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.

Sats*

10 year old DD has a happy meal and often struggles to finish it.

13 year old DS ( who is 6ft tall) has been ordering a cheese burger meal since he was 10 but had happy meals up until then. He often can't finish his fries but always has room for a McFlurry, strangely.

My 9 year old still has a happy meal. She occasionally has asked for an adult burger or wrap, but she can never finish it with chips, so she can have an adult wrap but no chips, or a happy meal. She's not a big fan of chips so happy with that if she wants something different.

My 2 are boycotting happy meals due to the plastic tatt,

Instead, dd (9) has 8-9 nuggets and a drink. Ds (10) has a plain burger, small chips and a drink.

DS 10 asked to try a Big Mac Jr recently instead of his usual happy meal. He couldn’t finish and left his fries too so has been put back in happy meal camp til his belly is as big as his eyes

I hate happy meals because of the plastic tat. So as soon as my ds wanted to switch to normal meals we did. The only difference really is the chips for him (he gets medium) - and he rarely has macdonalds so I’m quite relaxed. He’s 9

My 8 year old will eat a happy meal. I've taken out children of the same age who have got sulky when I won't buy them a large milkshake to go with their happy meal.

My (very slim and active ) children moved off happy meals age 9-10 ISH. Ds9 has a chicken selects meal with a fruit bag as he doesnt like chips (not sure how he is related to me).

I actually don't mind my children not having a happy meal if they want a different choice. We only have one every few months -usually if travelling- and the grown up burgers are a lot nicer generally then the plastic cheeseburgers is a happy meal. If they don't eat it all then generally someone will help them finish it (the joys of teenage boys).

My niece was eating large meals from there at 4yo .

Both of mine (4 and 7) still have a happy meal.

It depends on the child. DSS who is 8 has moved onto an adult meal, whereas DS (also 8) still wouldn’t even get close to finishing a happy meal.
Both are the slim end of healthy.
We rarely go there though - usually only when travelling.

YANBU OP I think we have lost sight of what is a normal portion for adults and even more so for kids

I eat a happy meal, I’m 40 ish!
DC had happy meals until a friend was out with us around age 13 and said how they always has a full meal, with a milkshake as the drink.
Explains why the friend was chunky I guess.

Depends on the child. Looking back I’m fairly certain I had switched to adult meals around 8/9 but I’m not 100%. I don’t often get my DC McDonald’s because they never bloody eat it but would still get a happy meal and eldest is almost 9.

"My 2 are boycotting happy meals due to the plastic tatt,"

If the child will eat from the environment, do the planet a favour and order that.

Children's appetites vary. Some eat breakfast, a good tea, others don't.

How much of one meal a child eats isn't indicative of anything.

My DGD (now 12) always had a Happy Meal up to the age of 11. She always seemed satisfied with that,and I wouldn't have said she had a particularly small appetite she would usually have an ice cream or a McFlurry afterwards She now has a small (regular?) adult meal.

I really want a Happy Meal now. I am older than 8

A Cheese Burger Happy Meal with fries and an orange juice
646 Calories

www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/good-to-know/nutrition-calculator.html

I need about 1400 calories a day as an adult. So actually a happy meal is probably about right for me if I eat three meals a day.

It depends on how active the child is, but an average eight year old needs 1400 - 1800 calories a day.

My 8.5 Yr old recently had her first proper mcd meal. She has older siblings and wanted to try a big mac. I let her and she finished almost all of it to my amazement! Can't say it worries me. We don't eat there much. And not to sound like a mumsnet cliche but she really is skinny - legs like string with a knot in.

Depends on the situation. Certainly for me dc#1 had happy meals until about 11 or 12yo.
Dc#3 was having a adult main and drink (no fries) from about 7 or 8yo because it felt mean to say to him that his sisters could choose from the whole menu but he only could have a happy meal.

In a similar way I remember the very much younger brother's (of a friend) disgust when he was offered a mini milk. The rest of the party was delighted with the ice creams. He looked at it and "but I prefer Magnums". Thing was his older siblings were 15 and 21 (he was 5yo) and you wouldn't offer those ages a mini milk.

I do love a competitive small portions post.

My eldest two moved off happy meals by about age 7.

In most restaurants, ds1 (11) has also moved on from a plated kids meal. An adults meal is still too big but a kids meal is too small by far for him.

Seems to be against the grain on here of peoples three kids sharing two nuggets and chips 🙌🏻🤷🏻‍♀️

DS is 9 and it's more than enough for them.
It is a decent size. If they are hungry they could have an apple afterwards?

By contrast a standard sized Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal with a Diet Coke =
856 Calories

Incidentally if you like McDonalds, be wary of the specials. They are HEAVY on the calorie count.

A Signature BBQ Burger alone is 782 calories. I don't believe its the worst they done in the UK either.

I do love a competitive small portions post.

Oh god me too

the "i can only manage half a fish finger" types or "me and DH share a chicken leg" ones. They are great!

I don't think the OP falls into this category though

Dcs 8 and 9 have had adult portions at McDs for a while. They are both healthy weights and active so I'm happy for them to have them.

Am I the only one who thinks it’s mean to tell your guest they can only order off the children’s menu and can’t have coke? Or that it’s understandable for a five year old to want a magnum instead of a mini milk when that’s whats been offered to his older brother? (And I say that as someone in my forties who likes mini milks!)

I don’t like two-tier hospitality, even for children.