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?

[PepsiMaxandPringleStacks]

@fufflecake

Hopefully they don't also have Pepsi max and pringles

They do because I'm not raising them to think of any food as bad and passing on generational traumas and eating disorders relating to a skewed view of food, which clearly isn't the case for some of the people on this thread.

[fufflecake]

@PepsiMaxandPringleStacks

They do because I'm not raising them to think of any food as bad and passing on generational traumas and eating disorders relating to a skewed view of food, which clearly isn't the case for some of the people on this thread.

At 3?

[BarbaraofSeville]

@Marvellousmadness

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

No-one is getting fat from eating McDonalds once a fortnight. Especially when you're talking about 2 toddlers sharing a Happy Meal.

Food is a good example of the 80/20 rule. It's what you do most of the time that matters.

As long as you're not doing the <insert name of terrible food sin that no good Mumsnetter would ever commit on her precious DC> more than about once a week, which is not even 10% of the time if it counts as either a lunch or a dinner, rather than an extra snack, then it's fine.

[MaryShelley1818]

This thread is bonkers.
DS (4) and DD (18mths) love a happy meal occasionally and DD would definitely eat her own.
They also enjoy weak sugar free cordial (which dentist has confirmed is NO problem.
They would still prioritise cucumber, pepper and tomatoes at a party, still both drink water happily all day every day at nursery, have excellent teeth brushing and perfect teeth which were just checked last month. And are both a very healthy weight.
I don't know any kids that don't drink sugar free juice and don't have the odd McDonald's tbh. Regular balanced diet with vegetables/fruit/salad included 95% of the time, plenty of exercise and good teeth brushing and a fortnightly treat really won't be an issue.
You sound like a lovely mum OP and with happy children who have fun.

[LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet]

@PepsiMaxandPringleStacks

They do because I'm not raising them to think of any food as bad and passing on generational traumas and eating disorders relating to a skewed view of food, which clearly isn't the case for some of the people on this thread.

Agree.

The smug people on here may be glad they can control what their kids eat now but will maybe not be so smug in years to come when their kids are sneaking food or very very likely to have issues with food.

I wish people would realise just how easy it is to trigger an ED or food issue in children. This banning and demonising of food and labelling certain food as ‘bad’ (I mean it’s a burger not crack cocaine for crying out loud) is so harmful when it comes to creating healthy relationships with food. It’s not always an easy balance to strike but it can absolutely be done with an attitude change from overly anxious parents

[houseargh]

Our 22 mo has been having the occasional happy meal as a treat (for us...when we're whacked) since not much older than that. It's fine. Also to the pp who said just pack a butty and fruit....is mine just way more opinionated than most or do they not all soon reach an age where you can't fob them off with something different to what everyone else is having (without triggering major meltdown, which sort of defeats the purpose of your McDonald's visit)

[Shanda5]

My almost 4 year old has has fast food once. I know it will be harder to avoid when she is older so I am steering clear while I have 100% control over her diet.

That said, it's all down to personal choice. A few chips isn't the end if the world.

As others have said, I would be far more concerned about the squash. This is the case for either child. They only need water and milk.

[liveforsummer]

@houseargh

Our 22 mo has been having the occasional happy meal as a treat (for us...when we're whacked) since not much older than that. It's fine. Also to the pp who said just pack a butty and fruit....is mine just way more opinionated than most or do they not all soon reach an age where you can't fob them off with something different to what everyone else is having (without triggering major meltdown, which sort of defeats the purpose of your McDonald's visit)

I think people are suggesting doing so for both dc and not visiting McDonald's at all?! Mumsnet isn't really the right place to ask as you'll always get an abundance of organic, cook from scratch parents likening it to stopping at a crack den 😆

[Shanda5]

@LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet

Agree.

The smug people on here may be glad they can control what their kids eat now but will maybe not be so smug in years to come when their kids are sneaking food or very very likely to have issues with food.

I wish people would realise just how easy it is to trigger an ED or food issue in children. This banning and demonising of food and labelling certain food as ‘bad’ (I mean it’s a burger not crack cocaine for crying out loud) is so harmful when it comes to creating healthy relationships with food. It’s not always an easy balance to strike but it can absolutely be done with an attitude change from overly anxious parents

Absolutely agree about not demonising food.

I don't give my daughter fast food but she isn't really aware of it. Never asks for it or pays attention to ff outlets whe we walk past. She might see the pictures in the window and point out that she can see chips. I agree that she can and we just keep walking.

She doesn't have sweets at home but if she is given them in a party bag, for example, she has them.

I think it is about what you present as an option. Just makes life easier which I am all for!

[Summerofsyn]

A few chips is fine, stop allowing other people to make you feel guilty on how you bring up your children.

[x2boys]

Seriously this thread🙄
If the Op was saying she fed her children nothing but Mcdonalds ,I could see a problem but a happy meal every couple of weeks isn't going to lead to childhood obesity .

[daisychain01]

@x2boys

Seriously this thread🙄
If the Op was saying she fed her children nothing but Mcdonalds ,I could see a problem but a happy meal every couple of weeks isn't going to lead to childhood obesity .

Maybe not, in isolation, but it's the cumulative effect of Happy meals plus the big picture of the modern child's diet that builds dietary habits for life to form. There is lots of research into the effects of fast food in terms of its addictive effects, surges in blood sugar, excess salt and fats.

Unfortunately its difficult to talk about it on here because people leap up and defend themselves as if the facts are being used to criticise them personally. Hence why there's an obesity crisis that the population are unwilling to accept can sometimes (I emphasise sometimes) be down to habits created during childhood. Who hasn't seen that child at the bus stop at 730 am eating a grab bag of crisps. I have and it makes me sad. It does nothing to fill up that child's stomach, it's empty calories. As a child we were given porridge, wheatabix and toast. Simple low processed low cost food. There are lots of reasons why I admire the US but giving us fast food outlets isn't one of them.

