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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that fast food is just utter and complete rubbish??

251 replies

EveWasFramed72 · 24/05/2011 16:10

I am not trying to be smug, but I would never intentionallytake my kids to a fast food place (like McDonald's, for example). We have eaten there a few times when it was a last resort, but I honestly think it is the worst food you can eat, even if it's only in moderation. I keep hearing casual comments from friends about going out as a family for an evening meal to McDonald's , and I just scratch my head; if I want a meal out, there are plenty of places we can go as a family that isn't going to cost a fortune, and where we can eat proper food. Am I wrong to feel this way?? I'm probably being all judgey pants about it, but I just don't get it....

Here, I'll get my own Biscuit.

OP posts:
SoftKittyWarmKitty · 24/05/2011 17:05

The chippy is fast food, surely?

nijinsky · 24/05/2011 17:06

Maybe I have a very keen sense of smell or something, but I can actually smell the atery clogging unhealthienss of MacDonalds "food". It just smells really, really revolting. Not a normal food smell at all but more like a mixture of sweat and grease and gristle.

And yes, eating a meal without cutlery, unless its a picnic or something - eugh - personally I find it lazy, sloppy, etc.. Why on earth you would want your children doing that regularly I cannot imagine. Of course you can eat a burger with a knife and fork - if its on a plate.

Even the terminology - KFC "buckets" - even sounds over-large and greedy. I'm not a member of a herd of cattle and funnily enough I have no desire to eat out of a bucket.

I have to admit I've never ever been in a KFC and I have been in a MacDonalds but not for around 5 years - even once when I was really hungry and driving home late at night, I tried to go in one, but when I opened the door, the smell hit me and I couldn't get away fast enough!

Original poster
EveWasFramed72 · 24/05/2011 17:06

No...I am classing fast food as places LIKE McDs. Chain type places, usually with a drive thru (but obviously not always).

OP posts:
coastgirl · 24/05/2011 17:07

I had a McD's quarter pounder with fries for lunch today, and it was gorgeous. Really nice - and yes, I've eaten in some very fancy restaurants and enjoyed my meals there too! Every one else in the place looked pretty normal to me too; no hugely obese people or anything. Just normal folk on their lunch break, eating burgers.

BooyHoo · 24/05/2011 17:08

chippys are are fast food. you may choose to discount them to make yourself feel better about eating in them but they are fast food outlets.

Original poster
EveWasFramed72 · 24/05/2011 17:11

I agree nijinsky...everything about places like that creeps me out, and I just wonder why, in an age when people seem to be more health conscious, these places hang on.

I used to love them, long, long ago. But when I moved to England and had DCs a lot of my thinking about food changed dramatically. And again, I think it was the realisation that the food is EXACTLY the same no matter which country you're in...that just seems really wrong!

OP posts:
nijinsky · 24/05/2011 17:12

coastgirl if you had your meat course for lunch (with bread which is odd but anyway), doesn't that mean you would have to have a very small dinner to balance it? How can you bear sitting in those garish surroundings with that awful smell, when you could be sitting out in a park or in a nice cafe or something? Its just so depressing.

I agree chippys are fast food, of course they are. Don't like them either.

Loving the poster who compared a Big Mac favourably with a Tesco Ceasar Salad. I wouldn't eat either of them!

suzikettles · 24/05/2011 17:12

There are almost 1000 calories in a portion of chip shop chips according to this

Really, the half-a-deep-fried-pizza 'n' chips I used to eat sometimes for lunch as a schoolgirl (from our lovely local chippy) was far more nutritionally objectionable than a burger. But that's the Scots for you Wink

Original poster
EveWasFramed72 · 24/05/2011 17:13

That's not the fast food I was on about. Fish and Chips nutritionally (in our village, anyway, according to their nutrition info) works out better than McDs.

