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AIBU?

AIBU one year olds having happy meals

276 replies

Crazypetlady · 27/09/2015 01:26

Somebody on my Facebook posted that their one year old was having their first happy meal. Which I suppose is not great for a one year old but I don't know the circumstances and I'm a new parent so not my place to judge. I haven't been in her position.
Just wondering would you give a baby that age a happy meal?
And AIBU for finding it a bit odd? I hadn't really considered them eating them before.

OP posts:

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abbieanders · 27/09/2015 07:44

I think one is a bit younger than I'd like.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 27/09/2015 07:44

greenrug they do salt free chips .
I was there on Wednesday with my 22 month old. She had chicken nuggets with the coating taken off (as she doesn't like it), salt free chips, a fruit bag and milk. Cannot for the life of me see the problem with that.

TendonQueen · 27/09/2015 07:46

Threads on feeding kids are amazing. If you post about McD's everyone's 'intensely relaxed' about it, but if you post that you gave them cheese on toast and an apple for tea, people go on about the horror of carbs, and how you could have just given them veggie sticks instead, and the apple is a bit sugary, and so on.

Onthepigsback · 27/09/2015 07:47

Ah no. That's a bit gross. But their choice! I think there is time enough for happy meals when dc are old enough to wear you down begging for them. No need to inflict it on them when they would have been as happy with something decent.

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 27/09/2015 07:50

I wouldn't feed a 1 year old MacDonalds but then I wouldn't feed it to anyone! DC (15 and 12) have never eaten there just because everything is highly processed. I've always read ingredients lists with any shop bought foods and if there are things on the list not in a normal kitchen then it's a no no.

Things may be different now but a PP said that the meal might be nuggets (chicken). But is it just chicken? Anyone remember turkey twizzlers? Those thin fries - thin slices of potato or processed potato reformed, dusted with chemical powder and then deep fried? I don't know the answer so we wouldn't eat there. And don't get me started on the cheese type product.

TeaAndBisquits · 27/09/2015 07:50

My DD's are 5 and 1.

The eldest has a happy meal every now and again if we're out and about. The youngest one has had the odd chip from the happy meal. I'd see no problems in giving her some chicken nuggets and fries (especially now I know about the salt free option) since she's fully weaned and devouring everything in sight.

I quite fancy a Big Mac myself too!

trollkonor · 27/09/2015 07:52

4 Chicken nuggets, fruit bag and organic milk.
Could be much much worse

lazycoo · 27/09/2015 07:56

It's not the crap content that bothers me, it's teaching them that getting fairly bland food in a box in a smelly restaurant is a treat. One of the other kids' mums at my childminder wanted them to go to McDonald's for a treat. DD was barely 1 at the time and so couldn't have eaten anything. I said no, trip cancelled (AFAIAA). Wouldn't like it now she's older but because I wouldn't take her myself I wouldn't be reinforcing the message, so there would be little harm done. Just got to pick your battles.

itsonlysubterfuge · 27/09/2015 07:57

My DD doesn't even know what McDonald's is. She's 3. I personally wouldn't let my children eat at McDonald's when they were so long. McDonald's is full of salt, the hamburger or chicken nuggets alone contain nearly 20% of the salt an adult should have in a day. Considering the advice is to not add any salt at all to your child's food, I think this is a bit much, especially at 1.

Chocolateorangegirl · 27/09/2015 07:59

There are so many worse things.

I occasionally take my 18m DD. it's brilliant for us as its allergy content/menu is very clear and there's actually things she can eat! It's a joy to share a 'treat' meal with her.

We're not too precious about food in general because we're restricted so there's the usual mix of fish fingers, beans and home cooked food and loads of fruit.

ChunkyPickle · 27/09/2015 08:00

Yes. I have given my 1 year old a happy meal.

On the way back from swimming with DS1 we'd often stop for a Macdonalds (fast, family friendly, but with proper tables to sit at, on the route home) - I cannot imagine the wail that would have gone up if DS1 had had one and DS2 hadn't.

