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?

Your child, your business.

See attached images from McDonald’s website.

A 4-piece chicken nugget from McDonald’s has 174kcal, 8.7 grams of fat which is 12% of an ADULT’S daily entire daily need, and 0.38g of salt, which is 6% of an adult’s daily entire need.

A small Happy Meal chips has 237 kcal, 12.1 grams of fat so now a whopping 17% of a full size adult’s daily diet, and 0.44g of salt so now 7%.

So maybe quadruple those percentages for an 18 month old? I don’t know how many chips you’re giving your child; you say a few, but then you say his older brother doesn’t eat any because the younger has them. If the 18 month old is eating them all, no, it’s not good. If he has four chips, yes, it’s probably fine.

And yes, the fries are more atrocious. Of the two, I guess you’d be better off giving him nuggets.

But this is like one of those doctors’ appointments where you discuss something of less import and then in the last 30 seconds mention there’s blood in your wee. Giving both your children diluted squash several times a day is much worse than McDonald’s twice a month. Can you afford the dental work that’s going to cause? If not, stop the squash tomorrow and every time they have a meltdown, look at prices for dental work on your phone. I know it won’t stop the meltdowns, but it will help you stay strong. Not to mention the trauma for them of going through extensive, avoidable dental work. When they’re absolutely screaming the house down in a dentist’s chair, as so many children under the age of 10 do, they won’t be saying, “Oh yes, this is worth it because I so enjoy squash.”

This made me think of the meme about breast fed or bottle fed and how they all children end up eating Mcdonalds chips off the car floor

Oh I was trying to be nice and not be rude but I think it's shit for your kids and I wouldn't do it for my son.

Way too much salt and it gives them a taste for ultra processed food which becomes addictive.

🤷‍♀️

I would judge you (if I’m being honest). Not just about the baby but the three year old too.

Are they eating in the car? Aren’t you worried about chocking?

Of course they tantrum when they don’t get it, it’s addictive. It’s a really bad habit to get into.

Take snacks!

They do fruit bags don’t they and baby carrots. Give those instead (obviously not in the car).

@VacayingInTheHamptons

My parents were shit, but actually meals were healthy. Potatoes and vegetables at almost every dinner. Very little processed food. I didn’t know any children that had sugary snacks every day or fizzy pop often. Takeaways/junk food were so rare, we almost never had it.

The irony is that in the 80s/90s we didn’t realise quite how bad the long term health implications of a long term sugar and salt packed diet were and parents would let kids eat loads of junk between meals. But meals themselves were often half decent. Now all the info is out there about the dangers of sugar and salt packed processed food - but we gorge on it more than before, with just a small reduction against the “evil” stuff like coke and sweets and McDonalds. That deal works out just fine for the food companies. Hence why obesity is a bigger problem now.

parents would let kids eat loads of junk between meals.

That's interesting as it wasn't my experience at all.

We got almost nothing between meals, and my friends were the same. Even fruit - my DM bought exactly what was needed for our lunchboxes & that was it, she'd nearly have a breakdown if someone had an extra apple!

I remember as a child being hungry, as in hungry for my next meal, not being deprived of food. Today if one of my kids is hungry they assume they can have a yogurt / fruit / crackers & they can. But I think at times we have created a culture of always eating & suppressing natural hunger cues.

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The impact of UPFs on developing bodies and brains cannot be undone. That means McDonald’s, the majority of breakfast cereals, nuggets, plastic shop bought bread, the lot.

i have an 11 yr old and a 14 yr old who know this. Of course they have UPFs occasionally but they also know to avoid them if they can. That’s my job as a parent - to set them off down a path as good as I can make it and give them the education they need to make good choices for themselves through their lives.

Of course they’ll choose maccies occasionally (although my 14 year old has never had one and insists she never will 😂) but they are under no illusion that it wouldn’t be a healthy choice. Ditto alcohol or cocaine (as a pp referenced!)

So yeah, I’d knock the McDonald’s and squash in the head pronto. Because a few days of tantrums is a better long term option.

We get my three year old a McDonald’s on long car journeys etc. infrequent but we get a happy meal of fish fingers (which I’d feed at home) pineapple stick, water & a melon bag for after. Would do the same for my 1 year old too. We’re talking probably 3 times a year so I don’t think it’s terrible. The eldest loves the toy and little box so keeps them happy in the car a little longer!

we’ve also done a kfc one. A chicken strip plus beans, corn on the cob and pineapple. Again the strip is probably a bit salty but one once a year? Nah I’m not going to get the guilt over that

*although my 14 year old has never had one and insists she never will 😂
Why does she insist this? How often is she strong armed into having one?

Jesus.
Never post this on mn unless you are on the wind up.
All 3 of my kids had the odd McDonald's and squash.
All of them have grown up fit and healthy and their teeth are just fine.

We didn’t have junk between meals. Maybe a few sweets once a month. The only snack we had regularly was fruit, very occasionally we had crisps.

@5YearsLeft woah. You're not messing about. Two very diluted squashes a day = dental work?? Bloody hell. I didn't even know they would do dental work on baby teeth. I mean my 18 month old only has about 3 little teeth. Maybe he'd have more if it wasn't for the squash.

I really couldn’t care less. Feed them McDonald’s. Don’t feed them McDonald’s. It’s food.

@BryceQuinlanTheFirst @VacayingInTheHamptons that's more like it! 👍

I'd hate to be a mum today; I never gave any of this a second thought in the 90s.

Surely not the best comparator since ham is a known carcinogen?

Obviously never?! My son will sometimes say ‘ohhh let’s go!’ When we pass one. We laugh, the teenager says ‘no WAY’

I wouldn't judge a bit. It's not like they're going every day I reckon those ubiquitous baby food pouches (Ella's etc) and 'veggie crisps' are equally unhealthy and ultra processed, just very differently marketed. I have never given my kids a pouch but would never judge anyone who did. They look really convenient - especially if you have a fussier eater. Maccas is similarly convenient and sounds like a good option post-swim.

My dentist once told me, when I took DD (then aged 3) for a check up, that by giving her squash I may as well give her Coca Cola!

But OP YANBU going to McDonalds but I’d be buying the 18mo a happy meal of their own with a non sugary drink

Anyway, people are obviously getting their knickers in a twist. Raise your kids however you like and I will too.

Surely not the best comparator since ham is a known carcinogen?

I thought it was a good comparison as it's a very common lunch for children. I work in a school and supervise lunches and ham sandwiches are by far the most common lunch item. People might feed these every day but have issue with an occasional McDonald's and that's not logical

Oh for people worrying about choking...I pull over into a small carpark and we eat our McDonald's together and I play their fave songs on the radio and sing along.. and then we drive home. Its our weird little ritual. They don't eat driving along. And the baby is facing backwards but I either get him out or there's a large mirror so he can see me snd I can see him

I do try to give them good food 99% of the time. I'm a single mum who works full time (and the rest) so there probably is too much quick and easy stuff. I just enjoyed our little ritual for swimming, happy meal, singing and home but the look from the woman (who wasn't going to macdonalds) has made me stop and think. And now so had this thread!