To get an 8.5 yr old a happy meal?

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Obviously irrelevant if you don’t eat McDonald’s...

Twice recently I’ve had friends kids out and about and for ease I’ve resorted to McDonald’s. Not the days main meal.

I still buy my 8 yr old a happy meal, even I rarely buy an adult full meal unless I’m starving or I’ve eaten little else. For lunch I’ll happily get a wrap.

Both times his friends have been incredulous at the happy meal, I’ve bought them full meals and their parents have confirmed they always have a full meal. One laughed and said she lets him make it large.

I will always follow rules for other people’s kids, but am I out of step with 8 yr old boy portions? It seems plenty to me for lunch. He doesn’t complain, his 6 yr old sister doesn’t finish them. They are slim but a healthy slim and full of energy. I’m a very normal about 22ish bmi so mid range healthy and I don’t diet.

Happy meals are absolutely fine for an 8 year old. Actually it would be what I would have st McDonald’s Portions are becoming increasingly unhealthy for kids. No wonder we have an obesity problem in the UK.

Dd 11 is still happy with a happy meal, I think ds was about 12 before he wanted a normal meal.

I am sure my DD was still eating a Happy Meal until age 12 or so ( on the few occasions we went to McD's.)

I guess it depends on how often the other 8 yo are having large adult meals.

If it's only McDonald's and say only once a month. And the kids are healthky weight, couldn't care less.

But if they're overweight, it having it say once a week on top of other large portions of junk food, then yes. It's a bit ott.

Dd 11 would have happy meal

dd who is almost 13 still gets a happy meal, she finds that enough

My 9 yr old is known for having a big appetite. He has a happy meal (except if we are at the airport at 6am, when he has a breakfast muffin).

My 5 year old DD has a happy meal and something extra like a burger and fruit and ice cream

Kids appetites are all so different. I am in awe of hers!

Definitely think a happy meal is enough for an 8 year old. Lately my 10 year old has started ripping up with 3 chicken selects but she still likes a happy meal as well.

My 15 year old and I always have a happy meal each :-)

Back in the 1990s when i was 13, index to have a chicken nuggets happy meal, was fine with me. My D's is 7 and I get him a happy meal, he would not because to manage a full meal and it would be wasted. I am shocked at 8 year olds going large, I am a 41 year old 10,5 stone woman and sound not manage a large. Yes nowonder there is an obesity crisis at the moment.

My 11yo likes the McChicken sandwich but she won't have chips as well, just the burger. My 9yo is a livewire and eats like a horse. He is perfectly happy with a Happy Meal.

My 4 year old and I share a happy meal!! Strictly emergency snack though, not as meal.

I think because it's seen as a treat and not an everyday thing position size goes out of the window.

Circa lot. It is not a treat, some families have it regularly.

I was out with my 8 YO DS last month and we were given £1.99 vouchers for Big Macs, so I let him have one for the first time, he didn't manage to eat it all and he has the appetite of an elephant!

For some families I meant

all children have different appetites though. my 3year old nephew has a chicken nugget happy meal and a cheeseburger and he often eats it all (apart from a few chips) he doesn’t eat mcdonald’s every day it’s a treat once in a while after nursery. he’s not overweight and he eats plenty of fruit and vegetables

My almost 8yo has a Happy Meal and it was only recently that my 11yo stopped. She likes a double cheeseburger and fries instead.

My 16 year old still has a happy meal regularly!

I've just started to let DD1 have a full meal and she's 11. Up till now she's been perfectly happy with a happy meal.

I quite often have a happy meal myself (I'm 34)

My son's best friend always asks to order from adult menu when we visit mcds or pizza hut. It really annoys me tbh because if you're being treated I think you should take what you are offered by the host and not complain about 'baby' meals. It also means my 8yr old has started asking for adult meals too when it never bothered him before.

The same boy always gets cola, which my son isn't allowed and it causes issues when I say 'no cola today we don't drink that' the boy cries he doesn't like anything else and will go thirsty.

It solely depends on the child, if we have McDonalds rarethen it’s for a main meal, so a happy meal would not be sufficient for my 9 and 12 year old exceptionally active boys.

I.think ds1 was ten when he progressed to a main meal,s was complaining last summer his year six class were having a McDonald's lunch as a treat after same and the all got happy meals