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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

McDonalds every week?

150 replies

Butterflyflower1234 · 29/11/2019 17:42

I'm wondering AIBU to think giving children a McDonalds every week is too much?

My DP has three lovely DC and every week he takes them to McDonalds. Usually this is every Monday as he seems them for dinner but he missed it this week so he's taken them to McDonalds tonight 'as they missed out on Monday'.

The DC are coming home tonight so it now means that it's just us eating instead of us all eating together.

I have raised before that it won't harm them not to have a McDonalds every week but because they are used to it, they now expect it every week.

I think this is a classic Disney Dad move but of course I can't say too much as I'm not a parent. I just wondered what peoples opinions are?

OP posts:
hsegfiugseskufh · 30/11/2019 10:19

I also disagree that it's him "slacking"

What a weird perspective.

NowWhatUsernameShallIHave · 30/11/2019 10:21

Lemon scented
Sure but at least you know there is lots mites additives, salt and it’s not as processed
It’s not just about nutrition although that is s big part - it’s about setting an example that food can be cooked at home and doesn’t need to take hours

I’m not judging anyone who takes their child to McDs. I sometimes take my son occasionally, but it’s not the norm.

We had bean burgers last night and sweet potato wedges and it’s was so much more healthier, nutritious and quiet than fast food

OlaEliza · 30/11/2019 10:28

There's someone on my insta/FB that takes her kid to mcds, five guys and whetherspoons weekly. And also has a dominoes at home.

I'm sure one meal out a week isn't that bad in the scheme of things, but that said, I wouldn't give my future kid mcds weekly, I'd find somewhere healthier.

I used to like harvester for their salad bar as it's easy to drop out the carbs there but I went off them. Their salad bar got shit.

jomaIone · 30/11/2019 11:54

My treat is a glass of wine (or 4) on a Friday and Saturday evening. That's every week. My toddler gets fish fingers and waffles every Friday for tea... Is that worse than McDonalds??

MirenaManiac · 30/11/2019 18:28

@jomalone My toddler gets fish fingers and waffles every Friday for tea... Is that worse than McDonalds??

Depends. Let's say you kept the same nutritional content, but rebranded it as "A small portion of minced fish, enrobed in golden breadcrumbs, with a side of creamed potato artfully shaped like a portcullis", then you win Smug Mother points. Add a side of kale, instead of peas, to show you're the right sort. To go for bonus points, again keep the nutritional content identical but say it's organic. That means you are signalling that you can afford to spend 50% extra on food for no tangible benefit. Win!!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/11/2019 19:08

My DC have been to McDonald's about 5 times in their lives, do I win a prize?
(There's a few trips to KFC and Burger King as well, but one doesn't like chips, neither like the burgers. They like takeaway pizza though. Plus the youngest (the chip hater) will eat a whole chip shop fish with some veg)

There are a lot worse father's than Disney Dad's. It's not perfect, but it's not the crime of the century.

OlaEliza · 30/11/2019 20:10

Wtf cooks and puts veg with a chippy dinner Confused jfc.

Unless it's a gherkin and pickled onion.

speakout · 30/11/2019 20:18

I agree with a lot of the realists on this thread.

Pasta and pesto seems a popular meal, but gets kudos because is is " middle class". Nutritionally crap.
Some want to tax high fat or high sugar foods, but no doubt want creme brulee or brie to be exempt. Olives and feta fine despite massive salt content???
It's about balance.

speakout · 30/11/2019 20:19

MirenaManiac

Agreed!

redappleandaquamarinebow1987 · 30/11/2019 20:24

@OlaEliza garden peas are lovely with a chippy. Won't touch mushy peas though lol

GingerRH · 30/11/2019 20:49

@Butterflyflower1234 we get this we DSD too but it's her DM that takes her rather than my DP.

I personally think it's too much. We as adults can go a good 6 months without touching one.

But each to their own I guess.

