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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:
PinguForPresident · 27/09/2015 13:48

Giving a Happy Meal to a kid that young is just a bit grim, really. Nothing cutesy about a baby eating junk food.

My kids are 6 and 4 now. They go to McDs once a term as an end of term treat. DD has nuggets, chips and a fruit shoot, DS eats maybe 2 chips and plays with the toy. No way would I have taken them there before they were 3 or 4. DD was 5, IIRC, which would have made DS 3. Not that he eats the food.

EatShitDerek · 27/09/2015 13:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2015 13:51

To be fair, the OP has described the baby as '12 months-ish', so that could be anything from 12 to 18 months really.

Either way, it's the child's first Happy Meal.

Nothing to write home about imo or to be 'curious' about.

lastqueenofscotland · 27/09/2015 13:53

Am I the only person that can't bloody stand food beig referred to as a treat or a reward?? We are not dogs we do not need to reward our selves with food.
Real real bug bear of mine.

Lurkedforever1 · 27/09/2015 13:55

A Big Mac meal kind of fills me, but it doesn't last very long compared with getting the same amount of calories elsewhere iyswim. And I can see why if you struggle to only eat what you need, the likes of McDonald's is easy to over consume calories with. Not that I'm saying that's mcdonalds fault, just that if you're going to eat crap something like a chip shop or bakery is at least filling.

MitzyLeFroof · 27/09/2015 14:01

Nope. I have no problem with food being referred to as a 'treat'. Next week I'm going to a restaurant that I've been dying to try out for an age.

It will most definitely be a treat.

IceCreamBandit · 27/09/2015 14:02

The fries are not salt free, McDonald's have 14 different ingredients in their fries and then shake salt on them once they're cooked. If you ask for them salt free it only means you don't get the last shake of salt that's already in them anyway.

Get away and shite, there's not 14 ingredients in the fries. There's 3. Potatoes, veg oil and dextrose (which is added as needed.) I fucking hate it when people spread these lies about. I worked in McDonalds for years and there's nothing evil about the food. If you ask for them salt free, the fry station has to be wiped out and a fresh batch put into that side. Stop spouting shit if you don't know the actual facts.

ouryve · 27/09/2015 14:04

There are worse things to happen than giving a 1 year old a happy meal. Much, much worse things.

TonyMacaroni · 27/09/2015 14:05

Total non issue. I've taken my 2 & 4 yos maybe every couple of months plus if you are caught short at services comes in very handy.

A mcflurry is a treat.

I think banning things is more silly. Children need to learn as do we that certain things are occasional.

MitzyLeFroof · 27/09/2015 14:05

In fact thinking of certain foods as being treats has helped me form a much healthier relationship with food.

noblegiraffe · 27/09/2015 14:09

They could sell organic houmous and carrot sticks accompanied by an educational wooden toy, call it a Virtuous Meal. If it was sold by McDonalds people would still say it was shit in a bag.

Pixi2 · 27/09/2015 14:12

Fast food is the thing we fall on when the DC are hungry, we're in the car and don't know the area- look out for a big M around. Yep, over there, DC are hungry and fighting - feed them NOW.

It wouldn't be my first choice of a meal but sometimes it's easier than a restaurant.

SilentBob · 27/09/2015 14:12

I am boggling at the amount of posters who can remember to the ninth what age their children first ate at Fat Ron's. I have no idea at all how old my daughter was.

I have read this entire thread whilst eating KFC though Smile

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2015 14:14

Am I the only person that can't bloody stand food beig referred to as a treat or a reward??

To me, a McDonald's meal/a doughnut/bar of chocolate/Gregg's sausage roll etc, is very much a treat.

If me and my kids starting to look at it as just everyday food, I think we'd be tempted to eat it far more often.

So no, I'm good with calling a treat a treat.

lastqueenofscotland · 27/09/2015 14:17

Haha noble!

Mitzy that's interesting. It's a real bugbear of mine but I'm very emotionally detached from food, I'm a fairly serious runner which consumes my life really and I really just see food as fuel for that.

Rainuntilseptember15 · 27/09/2015 14:20

My dcs want to go mostly for the play area I think. And the fact that the food is almost instant helps. I enjoy being able to actually finish a coffee while the run about.
In my younger days I boycotted them entirely: my standards have slipped a bit in search of an easy life.

MitzyLeFroof · 27/09/2015 14:21

Ah I see. I love food. I love cooking and reading cookery books and trying new restaurants.

I hate food being referred to as 'naughty'. I picture badly behaved custard creams.

TonyMacaroni · 27/09/2015 14:21

I can't see any harm or damage in referring to an item of food as a treat. At all.

lastqueenofscotland · 27/09/2015 14:24

haha Mitzy no i agree, naughty is an even bigger bugbear of mine.

so is "I'm really bad and eating pizza/chips etc etc" urg eating a meal that is a bit unhealthy does not make you bad it just means you ate a meal that wasn't healthy.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2015 14:25

I often wonder if those who don't refer to some foods as treats, are the same people who by the start of December, have bought, ate and replaced the tin of Christmas chocolates 3 or 4 times.

lastqueenofscotland · 27/09/2015 14:28

Worra it's not that I think all food is every day food - some foods you do not eat every day i just hate the language around 'treats'. Oh i've had a shit day I'm going to treat myself with 3000 calories of pizza takeaway. I hate the thought of food as a reward?
Thats all!

MitzyLeFroof · 27/09/2015 14:30

Oh yes people referring to themselves as bad or naughty for eating a naughty biscuit are ridiculous.

Eat your biscuit and shut up!

TuckingFablet · 27/09/2015 14:36

I've taken dd to McDonald's for a happy meal a few times. We tend to go once a month or so. I really don't see the problem with it. It's just food obviously if it is their only source of nutrition then it's not good. She has a varied diet because I want her to have a healthy relationship with food. Treats are okay, but they should be in moderation.

Strokethefurrywall · 27/09/2015 14:39

I think I'm missing the point of this thread but I really want McDonald's...

OhSoggyBiscuit · 27/09/2015 14:45

I treat myself to a McDs breakfast once every week and get a proper meal about once every month. I don't see anything wrong with the occasional happy meal at all. It's only bad if you eat chicken nuggets and fries for every meal.

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