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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take 3yo dd to McDonalds?

200 replies

bushymcbush · 17/09/2011 22:03

We were out, in a hurry and with few options available. It was the first time she has ever eaten McDonalds. She wasn't even all that impressed, eating less than half her burger and just one of her fries!

But dh is acting as though I've fed her class A drugs.

I might understand his pov if he was some kind of health freak, but you should see the shut he puts into his own body on a daily basis. Including McDonalds and KFC.

AIBU? Do you give your dc the occasional McDonalds?

OP posts:
A1980 · 17/09/2011 22:52

McDonalds isn't that unhealthy.

In fact they did a comparison between McDonalds and PRet a MAnger a while ago and McDonalds is healthier.

There is more fat and calories in a pret chicken sandwhich there is in a big mac.

Triggles · 17/09/2011 22:55

As long as it's just an occasional treat, I don't see the problem. Obviously as a steady diet, it's not so healthy.

hiss42 · 18/09/2011 01:20

me and DP eat loads of crap but i'd kill him if he fed it DS! (As he would me).

We eat junk because we crave it, why would you introduce it to your child before they could ask for it? I despise parents with kids under 8 in mcdonalds!!!!!!

Triggles · 18/09/2011 07:22

if you and your DP eat loads of crap, don't you think your children will learn from that?

seriously, moderation is the key. As long as they generally have a healthy diet, an occasional mcdonald's isn't going to hurt them. It teaches them that it's okay to have something like that occasionally, rather than all the time. And let's face it, those are good habits for them to learn, as you won't be able to always monitor what they're eating as they get older.

hiss42 · 18/09/2011 07:56

but it's not okay to have something like that occasionally... we say that we need the occasional 'treat' because we need it. It's full of crap and other than us going ahhhh bit of grease, it's full of salt and fat and we don't need it!

A child is far more likely to have some compulsive over eating/under eating problem if you give them some disgusting fatty food, and then tell them it's naughty and we can only have it sometimes, than if you never introduce it to them. Then they have never had it and won't ever know what it tastes like until they are old enough to physically walk in their themselves!

When I say me and DP eat crap this is what I mean. If we chose to have a pizza while my mum had DS for the night, then I'm not going to go home and rub it in his face. We are making that choice as an adult, it's so dirty seeing kids in high chairs in mcdonalds with a fistful of mushy greasy chips!

Other than that OP, if you were that desperate for a quick fix I think you should of chose something better than McDonalds. You're DP is right. Having a burger in wimpy is a different experience. The whole atmosphere of mcdonalds gets them hooked, the baloons and toys. I am not some hippy that hates chain stores and as an adult I have made the choice to eat McDonalds, but I hate the way it draws kids in to unhealthy food. At the start they don't even like it but all the other things keep their attention until they're hooked on shitty unhealthy food and screaming for it whenever they say that big yellow M.

KittyFane · 18/09/2011 08:03

Agree that mcD's is not as bad as some of the absolute c**p served up in some "family" friendly places- harvester/ crown / yate's also, anywhere else that is a chain- pizza express, pizza hut, frankie and bennies, hard rock cafe... It's all the same, McD's is no worse.

weneedabiggerboat · 18/09/2011 08:07

I despise parents with kids under 8 in mcdonalds!!!!!!

Seriously, God I don't think I have the energy for that strength of feeling Hmm

exoticfruits · 18/09/2011 08:09

If you want to bring up your DC to be a junk food addict when older ban them from ever setting foot in the place!!

Andrewofgg · 18/09/2011 08:40

Spot on exoticfruits - we should also make it compulsory for teenagers to smoke and then they never will.

Sirzy · 18/09/2011 08:46

Hiss, I would rather children were brought up to understand that everything is fine in moderation, and learning about a balanced diet rather than banning foods, or even worse sending an "I can but you can't" message making it the 'forbidden fruit' and even more appealing

BoffinMum · 18/09/2011 08:46

YANBU

McDonalds is the Accident and Emergency wing of the gastronomic world. There are times when we are very glad to have it there when the alternatives are minimal or non-existent, and it certainly can tank people up temporarily, but other than that it's not necessary or desirable. It sounds like you were in an emergency food situation, therefore I think it's fine.

In terms of children's food, a plain burger, a bag of carrot sticks and a fruit bag with a bottle of water is actually a reasonable option. For mums they have chicken salads and capuccinos, also a reasonable option if you avoid fatty dressings. You don't have to feed your face entirely with rubbish in there.