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 24/05/2011 17:13

No not having that

burgers are meant to be eaten with your hands ..the same as sandwiches

Original poster
EveWasFramed72 · 24/05/2011 17:14

Plus, when we get a chip shop dinner, we get one large fish/ chips for the four of us...not each.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 24/05/2011 17:19

Well, I wouldn't go for a proper meal or a special occasion, but every once in a while I can't see the problem. We tend to go to Macdonalds on the way down south when visiting friends or family as it is on route, is cheap, is a fast stop, and better than most of the other service station options.

But them I am not a food snob and can't see the problem with eerything in moderation.

Macdonalds is what it is. It doesn't pretend to be a proper sit down restaurant after all.

I really can't see why it gets so much hatred on MN tbh.

KatieScarlett2833 · 24/05/2011 17:21

Now, what's the verdict on kebabs?

I'm partial to a shish with peppers, mushrooms and onion on a garlic pizza base from our local takeaway. A snip at £4.99 and they deliver!

Hulababy · 24/05/2011 17:21

I quite fancy a fillet o'fish right now after this though. I actually quite like the steamed bread fbn and the tartare sauce and cheese. Every once in a while - mmmmm :)

Insomnia11 · 24/05/2011 17:22

Kebabs are lush and quite healthy, well the non donners anyway.

ilovedora27 · 24/05/2011 17:23

nijinsky - I would eat maccy ds for lunch and then have a proper meal for tea. I do it through the week. Everyone eats their maccys ds in the parks and the beach here no different to a sandwich but more appealing imo.

zukiecat · 24/05/2011 17:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TracyK · 24/05/2011 17:24

I don't mind the occasional McD - the only thing that gets me is - ds and I are hungry again 45 mins later - so I'm guessing there can't be much sustenance in anything from there.
But if we've been swimming and half hour from home - nice hot, salty crispy chips are just the tonic. Though 50% of the time the chips are soggy - grrr.

MrSpoc · 24/05/2011 17:25

ha ha - meat on bread, who would of thought of this crazy idea eh nijinsky.

My FIL is from London and he detests the great nothern tradition of chips and gravy, I mean gravy is meant just for Sunday lunches.

This is a mad old world.

Insomnia11 · 24/05/2011 17:28

With fish and chips you are likely to be more full - mahoosive portions, but I wouldn't be surprised if they have a good deal more calories and fat than the biggest meal at McDs. The risk with McDs is that you eat something else afterwards as it just doesn't full you up somehow. Whereas after the chippy I sometimes feel I could happliy not eat for a week.

The best things to have healthy eating wise from a standard take away is something like Chicken shaslik with salad and boiled rice or a chicken kebab.

Or something like Malaysian/Thai street food if you can come by it.

BooyHoo · 24/05/2011 17:28

"Plus, when we get a chip shop dinner, we get one large fish/ chips for the four of us...not each"

there would be nothing to stop you sharing a mcdonald's meal between a couple of you.

anyway. your title is misleading as you clearly dont agree that fastfood is rubbish, just the ones you think are below you.

fatlazymummy · 24/05/2011 17:32

I don't like Fast food at all. The kids do have it now and again with their Dad or friends and I don't mind but I choose not to eat it. It's just personal preference.

coastgirl · 24/05/2011 17:32

You should see the state of the cafes round here! The newly refurbished McDonald's is much nicer, cleaner and better-smelling than any of the rank greasy spoons near me and the food's nicer.

Original poster
EveWasFramed72 · 24/05/2011 17:35

Nope, not below me, Booyhoo. Fish and chips around here aren't owned by corporate chains, which I did state were the ones I was talking about.

OP posts:
thekidsmom · 24/05/2011 17:35

I'm hungry now.....

Tbh, McD feels healthier to me when I'm eating it than fish and chips or a bucket of chicken (although I've never actually eaten a bucket of chicken....). Alot of pub meals that I like - steak pie and chips etc - are surely just as 'bad' for you as McD? And not nearly as fast when you're just passing through....