ItsAPleasureSwingYouFuckNut · 30/11/2019 20:52

Jesus it's a burger and chips. Do people honestly worry about stuff like this. Ooh obese this obese that, it's a fucking burger.

NowWhatUsernameShallIHave · 30/11/2019 22:04

It’sapleasure

Yes it’s a burger and chips but on a regular basis.

I’ve seen the school meals and I wouldn’t say they’re the healthiest either.

Most children couldn’t tell a pepper from a kiwi.

Diabetes, cancer are at an all time high and that’s without even mentioning obesity. It’s views like yours that normalises to children that fast food is equivalent to a normal meal.

It’s so easy to have homemade burgers in which you know what’s in it and still a lot healthier.

I’m not saying never go to McDs or KFC but once a week is not a treat it’s a regular thing

Passthecherrycoke · 30/11/2019 22:06

“Most children couldn’t tell a pepper from a kiwi.”

What sort of thick kids do you know?!

PurpleDaisies · 30/11/2019 22:07

Kids that aren’t exposed to peppers abc kiwis? That’s not “thick”. It’s down to their parents.

Passthecherrycoke · 30/11/2019 22:12

There are no children who mistake a pepper for a kiwi but nice try

PurpleDaisies · 30/11/2019 22:14

There are children who do not know what a pepper or a kiwi is.

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 30/11/2019 22:18

Most children couldn’t tell a pepper from a kiwi

My oldest is 4 and he knows the difference
My middle one is 3 and she knows the difference

Do you have dc? If you do and they don’t know they difference maybe you need to feed them more veg and explain what is it......

Bluerussian · 30/11/2019 22:18

McD once a week is OK.

ysmaem · 30/11/2019 22:25

It's a weekly treat. As long as they have a well balanced, healthy diet the rest of the week i dont see the harm tbh

NowWhatUsernameShallIHave · 30/11/2019 23:07

My DS does know

However there are many kids in class who question his snack as they’ve never seen some of the fruit he has before

OlaEliza · 01/12/2019 09:07

@redappaleandaquamarinebow1987 garden peas are lovely with a chippy. Won't touch mushy peas though lol

Good point!

But you'd have to be a bit of a knob to say my kid eats a whole chippy fish and veg instead of fish and peas imo.

redappleandaquamarinebow1987 · 01/12/2019 10:00

@OlaEliza are peas not veg then? I don't see problem with saying 'my kid eats a whole chippy fish and veg' if it is true.

In general though I don't see anything too wrong with having a treat once a week. I am sure most people on here allow themselves a treat once a week if they have had a balanced diet the rest of the week. For some it is a glass of wine, for others it is a certain treat food. All this is no problem as long as it is not a daily habit. My grandparents and fiancé have a habit of having a small desert after dinner on a daily basis he, fiancé is very active so one biscuit, small wafer, or piece of chocolate will not be bad at all as long as he eats healthy most of the time and does not eat more calories then he burns.

Saying fast food causes obesity is true but a gross simplification. It's the portion sizes that we need to learn as well as healthy foods. Treat foods once a week are no problem as long as we eat everything in moderation at the suggested portion size

Fightingmycorner2019 · 01/12/2019 10:24

You can easily have food at home that’s equally calorific
Can’t get bothered by this

adaline · 01/12/2019 10:28

Omg comments like this make me cringe. No wonder people are dying in their millions. Please read a nutrition book

Eh? What are you talking about?

What do you think is in McDonald's that's so harmful? Why do you think one meal a week of chicken, potatoes and orange juice is so bad?

Would it be better if it was described as potato wedges, chicken goujons and freshly squeezed orange with bits, and not "nuggets, fries and juice"?

I think the attitude of "oh my god, McDonald's is horrific and my child will never even step foot through the door" is far more damaging than the one that allows children to eat it at times. My parents were massively anti anything junk - no McDonald's, no Burger King, no fizzy drinks, nada - what did I do as soon as I got pocket money and hit my teens? Developed a Diet Coke addiction and spent all my money on junk that I was never allowed growing up!