TastyMuffins · 18/09/2011 08:50

What did you eat? I think it's wrong to take kids to McDonalds if the grown ups are not eating with them. I'd never take my DC but that's because I don't like it myself.

Mitmoo · 18/09/2011 09:11

You should have let your child starve until you got to the lentil drive in.

FGS its once in a while he needs to get over it.

hiss42 · 18/09/2011 09:29

She is three years old.She has no concept that it's complete crap. Okay 8 is old, but before school age it is really irresoponsible to feed your kids that.

McDonalds is not okay in moderation. You shouldn't eat it beause it's fatty and salty and bad for you. Why would you force it on your child before they've even requested to try it. It's lazyness.

I saw a kid in the doctors the other day and the mum was shouting at him for running round. Well, he'd been there 45 mins, i felt like doing that too. if you know you're going somewhere why don't people prepare better? I'm 21, not saying I'm full of learned wisdom but I do have the foresight to think she could of stuck a book, a rusk and a bottle of water under the pram? Why couldn't you have made a sandwich? Three year olds hardly eat anything, it would of taken minutes to stick some grapes in a tub to take!

Mitmoo · 18/09/2011 09:31

Are you on a wind up hiss?

usualsuspect · 18/09/2011 09:35

hiss42

are you for real?

borntoberiled · 18/09/2011 09:37

It's fine occasionally. Chicken nuggets are actual breast meat, a fruit bag, chips to share, and abottle of organic milk. Perfectly balanced. Your bread for your sandwich is full of salt and preservatives.

Sirzy · 18/09/2011 09:49

I can only assume hiss doesn't live in the same world as the rest of us. Her life must run to a perfect timetable so she knows exactly where she will be at any given time and can plan accordingly!

As has been said many a time on this thread mcdonalds isn't as bad as it is thought to be by some (or as it used to be) if you make sensible choices. I never go but certainly wouldn't judge anyone for getting there child the occasional happy meal.

Birdsgottafly · 18/09/2011 09:54

Mine liked MD's when they were younger, now they are teenagers they won't touch them.

Hiss- despise away, you are OTT.
I am vegaterian when out (vegan at home) so don't personally touch MD's.

All the test on healthy eating have shown that shop bought sandwiches are no better than MD's, and far better MD's than anything wrapped in pastry being eaten carried through the streets. I don't eat bread/pre-prepared food etc, to me you have all got a skewed up thinking on what is healthy and unhealthy.

The human body is very good at getting rid of small amounts of 'bad' fat and salt, if it having an MD has taken you over your limit, that is, we do need some salt in our diets.

MilkNoSugarPlease · 18/09/2011 09:57

"I despise parents with kids under 8 in mcdonalds!!!!!!"

Seriously? No, really, seriously?!?!? ...jesus christ

OP, once is not the end of the world frankly! I do agree with your DH's idea of it's up to you to make choices for her....but this was hardly a bad choice! Jeez Louise!!

MilkNoSugarPlease · 18/09/2011 09:58

heeyyy! What happened to my :o :o ??

Mitmoo · 18/09/2011 10:01

I think the social services should park outside MacDonalds and snatch all children who have been forced fed this stuff. No escape for drivers either, police traps for drivers seen giving the kids McDonalds in the car.

Get them in care, these parents are failures.

hides the leftover MD BBQ sauce dips in the fridge and prepares affidavits that they were mine, honest gov>>

justabigdisco · 18/09/2011 10:13

"for mums they have chicken salads and cappuccinos"
Fuck that, give me a quarter pounder! Oh, and I have no issues with food and am healthy.

trixymalixy · 18/09/2011 10:14

YANBU as long as it's only occasionally.

My kids have McDs sometimes when we're out as they both have food allergies and as the food is standard across the country and they have good allergy info we know they'll be fine.

magicmummy1 · 18/09/2011 10:21

Have never taken dd to McD's but mainly because I really can't stand their veggie options - well, I couldn't when I last tried them 10 years ago! I did once try to tempt dd with a BurgerKing spicy beanburger when travelling, but she wouldn't even touch it.

She has been to McD's a couple of times with friends. It isn't "forbidden", she just knows I would rather eat elsewhere.

YANBU to take her occasionally if both you and she enjoy it.