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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give all the children a happy meal at ds's 5th party?

96 replies

Hangingwiththeraisingirls · 17/05/2014 16:33

27 children coming. We are on holiday until the day before and will be back late (bad planning on my part).

Wibu to take orders when the children arrive and go and get them all a happy meal and then they can have some birthday cake. Dh says parents will judge me. However I say it will probably be no less healthy than normal type party food and it won't be any more expensive and the kids will love it. The McDonald's is only over the road and I wouldn't then give a load of biscuits and sweets. Just the happy meal and the birthday cake.

Would you judge me?

OP posts:
whatever5 · 17/05/2014 16:36

Your DH is totally wrong. Nobody expects party food to be healthy. It's fine to get it from McDonalds!

PrimalLass · 17/05/2014 16:37

Totally fine. Even cleverer if you take them all with you and the mess stays in McDonalds.

Guitargirl · 17/05/2014 16:38

No I would not judge you at all. Sounds like a perfectly good plan even if you weren't getting home late from holiday the day before. If your DH has a problem with it then get him to plan and make the party food.

BuggedByJake · 17/05/2014 16:38

Sounds like a great idea to me. They'll love it.

BuggedByJake · 17/05/2014 16:38

Sounds like a great idea to me. They'll love it.

BlameItOnTheMoonlight · 17/05/2014 16:38

fine IMO

Original poster
Hangingwiththeraisingirls · 17/05/2014 16:38

So that's a vote for ok!

The party is in a hall by the way so otherwise I will have to cater it myself. Somehow. Between late Friday night and early Saturday morning.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 17/05/2014 16:38

Put it on the invite... that way those mothers who do a lemon lips at the mere mention of mcdonalds can decline the invite so you don't have to see said lemon lips

kd73 · 17/05/2014 16:39

We have been to parties where McDonald's have been served, however you will need to take orders and provide this to McDonald's with plenty of notice. Sadly by the time all the food is distributed it is often cold!!!!!

MrsCakesPremonition · 17/05/2014 16:39

IMO McDonald's is no worse than the party food that the children get at specialist party venues. So I think it is a very cunning plan - especially if you have a spare adult who can take responsibility for the food without you having to be distracted from the party.

But you will get some parents (on MN if not in RL) who will recoil in horror and rush off to arrange a stomach pump for their child.

Original poster
Hangingwiththeraisingirls · 17/05/2014 16:39

So they will get a toy too which will be nice.

What is in happy meals now? Choice of burger, nuggets, fish fingers and then some fries and a drink? Do they put fruit in now too?

OP posts:
davidjrmum · 17/05/2014 16:40

Nothing wrong with this at all. Don't worry about parents who might judge you - if they are that way inclined they'll find something to judge anyway. My little boy would think this was a great party tea!

MrsCakesPremonition · 17/05/2014 16:40

You can choose to replace the fries with fruit or carrot sticks (but our local McDs franchise doesn't believe in all that healthy crap and doesn't ever stock the fruit option).

Original poster
Hangingwiththeraisingirls · 17/05/2014 16:40

I did worry about it being cold.

Will the children care if it is only luke warm? I know most of the parents so could take orders now and forewarn McDonald's.

OP posts:
Theodorous · 17/05/2014 16:41

Actually there are lots of MNers with children who have allergies who say it is one of the few places their children will eat out. But seeing as fruit is treated as crack on here you will be flamed shortly.

puffylovett · 17/05/2014 16:41

I would probably be a bit judgy, but would totally suck it up on account of how it would be such a rare treat for my kids (who of course totally adore mcds). Go for it

CoffeeTea103 · 17/05/2014 16:42

Yanbu, the kids will love it.

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 17/05/2014 16:42

You can choose fruit or fries. I'd be tempted to only give water or fruit shoot as an option rather than letting them choose coke or lemonade. Just because it will be easier to carry. I think you can get burger/cheeseburger/nuggets or fish fingers.

Original poster
Hangingwiththeraisingirls · 17/05/2014 16:42

At the last soft play party we went to they pre ordered hot food and then gave the children boxes with chips, nuggets etc. and no one raised an eyebrow (was attached to a pub). So McDonald's is the same really - better because it is yummy and wacky warehouse food boxes or whatever they were were not very tasty.

OP posts:
ThinkIveBeenHacked · 17/05/2014 16:43

Sounds great!

Id ring McDonalds that morning and say "ill be popping over to order 27 Happy Meals at X time" so they have a heads up.

MrsRuffdiamond · 17/05/2014 16:43

The dc will be delighted, the parents will be noting it for future reference, and your ds's party will be stress free! Sounds like a great plan to me! Smile

Original poster
Hangingwiththeraisingirls · 17/05/2014 16:43

I thought I might just provide the drinks myself of water or juice to cut out any kids wanting coke.

OP posts:
itiswhatitiswhatitis · 17/05/2014 16:44

Alternatively ds has been to parties at halls where they have had dominoes pizza delivered.

kelda · 17/05/2014 16:44

Good idea, but for 27 children that would be expensive.

kelda · 17/05/2014 16:45

But well done you, inviting 27 children the day after you get back from holiday!