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?

I think this is a woman who is going to be appalled when her DC leave home and begin making their own food choices. The worst eaters, and most of the overweight people I know, are those who got a taste for crap in their late teens which they weren’t allowed by their parents as children.

Potatoes fried in oil are fine. No, you wouldn’t eat them for every meal, but they aren’t cocaine (which your little precious will also likely get into when they leave home, despite your best efforts, anyway.)

My 18 month had a whole happy meal to herself the other day. She eats well the rest of the time we were at a service station at the options were limited. She’s fine.
As other have said I would discourage the juice only because once they learn about juice there’s no coming back..

It really isn't. Mine had diluted squash from that age and their teeth are fine as adults.

Never mind the 18mo, I wouldn’t be feeding a 3yo McDonald’s.
It’s frankenfood but I understand they might want it as a treat when they’re older. Best to wait until they can remember having it.
I have fond memories of happy meals and the great Disney and barbie toys that came with them, but it was a rare treat, not a nutritional option.
I wouldn’t give it to them until at least 5-6 yo and then maybe once a month tops.

If DS1 gets hardly any chips then presumably the 18mo is actually getting near enough a full portion then, rather than just a couple…

I’d recommend watching the Chris van Tulleken documentary on ultra processed food and then seriously consider breaking the McDonald’s habit.

they aren’t cocaine (which your little precious will also likely get into when they leave home, despite your best efforts, anyway.)

Er, what?

I would not give children, particularly ones so young, either McDonalds or chips. The burgher is a fatty artery-clogging nightmare and the human body just does not know how to cope with potatoes fried, its very bad news apparently. You have two precious children - why feed them junk that will undermine their health? i just do not get it. Same goes for squash - its a sugar drink - no way. What is wrong with water?

Not something I’d personally give either child but you do you.

I think you'll get a variety of opinions on it, i wouldn't eat a maccys now as an adult because of the salt so I wouldn't give it to a child either. People will always judge things like that.

Sorry I love McDonald’s and the kids love it too on a big day out but I just wouldn’t to an under 3. Same with juices, it’s rubbish and you’re hungry minutes after which tells you something

I would judge this - for the 3 year old as much as the 18 month old. Kids don't need greasy fast food neither do adults. Twice a month isn't a rare treat.

Its fine. My first dc I was so super careful avoided junk food like the plague for years , my third had a couple of McDonalds chips and a nugget to suck on before he was 1. All of my kids have a balanced diet overall, I am sure your dc isn’t having salt laden food every day so I wouldn’t worry about that too much. If it’s every other week that’s one meal out of 42(asinine they have 3 meals a day).

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

Depends where your bar is. I wouldn’t do it, but you can do what you like, they’re your kids. A lot of people eat processed or low quality food, it’s not uncommon. Some people will judge because they feel sorry for kids that aren’t given good food, you’ll just have to deal with that because you will not stop them judging.

RedHelenB
Sugary drinks like squash or even juice are bad not just for teeth, but because sugar is bad for the body too, setting up conditions for heart disease and diabetes, for example.

It is odd. There’s no need for it.

I'm in the fries are fine, squash is bad camp.

I’d steer clear of the squash because of the sugar and encouraging a taste for sweet drinks. At 18 months they don’t need it. I can’t get worked up about a few chips.

I wouldn't give a dog McDonalds and I wouldn't want to instil a taste for it in toddlers. I'd judge you too.

Why give toddlers and young children squash at all? They only need water and milk.

I’m curious do people feel the same about chips from a chip shop? Do you go to the seaside, have fish and chips and don’t let your toddler have a few chips? What about ice cream?

If we’re talking chip shop chips, I’d never give those to a toddler. I’d eat them myself.

I think from a chippy is slightly different, they are actual chips, not French fries and therefore don't absorb as much oil, they can also be served without the salt which isn't a choice at maccys

The burgher is a fatty artery-clogging nightmare and the human body just does not know how to cope with potatoes fried,

There's so much nonsense here! This isn't the case. The burger is fine - the meat is good quality, nothing is added, and it's quite small if it's just a single patty.

Ditto fried potatoes. The body copes fine!

Absolutely calorifically & compositionally, regularly eating any kind of fast food will be problematic nutritionally.

For babies & small children, we need to be more cautious again, due to their developing kidneys & the salt content.

Otherwise, it's really not a problem & comes back to personal choice.

McDonald's is fine. I don't personally eat it (cos I've odd notions) but quality wise it's a lot better than a lot of supermarket meals or what people cook at home.

The idea that it's somehow completely terrible food ('I wouldn't give it to my dog' comment) is untrue.