on. I’m sure both our medals are in the post.

Because the food is junk and the actual restaurants themselves are not pleasant places to eat a meal.

I don't particularly care how many calories or how much fat, sugar or salt a Big Mac and fries contain. But if I'm going to go out to eat something indulgent and fattening as a treat, I'd rather it was something more interesting and appealing than what McDonald's has to offer tbh. I don't have a moral objection to it, it's just a bit rubbish.

The food is just horrible, I find that many of the burgers are slathered in gloopy sauces and the horrible taste stays with you the rest of the day. I haven't tried any of the wraps or salads, although in my experience bought wraps are horrible anyway, with horrible pobby flabby bread wraps.

I quite often make both wraps and burgers at home and they are a hundred times nicer than anything I have bought in a take away place. If this makes me a snob, then I will stand up and take it.

It is true that having a McDonalds meal once a week will not do any harm at all, but it also depends what you eat on all the other days too.

The easy availability of this sort of fatty fast food very cheaply all around us is a major factor in the obesity crisis, and anyone who says it isn't is deluded.

@Emmmie

A lot of people like McDonalds. I never felt “sneered at” when eating there. Who are these people that sneer? Where are they?

Mostly on Mumsnet

Have you never seen them?

It gets to the point where if an OP even mentions the fact they stopped at Maccy Dees on the way home from swimming, they feel the need to 'justify' it with a half page essay on how they were pushed for time, had to pick a sibling up too, haven't been there since Queen Victoria's coronation.

And still, you'll get dicks piping up with "That disgusting much IS NOT A TREAT 🙄

*muck

Fun fact australians call mcdonalds "macca's". Every single one of my aussie mates says maccas and i just cannot get on board with it.

It's definitely just snobbery and the thickos on SM just follow the herd and criticise McDs because they've seen others do it, but in reality, they don't know why!

Obviously, if someone eats excessively at McD's there's a problem, but most of their customers visit only occasionally which will do them no harm at all. We go about 2 or 3 times per year.

The massive advantage of McDs and why it's so popular as the standardisation of it's food. You know exactly what you're going to get, no variation at all. When you add in the convenience, i.e. free car parks/drive through, ordering at the screen, etc., it is sometimes a better, easier option.

I maybe have a veggie burger or a egg mcmuffin about twice a year. They are both quite tasty.

The chips however are disgusting. Usually soggy and quite often cold no matter how busy the place is. Worst of all they have salt on them. I hate the taste of salt and never ever have it on chips

@Devlesko

Snobbery and an association between junk food and the poor, imo (even though it's clear that McDonald's and takeaways in general are consumed by most sectors of society)

Ha ha, you ain't poor if you can afford to eat in McDonalds.
I could feed a family with a good wholesome meal, cooked from scratch, you know real food, not shit, for the fraction it costs to eat there.

And yet McDs is still usually a lot cheaper than going into what some people would consider a "healthier" cafe, even for a quick snack. I've been in places where a simple lunchtime sandwich on it's own costs more than a McMeal. It's actually relatively cheap compared to alternatives.

@lynsey91

I maybe have a veggie burger or a egg mcmuffin about twice a year. They are both quite tasty.

The chips however are disgusting. Usually soggy and quite often cold no matter how busy the place is. Worst of all they have salt on them. I hate the taste of salt and never ever have it on chips

Do what we do when we get cold/soggy chips - just take them back and ask for fresh. We've never had a problem doing that.

Even better if you don't want salt, just ask for them without salt and they'll give you some fresh before they add the salt.

They're actually very accommodating with special orders. Someone upthread mentioned the slimy sauces - that's easily solved - just ask for no sauce when you order!

It’s definitely snobbery. On Mumsnet it’s basically considered child abuse if you take your family there.

Fair enough if you don’t like it, but very rarely do people just say ‘it’s not for me’. Instead, they go on and on about how the nuggets are made from street rats and the milkshakes contain more oil than a tank of petrol. It’s looking down on the people that eat there.

The snobbyness comes from a self fulfilling type thing here. OUR local McDs was (pre-covid, not a clue now) full of teens in sweatpants, hoodies, baseball caps and a face full of attitude.

Most folks will walk on past...

The food to me is ok, not particularly to my taste so no big loss there. Not "sneering" at the food - but warm beef/chicken/fish on sweet bread with fries doesn't appeal - wherever it is sold. The menu may be more extensive than that but it is their marketing point and doesn't appeal to everyone .

@user1497207191 I have asked for them without salt but they have always said that's not possible.

Sorry but even when fresh they are horrible and still almost always soggy. Chips should be crisp. Although skinny chips are not very nice anywhere. I like proper decent size chips, crisp on the outside and fluffy inside

EssentialHummus

I'm sure you deserve a medal my love, but I was commenting on the looking down on poor people.
Stating that you aren't poor if you can afford to eat there. So the snobbiness is just that, and not looking down because people are poor, but for other reasons.

Mine are not value for money, awful dirty places to eat. I like a knife and fork with my food, and I'm fussy who I dine with.
Teens are awful and loud and I like to eat and digest my food without being forced out of the door for spotty teens to eat.
I have a spotty teen myself and don't choose to eat with her friends either, unless a special occasion.
Then it wouldn't be mcDonalds I assure you.

It’s just a big-name example of the crap processed “food” people are used to eating these days. There are plenty of equally gross takeaways and “restaurants” about but there seems to be a McDonald’s everywhere! Can’t escape seeing them. The brand is synonymous with junk food.

@lynsey91

I maybe have a veggie burger or a egg mcmuffin about twice a year. They are both quite tasty.

The chips however are disgusting. Usually soggy and quite often cold no matter how busy the place is. Worst of all they have salt on them. I hate the taste of salt and never ever have it on chips

Just order them without salt - you'll get a fresh batch of fries cooked just for you!

We don't go often as our nearest is a 90 minute round trip, but I'm partial to some chicken nuggets with sweet and sour sauce! Love a McFlurry too