[daisychain01]

Why would the OP want to start a thread only for 100 posters to give one perspective. I dont get it. The typical MN echo chamber maybe....

[LilliaJones]

@LampLighter414

Yes I wouldn’t personally. All those trans fats can’t be good for a baby’s tiny vascular system.

Home made, organic only for us

LOL

[VacayingInTheHamptons]

I don't know any kids that don't drink sugar free juice and don't have the odd McDonald's tbh.

People keep saying this. I also don’t know many kids age 5+ that don’t have these things occasionally, and I know lots of older kids that have them more often, but those kids were not given them as toddlers at all.

[jillybeanclevertips]

I would waste less time on what others think and more on making sure the little ones are happy and healthy. You'll never please everybody, and could waste your whole life trying to.

[KosherDill]

@VacayingInTheHamptons

I don't know any kids that don't drink sugar free juice and don't have the odd McDonald's tbh.

People keep saying this. I also don’t know many kids age 5+ that don’t have these things occasionally, and I know lots of older kids that have them more often, but those kids were not given them as toddlers at all.

Yes, the ages are concerning. Toddlerhood is really young for fast food, especially to make it a regular treat. Using unhealthy food as a routine reward is not recommended.

Rather undermines the effects of swimming if exercise is paired with junk food.

[MaryShelley1818]

@VacayingInTheHamptons

I don't know any kids that don't drink sugar free juice and don't have the odd McDonald's tbh.

People keep saying this. I also don’t know many kids age 5+ that don’t have these things occasionally, and I know lots of older kids that have them more often, but those kids were not given them as toddlers at all.

How do you know this? How do you know that every school age child you know had never had a McDonald's when they were a toddler?

It's literally just chicken nuggets (which are chicken breast meat) and some French fries. They enjoy the box and getting a little Book or toy. It's no different to giving them similar food at home.
People have a very weird view of McDonald's. I honestly think most of it is either snobbery/superiority or just plain ignorance and having no idea of the ingredients as already proven at least once on this thread.

[pollymere]

@LampLighter414 I truly hope you don't give your child coconut oil/milk, almond milk or anything with palm oil in then. Far worse than a few chips fried in sunflower oil. The saturated fats and trans fats are appalling in the above mentioned items. You'd be better off eating butter with a spoon.

[NightmareSituation]

Some people just need to mind their own damn business OP.

Only you know how well your child eats. If you give them fries for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday then clearly it would be wrong. A treat of a handful of fries twice a month is not going to do them any harm.

As for the patronising “only organic, non processed, homemade only” brigade- they can all do one. I bet they are no fun at parties!

[pollymere]

I have no issue with squash or McDs. Just be careful of salt intake. Squash is no worse than the fruit juice that healthy organic people insist their child drinks instead. And Palm Oil, Coconut Milk and Almond Milk are far worse for your heart than the odd chip or burger. The only problem I have is that a Happy Meal should be dinner for a three year old, or a late lunch. They really don't need another entire meal afterwards. Worry about calorie intake and balance rather than them having the odd food with high fat or salt content. If you think burgers are bad, you should look at the saturated fat content of a coconut macaroon!

[KosherDill]

@NightmareSituation

Some people just need to mind their own damn business OP.

Only you know how well your child eats. If you give them fries for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday then clearly it would be wrong. A treat of a handful of fries twice a month is not going to do them any harm.

As for the patronising “only organic, non processed, homemade only” brigade- they can all do one. I bet they are no fun at parties!

If people need to mind their own business...why did the OP post the question?

[VacayingInTheHamptons]

@MaryShelley1818

How do you know this? How do you know that every school age child you know had never had a McDonald's when they were a toddler?

It's literally just chicken nuggets (which are chicken breast meat) and some French fries. They enjoy the box and getting a little Book or toy. It's no different to giving them similar food at home.
People have a very weird view of McDonald's. I honestly think most of it is either snobbery/superiority or just plain ignorance and having no idea of the ingredients as already proven at least once on this thread.

I know because I’m talking about my nieces/nephews and children of my good friends.

[daisychain01]

@MaryShelley1818

How do you know this? How do you know that every school age child you know had never had a McDonald's when they were a toddler?

It's literally just chicken nuggets (which are chicken breast meat) and some French fries. They enjoy the box and getting a little Book or toy. It's no different to giving them similar food at home.
People have a very weird view of McDonald's. I honestly think most of it is either snobbery/superiority or just plain ignorance and having no idea of the ingredients as already proven at least once on this thread.

They enjoy the box and getting a little Book or toy. It's no different to giving them similar food at home

Don't you realise that McDonald as a giant global money-making machine uses every trick in the book to get families eating their products, including giveaways like food in little brightly coloured boxes, plastic collectible toys, anything to appeal to the pester-factor of children. And that's a good thing? Get'em hooked early at 18 months old and you'll have a customer for life. It's cynical and pernicious because it happens before people's eyes and explaining it away as "oh it's only a treat" "but it's the same 100% beefy goodness as you can make at home" shows the big con really works.

[daisychain01]

@KosherDill

If people need to mind their own business...why did the OP post the question?

I think the answer is either they need MN validation to give their infant some takeaway (quite frankly whether they do or dont is entirely their choice whatever anyone says, we'll never be able to make them do things differently), or that they fancied some controversygoady fun - a bit like asking AIBU to put gin in my baby's bottle. Whatevs!