TO TAKE DS TO MCDONALDS OFTEN?

[BLUESEAPARADISE]

AIBU to take my son to McDonalds often?

DS is 9 and has a wide range of health issues and also autism ( he is developmentally 9-18 months) and only eats a handful of things ( Custard, Chicken fillets from the butchers, chicken nuggets ( not from McDonald's) , Completely plain burger buns from McDonald's and walkers salt and vinegar crisps) That is his full diet... we have a dietitian.
( before has gone for days without eating because his " safe" food wasn't available as we were trying to encourage him to try new things )

For a while he has been refusing food and as a result we are all extremely worried as he has lost a lot of weight and we are at the point may have to take him into hospital and there is talk of a possibly feeding tube ( which he won't keep in / cope with well at all)

However today He has shown some interest in eating some burger buns .. AIBU to take him to McDonald's and just buy him a few burger buns to simply try and get him to put weight on and eat something? I feel awful as I know he doesn't have the best diet and burger buns are far from the best but I really don't want him to loose any more weight( he hasn't had anything to eat since Thursday morning) and end up in hospital but I feel bad giving him just a plate of buns!

Please help .. I want to do what's best for him but feel absolutely awful which ever way I do it

DD was in hospital as a child, and her Grandparents called in and bought her a kids meal, the hospital didn't care.

Go for it op. My son has autism and sometimes we take him just to maximise calories. He could tell if It wasn’t McDonald’s chicken nuggets. Even just by the smell. I’ve changed brand of chocolate milk and he’s sniffed it out.
Sending you lots of good luck vibes. This is so hard. Xxxxxx

Yanbu. You must be worried sick so just take him if it means he's eating.

Oh take him op and don't doubt yourself
Any food is always better than none.

Better he eat that not. Take him but later just put some healthy snacks nearby that he can pick at as and when. Carrot sticks or cucumber. Whatever he’ll eat. I appreciate he may just waste it but if it’s there and right next to him he may also try it. My nephew is autistic and that worked with him at that age. But each is different! Good luck

And yes, if you talk to them I'm sure they'll let you have some/buy some to take home.

No offence intended, but people who are suggesting that the Op tries to feed her son supermarket burgers maybe don't really understand how distressing some ASD people find food to be. It often has to be the exact food item, presented in the exact way that makes it their safe food. Variations on the food are distressing for the child and they may not eat them.

OP, feed your boy whatever he will eat. Do not worry about whether it is healthy, or about people judging you. If it will prevent a trip to hospital, then fill him up with McDonald's burgers or buns or whatever it takes!

Well done, keep on putting your boy's needs first.

Definitely not unreasonable. If it's just specifically the McDonald's buns that he'll eat, then try contacting them and seeing if they'd give you some in bulk. My little cousin was like your son and there was a stage where she'd only eat these cheesy bite things from Burger King. My auntie contacted them and they sent a load of them to her local BK to pick up and take home.

jaseyraex, sometimes it's not that simple. What is OP supposed to do with a 'bulk' of buns? She could try for her son to eat one at home and he might not touch it because for him, the setting isn't right (ie. those buns are at McDonalds). In a worst case scenario, those buns could become a 'do not touch' rather than the safe food they currently are to him.

Do what is needed. Ds is autistic and is still not gaining weight with 900 calories a day coming from prescribed drinks. He can eat whatever he likes because the idea of “what next” petrifies me

Lots of fab advice, my DS has just gone through a banana phase (SED) but we've done the macdonalds phase too. Good luck OP.
Nousernameforme you said the usual healthy eating rules don't apply. You made me well up. I feel like a weight has been lifted. Sometimes it takes another to make this mess better. Thank you x

Op we are not the experts. You are, and hid dietitian. You don't need approval from mn.
Good luck.

As crochet said, I’d speak to the nearest McDonald’s and ask about buying in bulk from them.

My 12 yr old DS has ASD and a very limited diet.
Most weeks, DH will call in and grab McNuggets on his way home if DS has refused another meal I’ve made. He lives on cold food in very tiny mounts and Oreo milkshakes!p I make for him. It’s a truly awful situation to be in but yes, you must have to feed them anything they’ll eat. DS is very underweight and his head is starting to look bigger than his body again. It’s worrying 24/7.

I really feel for you and hope things improve. Have you got autism outreach from the LA (or similar support) helping you?

That sounds really tough.

for you.

Rules that apply to a "normal" child can't possible be applied to a child with additional needs. You have to do what is right did your child.

lyinwitch you are right in that he may not eat the buns if they’re at home but it depends on how much the OP’s DS understand I guess. My DS would be fine eating the cake if he was with me when I collected them and could see them being from McDonald’s.

If they’re I the bag and box etc, DS is fine and will eat them anywhere.

My eldest has cystic fibrosis and eating has been a real challenge for the past 2 years. He's having a gastrostomy fitted next week and last time he was on the ward the hospital Charity ordered him a personal dominoes pizza every single day for 2 weeks to get him to eat.
You do what you need to survive.

not the cake. I meant eating them

OP, you poor love, it must be very hard watching him lose weight.
You are doing your best, take him whenever you like, you can't do anymore than you are doing.
You're a lovely Mum, and I hope your DS enjoys his burger buns. 💐🍷

Verbena, I understand exactly what you mean. It's like a 'sliding scale', isn't it? It depends where OP's son's 'ok factor' is. Every person who is affected might be at a different point on that scale and there's no 'one size fits all'.

Speak to the manager, I'm sure they will give you a box of them, and also the staff will know why you're always there ordering what you do and can accommodate you.

I used to work there when in 6th form and we used to have someone come through whose son had a problem with his kidneys so couldn't have salt and we would remove all the fries from the station, clean it and then make him up a clean batch of fries, so they are open to helping.

What you are proposing is absolutely fine. It is also good for him socially to eat there.

My ds has autism and very limited diet.
TAKE HIM AND DONT FEEL BAD.
We really have to do what's best for them and eating anything is better than nothing. Infact my dietician said as many calories as we can even if it's biscuits.
My ds is very low weight below 2nd percentile for his age.
Your doing a great job

Contrary to popular belief mcdonalds isnt that unhealthy as long as you dont go over the top.

There is a thread in chat about the new Grand Big Mac and everyone jumped on the obesity bandwagon. But here's the thing: the grand big mac is 740 calories. If you had chips too you're looking at about 1100.

A chicken katsu curry in supposedly healthy wagamamas is 1150 calories and 50grams of fat. Restaurant meals are loaded in general and no different to mcdonalds.

Your ds is only eating the hamburger buns not a full meal with milkshake and fries every time.

Take him as often as possible sounds like he needs it.