To think there’s nothing wrong with a McDonald’s once in a while?

[Eyebagsandcoffee]

I went on a day out today with a friend and kids and stopped at a services along the way to get some lunch. DD(4) saw the McDonald’s sign and excitedly shouted ‘ooh McDonald’s can we go there for lunch please?’

My friend was mortified and snapped at me ‘she’s 4 how does she know the McDonald’s sign? my DS (he’s 4) has never been and doesn’t even know they exist, we’re not going anywhere near it, I can’t believe you’ve fed her that crap’

She’s usually quite level headed but was outraged, are parents really like this? DD doesn’t have one every week but occasionally will, it’s usually at a services or similar. A few nuggets once in a while won’t kill them! The friend will happily give her kid chips whilst out at a farm cafe or similar.

AIBU to think she was being precious and her kids will probably binge on cheeseburgers at the earliest opportunity?

We go maybe a couple of times a month. A McDonald’s breakfast is the best hangover cure ever so OH usually go the morning after we’ve been out and we get DS a happy meal once every few weeks. He generally eats very healthily and it’s chicken nuggets and chips, hardly the end of the world. Everything in moderation I say.

Nope, nowt wrong with it.

Ignore and move on.

It's not a problem.

What an odd thing to say and I say that as someone who’s 8yo has never been in a McDonald’s (I don’t mind them but they’re like eating air, 15 minutes after you’ve had one you’re hungry again. So I think they’re a bit pointless. And DD is veggie and I don’t think she’d like their veggie burger).

I think we have the same friend 🤔

I've known her for 5 years, she's had opinions about macdonalds, fizzy drinks, films I've ( or other friends) have taken children to see, clothing, shoes, outings, use of technology.

She is very opinionated about anything she wouldn't do. I'll always remember the first day I met her. It was our DC's first day at school. There was 3 children and I had one of those packs of 4 tiny jammy dodgers. DS wanted it on the way home so I said you'll have to share them with your friends. If looks could kill I would have been dead in the play ground " we don't allow THOSE sort of things "

So yes, it doesn't surprise me you have a friend like mine OP!! I've now learnt to just nod in acknowledgement and store it away in my "don't give a toss what you think" drawer

There's nothing wrong with any food or drink - in moderation.

It's because some people are too stupid to control themselves that bloody MPs feel the need to meddle with taxes etc & ruin it for those of us that can control themselves.

I don't think there is anything wrong with it now and again! Everything is ok in moderation!

Sorry op, I could not spend time with someone so judgemental. You were hanged before trial! No chance to say how often you go. Kids recognise the brand and it is advertised on tv all the time (or maybe tv is a parental sin too!). She should get over herself. Everything in moderation.

I think you could probably survive on McDonald's if you had to and be reasonably healthy...

Drinks: Alternate water, juice, bottle of milk
Fruit and Veg: carrot sticks, fruit bags, pineapple sticks, salad
Breakfast: Porridge or Bagel
Food: Alternate between fish fingers, deli sandwiches, chips and salad.

(You can tell I'm hungry!)

Oh, yes, I have a Jammy Dodger friend, although I would say more of an acquaintance I can't get away from!

I've met so many people like that since having had children. I never met any before then so, either, I wasn't going to the right places or people just go bonkers when they have children.

Occasionally, I gently challenge them - well, we like them, it works for us, it doesn't matter now & then, he eats a lot of fruit so we don't mind, and, also, I have the same theory that if you deny them stuff, they'll rebel and go mental later. My mum was v relaxed about TV (the bogeyman of the 1980s) and I still can take it or leave it. The kids who had parents obsessive about limiting it were the ones who came round ours and stayed glued to the damned thing. They are still the same 30 yrs later, some of them.

Nah, let her crack on. She can always buy a bag of apples and grapes. (But I bet she doesn't!)

Every family should suckle at the great yellow tits of America once in a while..

When you put it like that, it sounds really grim

Of course not

If you actually do a calorie analysis I can’t see there is that much extra for some meals versus a mayo and cheese filled Sandwich

If I manage to get the kids to walk the 40 mins to school I treat them with a breakfast after !!

So that’s my excuse and I am
Sticking with it

Every family should suckle at the great yellow tits of America once in a while..

If I add it all up ( x box , films , you tube ) we suck loads !!

We have one nearby and visit 3 or 4 times a year. It has a small soft play area which the children also enjoy - it's a cheap, easy occasional treat. It wouldn't be healthy to eat there every day, but I think it's better to teach children to enjoy "unhealthy" food in moderation than to completely deny them. We have friends who don't allow their children any "junk" food or foods containing sugar - when they occasionally come across it at parties etc, they fall on it like gannets.

Lol my 4yo sees the golden arches and says look, Morrisons

He's been a couple of times. I can't get worked up about it. We don't go that often because we eat in other places, but it's just fish fingers and chips? We've ordered children's meals in cafés and they've been enormous compared with McDonald's portions, so would be far higher in calories and fat I should think

Moderation is the key I feel!

I live on a Caribbean island and unfortunately we don't have McD's here AND I MISS IT!

My kids call it "the golden mmmm's" and any time we're driving in the US, we'll pull into the drive thru. The kids are always delighted.

Notwithstanding we only have BK and KFC here, the kids eat BK "in moderation" but my version of "moderation" is once a week/every other week depending.

Meh - any fast food "a few times a year" / "once in a while" / "once a week" isn't going to do the slightest bit of damage.

I have McDonalds probably once a week.

I have never struggled with my weight, eat healthily 90% of the time, and will take the word of people I know who have worked at McDonalds (Australia) that many of the more popular items on the menu are not as unhealthy as they are perceived to be.

My DS is 12 months and has McDonald's, we don't have it everyday, we seem to have a thing where we won't go for months and then will go several times in a couple of weeks. Both my DS and my DD (aged 4) are active and love fruit and veg too so I really don't see the problem with it.

You used to get flamed on MN for having a McDonald’s. About a decade ago.

Fruit shoots too.

My kids are massive carb avoiders so won’t eat it. So sometimes I “forget” and buy them McDonald’s so I can eat theirs too

My kids like Mc Donald’s but prefer KFC or subway atm . It’s fastfood , if eaten in moderation its fine .

Despite the crappy advert, the buffalo chicken wraps are delicious. I’m not a huge fan of their chips so my guilty pleasure is having a crispy chicken one then justifying the lardiness by having a salad or the carrot bag (I know they’re for kids but I love raw carrot!)

I do eat too much McDs as I’m a shift worker and there’s a 24 hr one nearly

My son loves McDs too sadly. I bribed him out of bed for parkrun with the promise of a McDs breakfast the other week. But he does eat a lot of veg at home too so it’ll balance out

chasingsushi not sure what things are added to the UK fries - this is the ingredients from their website

Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Sunflower, Rapeseed), Dextrose (predominantly added at beginning of the potato season).

I go with the in moderation theory, had helped feed my children and me when we need to get tea in them quickly rather than going to a restaurant. Tried the later, the time taken in various situations has ended in a mess and no one really eating!