To be perplexed at why people feel the need to be ashamed of giving their DC fast food?

[speedymama]

This morning, I was in the children's section of the library with my DTS and there was a woman who was with her son who was between 3 and 4yo. She spoke with a very posh accent which I overheard as she and her DS were deciding which books to borrow. After choosing the books, as they were going to the counter,her DS said on top of his voice

"Are we going to McDonald's now?"

She bent down quickly, said "Hush, we don't say that in public", looked around furtively and then scurried to the counter with a rather crimson face.

I just thought that it was really sad that she would feel ashamed of something as trivial as that. So what if she takes her DS to McD? She was very slim and her DS had rosy skin so on the outside, they looked healthy.

My attitude is that as long as you eat healthily most of the time, the occasional fast food is no big deal. My parents use to treat us to fish and chips about once a month and we are all healthy! I admit that I don't buy the DTS McD (I don't personally like it) but we occasionally have KFC or fish & chips.

Is this an indictment of the over-judgment of parents in our society? I wonder how many people who knock fast food drink copious amounts of wine which contains nothing but empty calories?

[expatinscotland]

On the way to the treatment centre were DD1 goes for OT, SALT and her paed is a Gregg's.

Without fail, on the way back, she'll plead, 'Mummy, please may I have a sausage roll?'

How can I resist that Leither accent?

[AnAngelWithin]

WELL I AM GOING TO MCDONALDS TONIGHT AND I DON'T CARE!!!!

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

Well I bought the DS's Fruitshoots to drink today when in town - they were the only drinks in Woolies that were "non-spill" for when they were running throuhg the park on the way home, and non-fizzy.

They've both sat calmly playing on the PS2 so no harm done

[MrsPuddleduck]

I'm a meanie mummy and told ds1 that fruitshoots give you the honky hiccups (Sick).

My main objection is that for every one drink that goes in about 5 wees come out!

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[mm22bys]

I loved McDonalds when I was in my 20s, but I would be too embarrassed to be seen taking DS1 and DS2 there.

DS1 is 3.3, and he's had it once in his life (when we saw his two cousins who are 5 and 3, they have it all the time. DS didn't like it...).

Just the thought of eating it makes me feel sick!

[emj23]

I think it's quite ridiculous for the woman to tell her child not to mention it in public. If they were both hugely overweight and looked like they ate there four times a week it might be slightly different, but I see nothing wrong with McDonalds, Fruit Shoots or sausage rolls as long as they are just an occasional treat. Although I do find it slightly gross to see a 2 year old in a pushchair eating pastry out of a soggy paper bag, just because it looks so greasy and messy I think.

Her sense of embarassment probably does have something to do with sites like this where some people become apoplectic with rage if someone mentions giving their child a Fruit Shoot. It's something that has baffled me since I joined MN actually.

[cornsilk]

What does W/C and M/C diets mean?

[bobsyouruncle]

Definitely a mumsnetter, it wouldn't have occured to me to be ashamed of going to McDonalds until I joined mumsnet.

I was at the library with dd & ds today however and was embarrassed when I couldn't take them to the cafe afterwards as I'd forgotten to bring any money! I felt the need to explain loudly to dd that I'd forgotten to go to the cashline first in case anyone thought I was just skint

[iota]

my kids had lunchables for lunch today [shrug]

they came food shopping with me this morning and pestered for them - I couldn't be bothered to argue

[MrsBadger]

cornsilk - working class and middle class

[aloha]

People are absolutely ridiculous about Mcdonalds. Remember utterly bizarre thread - children in Australia were going on a hugely long school coach trip from something like 6am to 9pm, along a major highway where the only clean places to eat were Macdonalds branches, and people were still going all prim and shocked that the kids were going to have breakfast and tea there on ONE DAY.

[Nemo2007]

We all just had KFC for tea!!
Even DD2 pinched a couple of chips[or was secretly passed some by ds or dd1] and she wolfed them down.
I dont mind as they generally eat healthily.

[aloha]

Yes, I am now middle class and vastly prefer going to cafe rouge or pizza express, with the nice decor and waiter service and glass of wine for me, but I'm pretty sure mcdonalds fish fingers, chips and a fruit bag are healthier than cafe rouge 'goujons of fish and frites' and icecream.

[aloha]

I never go to KFC nowadays (really, really don't fancy it) but do remember it as a very special treat indeed from my childhood!

[NKF]

The thing I don't get about McDonalds is how horrible it is. Believe me, I can enjoy food deemed to be unhealthy but I like it to taste nice. And McDonalds doesn't.

[handlemecarefully]

"Is this an indictment of the over-judgment of parents in our society? I wonder how many people who knock fast food drink copious amounts of wine which contains nothing but empty calories?"

Yes, and I think it's tragic. There is precious little fun in parenting these days, we are all too busy self flagellating

[LIZS]

fgs , if it is a "treat" and he wasn't a weaning baby then hardly any need for hushed tones . It's those who fill their kids up on fizzy drinks then complain they won't eat anything healthy or go to bed until midnight that rile me.

[nogoes]

Ds had his first McDonalds a couple of weeks ago he is nearly 3. We were shopping right next door to it and I knew that ds would be impressed with the shrek toy. I haven't exactly gone shouting from the rooftops that ds has had his first Maccy D's as I expect there would be a few raised eyebrows, I don't think any of my mum friends have ever taken their kids there and yet everyone is perfectly happy to feed them the crappy e number loaded sandwiches in Costa which are far more unhealthy in my opinion. And don't get me started on Waitrose pack lunches...

[FrannyandZooey]

I don't believe anyone would say "hush, don't say that in public" to their child. I think you're embroidering.

[handlemecarefully]

I am currently self flagellating because my children have been watching dvds from 5pm solid (and will do so now until bed time) because 2 action packed 'never a second to myself' weeks of school holidays have left me cowed and taking refuge in my study (not studying!)

[morningglory]

I find it pretty silly that people are ashamed about going to McDonalds. When I take DS to children's play places (nice ones), or even the posh club we belong to, invariably the children's menu is ladened with sausage and chips, fish fingers and chips, chicken gougons (fancy way of saying fried chicken pieces) and chips, pizza, and other such questionably healthy fare...all served with a couple of spoonfuls of peas to make it seem "healthy". Mums there certainly aren't ashamed of ordering their kids these things, which, in my mind, aren't much above McDonalds, but because the setting are more upmarket, it makes it OK.

Or how about the yummy mummys who live at Starbucks and allow their kids to eat the transfat ladened pastries sold there? Do they feel any shame and guilt in this?

People are so hypocritical! FFS, healthy eating does not equal sanctimonious eating!

Also, I do think that there is an element of class snobbery in this. The yummy mummys like to take their DC to Itsu and Wagamama for their fast food meals, whilst it is seen as declasse to take the precious things to McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, and the like. Sure Itsu and Wagamama are healthier, but also a hell of alot more expensive!

[foxinsocks]

eww Twig, I reckon McDonalds is far nicer than Burger King. We had a BK last week after the cinema and the children's chicken things (whatever they were) tasted really oily and foul. At least you know where you stand with a McDonalds Chicken Nugget .

[iota]

we're not proud we do wagamams and MCdonalds