Personally I don't make a special thing of it, it's just food, and DS1 is as likely to say no, lets go straight home and have something else as ask to go for a burger.

trollkonor · 27/09/2015 08:00

Twowrongs they are made from chicken breast and not mechanically seperated.

goblinhat · 27/09/2015 08:02

it's teaching them that getting fairly bland food in a box in a smelly restaurant is a treat

No it isn't. We eat at McDonald's 2 or 3 times a year. Even my kids don't think it's a treat and usually only reluctantly agree.

My kids learn from this that sometimes modern life is very busy and that we have to eat quickly and cheaply in between shopping and getting them to dance class.
I cook from scratch 95% of the time. I use no jars of sauce, no pies or processed beef, the whole family easily eat 5 or 6 portions of fruit and veg, but sometimes fast food is convenient.

None of my family is overweight- I am 9st and 5'6".

A McDonald's meal once in a while is not fatal, but certainly not a treat in my family.

tobysmum77 · 27/09/2015 08:03

I agree with lazycoo, lots of children seem to go to mcds regularly for a 'treat' , which I really don't think it is. I will probably get flamed for being ststicku
stuck up, however. The only time mine have been is when we have been in a motorway services. It has never been presented as a treat and they really don't see it as one. Its fairly functional boring food no more no less.

Crazypetlady · 27/09/2015 08:07

goblinhat My ds is 4 months. Me and my OH do like mcdonalds especially the breakfast, but I never tend to see young babies in there when we go so that's why I was curious.

OP posts:

goblinhat · 27/09/2015 08:10

crazy- with respect your kid is very young- I would like to hear your views in 10 years time.

SaltySeaBird · 27/09/2015 08:17

Until I had DD I had maybe been into MDs about three times (I'm 38).

I take her about once every three months when friends are eating there. She loves it! She is three now but was two when we first went and always has chicken nuggets, salt free fries, fruit bag and water. It's definitely not the unhealthiest meal (compared to at Grandparents where she is filled up with cake, chocolate and ice cream!).

We wouldn't do it every week but occasionally it does no harm. I want her to grow up knowing that no food is banned but some foods are best in moderation.

bigbuttons · 27/09/2015 08:19

It's a treat for my kids because they are eating out. We rarely eat out for financial reasons. They also see it as a treat because it is crap food. I like the taste but I suspect the nutritional value is poor.

Justbatteringon · 27/09/2015 08:23

The food quality of McDonald's in the UK is alot better than in America. All those horror stories about the food is most of the time in relation to American McDonald's.

lazycoo · 27/09/2015 08:24

goblin your comment reminded me of my DM who is an excellent cook like you and would occasionally take us to McDonald's as kids. She was assuaged by the fact we feigned disappointment with the food - perhaps your kids genuinely don't like it though but most do. (We learnt that the more we feigned disappointment the higher our chances of going were.) McDonald's is a treat to teenagers especially if their parents are good cooks as they don't get anything like it at home. But I agree, it's good 'emergency food'.

greenfolder · 27/09/2015 08:27

My eldest dd who us now 21 years old used to have a happy meal once a week when she was one. We had to catch the bus to the next town to do the banking and maccies was next door. Big treat and we both have fond memories. My view of McDonald's is that is clean, cheap and you know exactly what you are getting. I have a friend who gets on her high horse about McDonald's but has fish and chips every Friday of her life from the local chippy!

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 27/09/2015 08:27

Just I thought the point of McDonald was that it is exactly the same world over.

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CrumbledFeta · 27/09/2015 08:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

m0therofdragons · 27/09/2015 08:29

We went to a service station about that age and dc all had kfc - would have been mcds if it was there I imagine due to the toy. At 4 yo my dtds have probably had 4 happymeals - I think they'll survive. It's not great for a baby but in moderation it's surely fine.

MinecraftWonder · 27/09/2015 08:34

At 12 months, ds1 wouldn't have recognised a maccy d's, or a sweet, or even chocolate if it smacked him in the face. I think he was about 3 before he ever had anything that wasn't home-cooked from scratch or super-healthy.

Ds2 however (2 years younger) has had shite much sooner (in between all the home-cooked super healthy stuff of course ). I don't think I would ever have bought him a happy meal at 12 months but he would certainly have had a handful of chips to keep him busy.

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