To give my 18 month old Macdonalds?

[Benji4ever]

Twice a month I take my two DS swimming all afternoon. On way home we get a drive through Macdonalds

The 3 year old has a happy meal. The 18 month old has a few of the chips. That's it.

I saw a mum give me one of those looks as I took some chips from the happy meal and gave them to the little one.

Is this awful? Its only twice a month and only a few chips. Also the 18 month old drink diluted squash regularly.

Aibu to think in the grand scheme of things its not that bad?

[Tillow4ever]

I voted YABU but only because of the frequency. 2 or 3 times a year, maybe even every 2-3 months max, I’d think it was fine and a couple of fries wouldn’t do any harm. But every 2 weeks is far, far too frequent for both children IMO. Don’t get me wrong, I love a Maccy’s as much as the next person, and I’ve treated the kids to it of course. But a max of a few times a year (kids are now 17, 14 and 10). The older ones are now at the point where they might choose to go occasionally with their friends so they go more often than they have historically.

it might be worth considering different treats, that don’t necessarily relate to food all the time, so they don’t only associate junk foods with rewards/treats! Up to you of course, just my twopence on the subject!

[celticprincess]

Oh and I never forget the tv documentary I saw quite a few years ago where the young child had to have a substantial number of teeth extracted due to decay usually seen with excessive sweets, but this child had a diet of lots and lots of fruit and was never allowed sweets. The dental hygiene is what is important. Constant grazing on fruit can be just as bad as drinking squash!!

[BiscuitLover3678]

Yeah the squash is worse. Why give them anything but water?? They won’t know to ask for squash so why start it?

Obviously the salt isn’t good. It’s not the worst thing op just be careful and mindful of it.

[whiteroseredrose]

@LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet

Are you under the impression pizza and chips are healthier than burgers and nuggets?

No. But we're vegetarian (DS now vegan) so they're not places we'd go.

Why are you so keen that all DC like fast food places and would choose them? Like everything else, they like the things that we ate as a family and fast food wasn't one of them.

They did and do eat pizza and chips occasionally, but rarely fries because they've always had bigger chips and prefer them.

How do you know your DC wouldn't prefer a curry, Chinese or Thai meal if you haven't taken them regularly?

[sweetbambi]

@whiteroseredrose you do realise that depending on where you eat pizza it is still a fast food. especially if it is at a place like a food court or one of the bigger pizza chains. fast food is not limited to just burgers and nuggets

[whiteroseredrose]

@sweetbambi

I suppose it's terminology. If we have (or had) pizza out it is either at one of our local Italian restaurants or Pizza Express. It doesn't feel fast because if we go we are there for a couple of hours. Slightly less with eg Wagamama.

No, it's not massively healthy but we would only eat out every couple of months, if that.

What I find odd is this assumption that all young people secretly or openly want to eat burgers and nuggets. Presumably that's because their parents have fed it to them and told them it's a treat. Ours just happened to be fed other foods as a treat.

[LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet]

@whiteroseredrose

@LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet

Are you under the impression pizza and chips are healthier than burgers and nuggets?

No. But we're vegetarian (DS now vegan) so they're not places we'd go.

Why are you so keen that all DC like fast food places and would choose them? Like everything else, they like the things that we ate as a family and fast food wasn't one of them.

They did and do eat pizza and chips occasionally, but rarely fries because they've always had bigger chips and prefer them.

How do you know your DC wouldn't prefer a curry, Chinese or Thai meal if you haven't taken them regularly?

They do like Chinese, Thai and curry. Not sure why you assume I only take them to McDonald’s? Maccy’s is just l more convenient for me than going to a takeaway so that’s where we go sometimes.

[LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet]

Indeed. Plenty of vegan and vegetarian food full of crap

[Same1977]

Oh the drama on here! I hope people realise they are raising children not dogs.Food is an intricate partner childhood.I remember sweets my grandmother used to give me (not brush teeth afterwards ) ,ice cream on outings (the really bad kind ) and even a hot dog here and there .The horror!!!
Poor children ,Macdonalds is part of the culture and will be part of lovely memories of goign out with mum and a sibling.
I'm all for healthy eating 95 percent of time, but don't take treats away from children.Eat your lentils and drink your water at home.

[fuckblippi]

Yabu. KFC chips are far superior

[Marvellousmadness]

And people wonder why obesity is such a problem...

[KosherDill]

McDonalds 2x a year, not 2x a month!

Seriously cannot imagine feeding that crap routinely.

[KosherDill]

@LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet

Indeed. Plenty of vegan and vegetarian food full of crap

Really? Such as?

[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

@KosherDill

www.bbc.com/future/article/20200129-why-vegan-junk-food-may-be-even-worse-for-your-health

[Scottishskifun]

OP it's fine as a one off but I would be concerned that they were expecting it each time you went swimming.
I have friends who 3 year olds definitely have a McDonald's more frequently. Personally we don't do it he's had 2 in his lifetime both during long car journeys when it was the only thing open at a services.

My 3.5 year old has also never been to the dentist due to covid he got deregistered and it took 12 months to find another your not being a chappy mum there it's impossible to get them seen. My ds now has a appointment but earliest they could do was Oct!

[ebri91]

Probably once a week I give my 20 month old a happy meal. He eats the full cheeseburger (plain) and normally all the chips. Sometimes I even get him a coke with that. I see nothing wrong with it.

[marvellousmaple]

Have not rtft but what is squash? Is it cordial? Or juice?

[marblemad]

People are being excessively dramatic above. It is perfectly reasonable on occasion (i.e. less than once a week-once a month) to feed your child McDonalds or any takeaway food if you choose, also squash is perfectly reasonable on occasion also (if no sugar is an option try to go for that) but you're doing brilliantly ignore the Karen's and well done for getting the kids into swimming young, if they enjoy it look for local clubs to join for competitive swimming and learning to dive. x

[marblemad]

@KosherDill

McDonalds 2x a year, not 2x a month!

Seriously cannot imagine feeding that crap routinely.

Certain menu items are much healthier than certain supermarket foods. Please do not mum shame unneccessarily.

[Same1977]

@marblemad

Certain menu items are much healthier than certain supermarket foods. Please do not mum shame unneccessarily.

Macdonalds is not great for you but its probably better than most people's home cooked lasagna,bolognese etc ,add some garlic bread and its even worse.
Your everyday items cheese (high in fat,processed,high in salt ) ,ham,sausages etc are bad for you too...yest nobody cares about those.

[RachaelN]

I think it's hilarious that people get upset about shit like this. Adults stuff whatever they want into their gobs...
You are doing absolutely nothing wrong having a treat after swimming.

[CoalCraft]

Most squash is sugar free with artificial sweeteners, so not harmful to the teeth. It's not like juice or milk in that regard.

I still wouldn't give it regularly as then they're likely to start refusing plain water.

[PepsiMaxandPringleStacks]

Take me to the gallows cause my 3yo has a Mcdonalds once a week as a Friday treat.

This thread 😭.

[fufflecake]

@PepsiMaxandPringleStacks

Take me to the gallows cause my 3yo has a Mcdonalds once a week as a Friday treat.

This thread 😭.

Hopefully they don't also have Pepsi max and pringles

[PepsiMaxandPringleStacks]

@80sMum

Ingredients of McDonald's fries:

French Fries
Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor [wheat And Milk Derivatives]), Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (maintain Color), Salt. natural Beef Flavor Contains Hydrolyzed Wheat And Hydrolyzed Milk As Starting Ingredients.

I'm not sure if I would want to give that to a baby.

Fixed it for you for the UK recipe:

Fries

Potatoes, Blend of Non-Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed, Sunflower, in varying amounts), Dextrose (predominantly added at beginning of the potato season).
Prepared in the restaurants using a non-hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Salt is added after cooking.