AIBU to think letting your kids eat McDonald's with you at least 4 times a week is disgusting?

[FourEyedFreak13]

Just that basically. I've recently noticed since lockdown has been lifted a neighbour heading out almost every night (sometimes afternoon) with their kids and coming back a short time later with McDonald's. It's been at least 4 times this week that I've. Noticed, I only noticed cause our dog is always sitting on the back of the sofa looking out the window and barks when the neighbours leave/come back. The kids are in and around the age of 7/8 (or there abouts) they did this pre-lockdown too, though.

I will add I am under no circumstances a Saint or healthy eater, I do eat takeaways, McDonald's etc. And feel bad judging but I feel like this is an awful way to feed your young kids especially at 9pm at night. So yeah AIBU? Happy to be called a judgmental bitch here.

Wow, some nasty replies on here. You clearly touched a nerve OP.

It's a sign of the times I'm afraid. I saw a lady the other day, in public, without a hat on. Disgusting. I could not find a policeman at the time so she got away with it.

Where will it all end?

McFlurries have 140 calories in a child's one and 280 in an adult's one. Eating one every other day really wouldn't make you obese alongside a normal diet and exercise.

When I take my children to McDonald's they have chicken nuggets or fish fingers and chips with a fruit bag and water or orange juice. Pretty similar to what they have in my house twice a week really. The other days they have curry, pasta, lasagne etc. People are so weird about food on here.

on a regular basis, every single week, yes this isnt the greatest eating habits. but there could be any number of things going on that this has been the easiest option. and even if it was every week it's up to each individual family to do what they want. also, you dont have to get the typical burger and chips at mcdonalds anymore - there are other options. threads like this are so hideously snobby, loove the comments about being less intelligent for thinking this is okay aswell - almost as intelligent as making comments on your neighbours when you have no idea of their circumstances

get a life

My son exists on peanut butter and cucumber. I’d be pleased if he’d want to eat McDonalds multiple time’s a week!

You wouldn't know my son has special needs but he has very high functioning autism. He is a trainee accountant, has a finance degree, quite able to live independently but he has and always has had issues with food. He goes through phases of only eating one thing, currently it is southern fried chicken and chips. Previously it has been pasta ( just pasta, no sauce or anything) pepperoni pizza, can be anything but that is literally the only thing he would eat and this would go on for weeks until overnight he would decide he could no longer eat it and move on to something else. We had weeks of dairylea lunchables for breakfast, lunch and dinner at one point! McDonalds would have been a blessed relief!

Wow, some nasty replies on here. You clearly touched a nerve OP.

Exactly what I was thinking. Clearly the majority on here actually feed their kids fatty food, not avocado and salmon on whole wheat toast cooked by a unicorn. Who knew?

Of course its shit that the kids eat fatty foods 4 times a week. It's damaging for their health, and it's just laziness in parenting. You don't need to do that 4 times a week, that's excessive. This is why you see lots of fat children around now, because parents let them do this. It's going to give them so many problems later in life, or already is. Imagine heart failure in your child at the age of 30. If that doesn't stop this kind of behaviour, nothing will sadly.

I would say YANBU.

But McDonalds is easy, cheap food and it’s highly addictive. Same as any food with high sugar and fat contents.

Interestingly, if you’ve watched Supersize Me, the company refers to customers who eat there more than twice a week as ‘high users’. Because there is an addictive nature to the food.

People get defensive because is has been used as a stick to beat them with previously and badly done. But the truth is that the traditional food peddled by the company is terrible for you and regularly eating even medium amount leads to bed health outcomes.

I am going to admit that I am obese and have only in the last year started to address my terrible relationship with food. So I know how hard it is. We all need to stop kidding ourselves that a McFlurry a day is healthy.

It's expensive and it's always disappointing, also not sure why getting food from an eatery every day is wise at the moment but each to their own.

Ugh! Ever watched "Super-sized Me"? Still, not your call, OP.

Plenty of fats in avocado and salmon!

Every other Tuesday I walk out the house and down the street. I see the recycling boxes. Overspilling with alcohol cans and bottles. There's one house that, after a bit of maths, are drinking a bottle of wine

Doing maths

How do you know thy haven't had friends round a few nights and drank most of it then?

I don't mean disgusting definitely too strong a word
Then ask MNHQ to change your thread title and put your brain in gear before you engage your fingertips in future.

@midnightstar66

Every other Tuesday I walk out the house and down the street. I see the recycling boxes. Overspilling with alcohol cans and bottles. There's one house that, after a bit of maths, are drinking a bottle of wine

Doing maths

How do you know thy haven't had friends round a few nights and drank most of it then?

I have a dog that alerts me whenever they leave the house and a parrot that alerts me if they have visitors. There's also the night vision cameras and 24/7 door monitoring. 👍

@HopelessatHousework

How does anyone afford this though? We spend too much on groceries according to mumsnet budgets, have plenty of food, but haven't had anything like McDonalds in about nine months even though I really really fancy it as pregnant, as it's just too expensive compared to cooking at home/preparing sandwiches at lunch etc etc

It's really not expensive with the current "eat out to help out" half price deal. Treat yourself!

@JadesRollerDisco

Yes, but it is just fat. Fat itself is not bad, especially monounsaturated fats with are beneficial and easily burned by the body.

The issue is trans fats, which are present in high amounts in McDonalds. And the carbohydrate.

The body converts about 50% of the simple carbohydrates you eat directly into trans fats. So mcdonalds is a double whammy of trans fats.

Here are some things that are disgusting:

1. Not feeding kids.
2. Monitoring your neighbours’ behaviour and judging them for things that are permitted by law.

Personally I think McDonalds is crap food, but there are plenty of worse things to worry about.

Well yes it’s a shit thing to do but it’s always gone on. Our ndn sent their kids down the chippy every single night. My dm babysat one night and they only had cereal and milk in the cupboards 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Her dogs ate better.

They are feeding their children, it's not ideal but they may just be doing their best
Give people a break

All those people who say that it might be the only thing the kids eat because of SN or other reasons - how on earth did they manage when it was completely closed for 3 months?

I’d judge.

Kids only decide it’s the only thing they like because they have tried it. There’s no reason to give it to them ever

yanbu I do think its a bit crazy, also expensive. I dont think you need to worry though.

I have a double cheeseburger (£1.59) or chicken mayo (£1.09) off the saver menu when I go for lunch with a cup of tea. I always consider it pretty cheap, but I never get meals, other than Happy Meals when we get lunch as a family so maybe that's why. Their most expensive meals are £5 each though aren't they, or even £2.50 Monday to Wednesday in August so hardly breaking the bank for the convenience of it.

They're probably a hard up and taking advantage of the eat out deal. Don't be so judgy.

What is it exactly that people love to sneer over at McDonalds?

Their meat products are good quality these days and their meals don't have more calories than other restaurant meals. They also make a decent effort to provide some healthy choices, much more so than Costa etc do. And their hygiene standards are outstanding.

If they're having chicken nuggets or a child sized burger and fruit 4 times a week, their diet is no worse that what very many families feed DC at home.

I wouldn't do it personally because of the cost but it's no worse than too many gastropub or coffee shop meals IMO.

But surely several bags, for a family, including McFlurries and things is far more expensive than buying food at supermarket to eat at home, even convenience food? Not even addressing the convenience for a moment I can't see how being hard up is a reason but it's making me think maybe we can fit McDonalds into our budget after all since we'd ruled out takeaways like that!