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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have asked for a toy?

77 replies

Newusername53412 · 29/05/2018 11:30

DH and I are vegetarians. Therefore we have decided to bring DD (3) up as a vegetarian also. If she changes her mind when she is older that is fine by us, but for the moment she eats whatever we have.

I went to McDonald's the other day with some of my friends and their (similar aged) children. Their children all had happy meals.
McDonald's doesn't sell a vegetarian children's meal, so I ordered a large vegetarian adults meal and DD shared with me. All of these other children had happy meal toys and were playing with them together.

DD felt left out that she didn't have a toy so I went up and asked if I could have one for her (I did say I was happy to pay for it)
The lady at the counter got very snappy with me and said no because they are only if you have a happy meal. I was fine with that but she got really annoyed at me and hinted that DD shouldn't be a vegetarian at such a young age.
I know she's reasonable to refuse me, but WIBU to ask, even if I offered to pay? My friends seem to think I was, and apparently they would never ask such a thing....

OP posts:

incognitoTab · 29/05/2018 14:16

@AllMYSmellySocks

People, especially children, need balanced and varied diets.

Yes, it's theoretically possible to get all nutrients you need from pills, supplements and vegetables but it's unlikely to happen.

Protein is the biggest issue. Not all are equal and it''s nearly impossible to get enough from plants. I always laugh when people talk about broccoli having more protein than steak.

Vegetarianism is a strange kind of arrogance. We're nothing but animals surviving by eating other animals. We may have opposable thumbs but really, we're worm food waiting to happen (fucking meat-eating wiggly buggers!).

"I also don't think someone working in McDonalds is necessarily in a position to pass judgement on other people's children's diets!"

I'd say they're excellently placed.

Orangecake123 · 29/05/2018 14:20

No not unreasonable.

Macdonald's have always sold the toys at my local one .

reddressblueshoes · 29/05/2018 14:55

@incognitoTab your points may be valid for vegans, but they're really not for vegetarians.

I'm a meat-water, DH is veggie: we eat the same at home for convenience so no meat and I usually bring a packed lunch of leftovers. I did a diet inventory a while back to see if I was getting enough protein: you absolutely have to pay a bit of attention, but it's quite easy if you eat eggs, dairy and nuts/lentils etc. And if you're doing it properly, a healthier diet than a lot of standard kids 'chips and nuggets for dinner' as you should be eating a lot more veg.

You can obvs be a v unhealthy vegetarian eating chips and nothing else but protein is definitely not enough of an issue to be concerned about a child.

BustopherJones · 29/05/2018 15:23

You definitely have to think about your diet to make sure you’re getting everything you need, but I don’t see why some people think this doesn’t apply to meat eaters.

And arrogance has nothing to do with it.

Clawdy · 29/05/2018 15:46

I also wondered if OP expected to be given a free toy.

CD890 · 29/05/2018 15:49

Sounds like she was just too lazy to go and get one and quite possibly in a very bad mood overall and you got the brunt of it. I've always been able to buy them (99p think) from the counter just asking the member of staff. I've never been told you have to buy a happy meal. My DS doesn't like Mcdonald's, just the chips, so when we do go I always ask for chips and a toy and get one no problem. She definitely shouldn't have commented on the way you feed your child that's out of order.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 29/05/2018 15:50

We've had the same problem in the past and have been able to buy the toys, or sympathetic staff seeing my kids looking wistful havejust given them with the meal. YANBU. ask the manager next time. They don't want to lose customers over something so mean.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 29/05/2018 15:50

My kids don't eat mcdonalds, but if we go out with friends, I buy them the toy. Never had a problem

Are you saying you take your kids to mcdonald's with friends who are eating there but your kids don't eat just get a toy?

Shadow666 · 29/05/2018 15:53

This thread is getting weirder and weirder.

My McDonalds has a big box where people drop off unwanted toys and others can take them.

KirstenRaymonde · 29/05/2018 16:06

incognitoTab there’s no concerns about vegetarian diets being unbalanced or lacking in nutrients. There is nothing in meat that can’t easily be found in a vegetarian diet - dairy and eggs provide more than enough protein. Meat is pretty much unnecessary in most people’s diets (excepting special requirements which might mean the loss of a number of other foods) you’re sorely misinformed

KirstenRaymonde · 29/05/2018 16:06

Actually - not even just dairy and eggs but beans, lentils, wheat, nuts and seeds. There’s protein everywhere you knwo

PleaseDontGoadTheToad · 29/05/2018 16:14

Not all are equal and it''s nearly impossible to get enough from plants.

Since when do vegetarians only eat plants?

LilQueenie · 29/05/2018 16:15

its difficult not to eat protein. Nothing wrong with being veggie.

CocoAndTheChocolates · 29/05/2018 16:17

We have also ordered he cheeseburger minus burger but check it before you leave he counter as 50% they will add the meat

mostdays · 29/05/2018 16:19

One of the McDonalds we used to go to would do a happy meal with a fruit bag instead of the burger/nuggets/fish fingers if you asked. I've asked at others and been told no. It is weird that they don't do a veggie kids meal like Burger King do.

Wishmeluck2018 · 29/05/2018 16:22

She obviously didn't know you can buy the toy without the meal!

smellyhouseelf · 29/05/2018 17:08

My vegetarian nephew has happy meal with chips and fruit bag. Or sometimes chips and carrot sticks. Just as a non vegetarian child could if they wanted. I don’t believe this happened. If it did, YABU for not buying a happy meal for your daughter and asking them for fruit/carrots instead of burger/nuggets.

WhoWants2Know · 29/05/2018 17:56

My kids are both veggie and we have always just ordered a toy with chips and fruit. It's never been an issue.

coffeeforone · 29/05/2018 18:07

Even the chip s in MacDonal d's aren't veggie

That's not true. They are veggie.

OP - I would have ordered a cheeseburger happy meal without the patty.

KlutzyDraconequus · 29/05/2018 19:00

how does one 'Hint at not being a vegetarian'?
I don't get it... did the woman say,
"She looks like she could do with a greasy burger anyway"

polsha · 29/05/2018 19:09

I don't get this. You don't have to explain to the counter staff what your child is eating, you just buy a toy. They sell them as a normal item. Why would she be judging you because your child is a vegetarian? She doesn't need to know this information for you to buy a toy

noenergy · 29/05/2018 19:31

I always buy the toy separate as my kids will only eat the chips. Strange that she wouldn't let u

Theweasleytwins · 29/05/2018 21:17

The lady was wrong, the toy is £1 on its own, I used the drive through for breakfast and would ask what (Pokemon) toys they had that week (for myself) they didn't mind me buying them, they just didn't know which Pokemon were which😅

They said people came in and brought loads of toys, I'm assuming to sell online

stupidwispyhair · 29/05/2018 21:42

I know pp have said it already, but I currently work for McDonald's and you definitely CAN buy the toy separately there a button on the till for it and everything. Lots of people do it for their children when not buying a full happy meal. Maybe go back in and speak to the manager, they should sort it out for you or at least clarify why you weren't sold one

Imchangingmyname · 29/05/2018 21:48

What's the adult vegetarian option?

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