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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
Eminybob · 27/09/2015 11:47

I have been thinking about quarter pounders with cheese and strawberry milkshakes all morning. Thanks crazypetlady

DS is having a nap now so maybe I can pursuade DP to pop out and get a drive though and we can scoff it while he's still asleep.

Pidapie · 27/09/2015 11:49

No I wouldn't have given my 12 month old a happy meal (he's 19m now and still wouldn't get a whole happy meal). He has however - twice - had popcorn chicken from kfc! I prefer kfc, and he gets my popcorn chicken and sweetcorn :P I don't give him chips because it's been cooked in fat etc, and of course the popcorn breaded chicken isn't good for him, but it's been twice in his life so I'm not overly concerned :P

lastqueenofscotland · 27/09/2015 11:50

If macdonalds is good enough for usain bolt....

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 27/09/2015 11:55

To be honest, I think this thread is lacking in pearl-clutching Grin

Seems that most posters think the odd Happy Meal won't wreck an otherwise ok/healthy diet.

It's civilised. Too civilised. taps fingers

Exoticpurple · 27/09/2015 11:57

McDonald's was one of the few places which was relatively inexpensive and catered for DS1 when he was a toddler. He had allergies to egg, dairy and nuts.
We had their fish fingers and chips on occasion.

wankerchief · 27/09/2015 12:01

Maccy ds was full of teenage shriekers so we went to burger king instead

AIBU one year olds having happy meals
BoffinMum · 27/09/2015 12:02

Nowt wrong with Maccy D's if you only go there about twice a year.

I certainly fed my small ones a combination of 1-2 chicken nuggets, random chips, carrot sticks and water and they did not turn into obese mutants on my watch. Dead handy if families need feeding quickly whilst travelling.

People make a lot of fuss about this stuff.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 27/09/2015 12:02

The purpose of the thread was not to cause people slagging eachother off was just curious. Also want mcdonalds milkshake with fries now dipped in of course

So why are you curious? What do you think is so odd about a small child or toddler eating a happy meal?

My 1yo eats fish fingers unsalted chips and a fruit bag there one day EOW it is no different to me cooking the same at home well apart from me not cooking it at home because I always burn the fish fingers

BoffinMum · 27/09/2015 12:06

PS We go in Macdonalds a bit more often now they do salads and reasonable coffee.

Sockattack · 27/09/2015 12:10

If you are going to judge at least do it when you have children of the age or past it. Your baby is 4 months old. I assume not weaning yet.

For the record my DD first birthday treat was swimming and McDonald's ( her older brothers choice)
Tonight we will probably have KFC as a treat for her brothers. Shes older now at nearly 4. Theyve rarely had either in their lives. Don't judge a snap shot picture.

MrsMook · 27/09/2015 12:11

Ds had his first Happy Meal around his first birthday. It was the only practical option on a long journey, and the helpful allergens sheet informed me that there was something he could eat free of his 3 allergens that heavily restricted his diet. We went quite frequently over a few years because it was a reliable safe option. On a holiday when he was 2, lunch each day was there or at a supermarket café. Bland, a bit deficient in nutrients, but he survived the week without being ill. (Although I had craving for my first ever portion of broccoli at the.end of the week)

Mcdonalds is not particularly healthy, but that's pretty obvious, and more transparent than many other foods. It's not great for young children (or anyone else) , but there are times when it's practical.

Notoedike · 27/09/2015 12:13

I wouldn't have fed my 12 month old McDonalds. And I would judge.Wink Grin

Want2bSupermum · 27/09/2015 12:25

I'm here in the US and along with the salt free fries (two areas for fries and one is salt free). What is great are the play areas. When it's -20C due to windchill I take the kids to McDonald's. Their indoor play areas are well designed and kept in excellent condition. They are also open from 6am.

That said McDonald's isn't a regular meal option. If DH is away and I don't have time to cook I buy in meals from a small local restaurant. Not cheap but it's better than processed crap.

80schild · 27/09/2015 12:40

We go about once a month on average, eat pizza once a week and the kids are allowed sweets once a week. One thing I think is really important to kids is to reinforce the message that there are no good or bad foods; just good and bad diets.

So many people get caught up in the crap of not eating one thing or another because of the belief it is "bad" for them when the truth of the matter is that it won't make them less healthy / fat unless they do it every day and don't exercise.

MinecraftWonder · 27/09/2015 12:58

I also disagree that kids only like it because of the toy.

Ds1 (7) has long 'grown out of' a happy meal and now has an adult size medium meal and doesn't miss the toy or the box at all. We were there yesterday and he had a chicken and bacon adult wrap meal, which if we were having wraps at home was probably about the same portion size as he'd have. The happy meals are tiny and not much suited to more than a 6 year old IMO.

MrsDeVere · 27/09/2015 12:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lastqueenofscotland · 27/09/2015 13:13

Mrsdevere I so agree!
I think people don't mind middle class food, no one spouts off about salt in olives or calories in a latte.

I know one girl who is so so preachy about takeaways/fast food but EVERYTHING she eats is from a jar etc. - pasta with jar sauce, curry with jar curry etc nothing is made from scratch. Just think of the sugar!! I eat from scratch 99% of the time but once every 2 months or so I love a takeaway greasy pizza. Not mad on maccies as I'm a veggie but once in a blue moon won't kill you.

Lurkedforever1 · 27/09/2015 13:14

I wouldn't, but that's only because I can't think why as an adult you'd want to go in there to eat, and at 12months it won't be the child insisting. However if you actually like McDonald's yourself, or you're taking older kids in there, I don't see anything wrong with it occasionally, provided you normally eat more balanced meals.

My personal objection to McDonald's isn't that it's junk, as everything is fine in moderation. Just that it's unfilling junk, no point eating a meal that leaves you starving again an hour later.

LieselVonTwat · 27/09/2015 13:22

Speaking as someone who doesn't do McDonalds ever, I also don't eat olives, or salty cheese, or lattes. Because they all taste horrible to me. Also agree with lurkedforever that if I'm going to eat something unhealthy, I'd rather it at least filled me up.

NellysKnickers · 27/09/2015 13:27

Ds1 had his first mac ds at 3. DS 2 was 1. Can't be arsed to get worked up over it. Ds2 is by far the healthier eater of the two now at age 4 and 10.

Sedona123 · 27/09/2015 13:29

LaurieMarlow you should apologise for the link. It was last updated in May 2010! I'm no fan of McD's, but posting a link to an article that is over 5 years ago is ridiculous.

JawannaDrink · 27/09/2015 13:29

McD's food is not full of shit.

This thread, and the others like it, are crammed full of it however. SAnctimonoius drivel by people who don't know the first thing about the food in there, or food in general.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2015 13:29

Very well said MrsDeVere

WorktoLive · 27/09/2015 13:35

I find McDonalds perfectly filling and sometimes get a chicken nuggets happy meal with fries and orange juice. It's the perfect size for me. I give the toys to my nephews.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2015 13:40

A medium Big Mac meal fills me up for hours and I can only manage half the drink.

I have a mile and a half walk each way to my local McDonalds, as it's not on a bus route, so that puts me off going regularly Grin

I wish they'd deliver

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