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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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Crazypetlady · 27/09/2015 09:19

I don't get what people mean about my views? I have no problem with what people feed their kids! I haven't said that I have anywhere. I just thought it was odd. I haven't got much experience with little ones as my families babies live far away it just made me wonder.

OP posts:

TheDowagerCuntess · 27/09/2015 09:21

You're a braver soul than me then, crumpet! The judging that would've ensued...

MinecraftWonder · 27/09/2015 09:22

How is fish fingers, fruit and a bottle of water much different to a normal twice a week 'freezer dinner' at home?

There's no way for me to say it without sounding like a holier-than-though cunt but mine didn't have a twice a week freezer dinner at 12 months.

We don't even now - the only things that come out of my freezer are frozen peas, ice cream or fresh meat/meals that we've frozen. Maybe the odd frozen chicken kiev, but not twice a week. A freezer dinner makes me think of burgers, nuggets and chips - and we don't eat them at home.

CrumpetHead · 27/09/2015 09:24

I'm not bothered what other people think though Dowager, I bring my child up the way I want to, occasional happy meal or not. Those with their judgey pants on can shove their opinions up their brown eye

Notso · 27/09/2015 09:25

I wouldn't see Baby's First Happy Meal as a milestone worthy of a celebration Facebook post. However it is perfectly possible to eat at Macdonalds sometimes and eat healthier food the rest of the time.

WorktoLive · 27/09/2015 09:28

Ah, I was going to say that McDs is not the same world wide because in other countries you can get beer as a drink, but ghosty beat me to it. Works for me because I don't like fizzy pop, juice, milkshakes etc and don't always want coffee with that sort of food.

Some of the Spanish ones have an amazing cake counter too.

McDonalds occaisionally (once or twice a month for eg) is absolutely fine and no worse than most of all the other processed/ready made/fast food out there. Their meat is probably a lot better quality than that used in most independent takeaways.

I don't like the huge corporate mega-corp aspect of them, but it's no different to Starbucks, Subway etc

Really want nuggets or fish filet and fries now!

TheDowagerCuntess · 27/09/2015 09:29

That's great crumpet and I agree that the occasional happy meal itself is no big deal. I just can't help boggling at the idea of sharing it in FB...!

WorktoLive · 27/09/2015 09:34

Another 'only on Mumsnet' thing - 'We only go to McDonalds when we need emergency food and they are the only thing available and then the DCs only have fish fingers, fruit and water'.

I always thought the 'free fruit friday' thing was because they never actually sold any of the fruit bags they sold and the use-by date was on a Friday, so instead of throwing away all the unsold stock on those days, they decided that they might as well give it away .

Neddyteddy · 27/09/2015 09:36

Never took my kids and when I eventually did, they all hated the food anyway.

ByTheSea · 27/09/2015 09:38

I don't like the food at McDonalds so never took the DC. I have never stopped them going when others took them though and they have eaten other rubbish under my watch. My older DC likely ate healthier for longer as babies than the younger DC.

BigRedBall · 27/09/2015 09:40

I remember my dd being tutted at by a woman in McDonald's because I let her drink coke. I remember her 3 yr old asking "why can't I have coke"? And her replying "coz it ain't good for little ones that's why"... and then she gave me a disapproving look.

I don't mind a bit of junk for my kids. It's good to have a varied diet.

herethereandeverywhere · 27/09/2015 09:43

I wish my kids would eat Maccy Ds! It would be so easy on a long journey/overrun journey to have a quick lunch or tea there as a treat.

But oh no, DD1 (5) hates 'fried food' and complains about the smell of the place when we walk past the outside. And DD2 (3) just picks the stuff apart and goes home hungry - I have tried.

goblinhat · 27/09/2015 09:44

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'.

lazycoo- perhaps, but my oldest ( now 17 ) refuses point blank to eat at McDonalds and would actually wait in the car rather than eat a meal there.

Lightbulbon · 27/09/2015 09:44

Lol at salt free chips in macdonalds!

I worked there as a teen and the chips would be salted by any random member of staff who walked past. There isn't a person whose job it is to guard the fries tray and regulate how salty they are.

It was the cleanest kitchen I've ever worked in but my pfb didn't even know what macdonalds was until he went to primary school. He's a teen now and has survived childhood happily without ever having a happy meal.

Neddyteddy · 27/09/2015 09:46

Forgot to say - mine usually eat everything so I was surprised they didn't go mad for a macdonalds.

We home cook. Our freezer contents isn't that exciting - frozen bread/milk spares, frozen veg, frozen meat/fish, frozen leftovers (curries, soups, stews), ice

Snakesandbastards · 27/09/2015 09:49

Haha 4 months old, so it's all to come!

The occasional treat won't hurt in an otherwise healthy diet, and by making it part of everyday life rather than something special, it takes away the attraction for later.

BabyGanoush · 27/09/2015 09:49

All this McDonalds angst is so weird, where does it come from?

Cannot remember when my kids first had a McD. They have it sometimes, they now prefer pizza, though they like the occasional breakfast McMuffin.

What IS it that makes people panic so about a few chips?!

LaurieMarlow · 27/09/2015 09:50

Plenty of teens (at least in my day) refused to have anything to do with the place on ethical/anti big business grounds, so I don't agree that most would see it as a treat.

In fact, I don't get the treat thing at all. The food tastes awful and the ambience is grim. Perhaps for little kids who are drawn in my the balloons and toys, but after that, not a clue.

Notso · 27/09/2015 09:53

WorktoLive that is what DH says too.

There's still time goblin I didn't feel the love for the Golden Arches until my late 20's.

I do have Maccy's to thank for introducing DC to gherkins and mustard. All four of them turned their noses up at both until I pointed out the ate both at Macdonalds.

EastMidsMummy · 27/09/2015 09:54

Ho ho ho to all those who don't think a Happy Meal is a treat. So why do they put a toy in it. Damp bread filled with sugar, fatty fries doused in salt. Yuk yuk yuk.

Also this:

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.

Neddyteddy · 27/09/2015 09:54

Lazcoo - I've just suggested to my kids that we go to macdonalds today and all said 'no they don't want to'

Always do picnics on long drives. Or eat in proper cafés

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 27/09/2015 09:56

My toddler bloody loves Macdonalds. It's right near our GP surgery so on days when we have an appointment we go and have a and a bagel and the lovely front of house lady goes and liberates him a happy meal toy from her 'lost' basket in the staff room. It's a relatively quiet place at that time of morning and the wifi is pretty steady so he can Sarah&Duck while I zombie. No angst, no guilt, no fucks to give:o

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Neddyteddy · 27/09/2015 09:59

Macdonalds has the same ambience as a doctors waiting room or tescos I think. The time we went, it's seemed joyless and functional

Snossidge · 27/09/2015 10:06

My youngest is 18 months and has had several Happy Meals in his life! I'm sure he'd had his first tastes by 12 months.

Fish fingers, fruit and a bottle of milk (or a fruit shoot) - don't see the problem.

My oldest tend to have chicken nuggets, chips and a milkshake though!

Snossidge · 27/09/2015 10:08

WorktoLive - I'm afraid I always get the fruit bags!

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