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?

Regardless of my views, I agree with this. If you want to make changes, then do, if not, just do what suits you. It’s not the worst thing ever, your kids will be fine even if it’s not what some of us would do.

My second child used an iPad for an hour a day most days from about age 3. I nearly always had the tv on in the background when they were little. They had TVs in their bedroom from when they were about 2. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Some people would think I’m a bad mum for those things. I have zero fucks to give.

Dental services have not been put on hold for the past three years, don't be ridiculous.

@LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet why is it middle class to not feed your young children McDonalds and sugary/fizzy drinks?

Sounds pretty sensible to me.

i couldn’t get too worked up about that. My nephews weren’t allowed any junk food ever. Whenever they went to birthday parties and as soon as they were old enough to go out without their parents they went crazy, literally ordering 3 Big Macs at once. Same with sweets. As adults, one has always struggled with their weight. I’d rather children don’t see MacDonalds or sweets as anything special or a very rare (and therefore likely to be highly prized) treat and just another food that they sometimes have.

My 17 mi old has a happy meal with fish fingers, cucumber sticks and milk. She steals a few fries too.

Are fish fingers back?

I said disrupted not ‘put on hold’.

You’re making things up again Arnold

The knock-on effect does mean regular check ups need to be booked months in advance.

Hmm - one McDonald's a week as part of an otherwise healthy diet won't cause you to gain weight, though.

It's far more likely that your other healthy meals were too large and/or you weren't doing enough exercise.

A balanced diet doesn't mean you're being fed the right portion sizes.

I, same as you had McDonald's once a week - i was a size 4-6 till I was 35 so it's more likely to be your genetics rather than the once weekly maccies.

Middle class to take a child to a fast food place and give them banana bread.

Poor kids.

OP I’m sorry you’re getting such a kicking here. But please be happy in the knowledge that your kids had a good mum who treated them after swimming and played their favourite songs in the car and all had fun. Whilst other kids have to suffer parents who are completely over-anxious about food and they have to endure the damage that inevitably causes.

FWIW I had a Mcdoanlds in the 80’s/90’s EOW when I saw my dad on his contact days. I was seriously underweight by the age of 13 so I don’t think it’s inevitable that the odd McDonald’s makes you fat like many are suggesting

@liveforsummer I wasn’t aware they vanished! But if they had they are back now.

When I worked with children, the ones who ALWAYS opted for the chocolate cake, sugary food and processed crap at lunchtime were the o Ed whose parents sent strict instructions to never feed them that kind of thing. The rest meanwhile would choose salads and fruit to enjoy. People have no idea the damage that strict diets can do to children.

@Benji4ever Sorry about my second comment, OP. I didn’t see your response re: the squash. About the dentist, please call a few private dentists and explain the situation: you just need your children’s teeth checked. Most may be willing to just check for free or at a very reduced price perhaps? If the teeth need any work, then that might be an issue re: cost. But yes, stop the squash and fight the toothbrushing fight. If your child doesn’t want to comb their hair or put their shoes on every time or change out of their pyjamas, sometimes you may have to shrug that off, but you should definitely make toothbrushing the hill you die on because 1. It will save you money 2. It will save them pain 3. Once you get past their initial resistance, even if that initial resistance is screaming, they will get into the habit, and if it becomes part of their habits, you may save them from carries for the rest of their lives. It’s more important than having perfectly done hair or matching socks. For sure. I understand it can really be difficult, though, with NHS dentists limited. Just tell the private dentists it’s for a child and call around until you find one willing to help. Maybe if you say what general area you’re in, if you’re willing, someone might be able to recommend? Or tell you of an org that could help? And save up to see a dentist for yourself too. You don’t want to end up with dental pain either, and preventative care is the best way to avoid it.

Yes they were lost during the covid menu reduction. Glad to hear they are finally back

The meal itself as an emergency one off wouldn’t desperately concern me.
the fact that it is becoming so firmly entrenched as part of a treat ritual and a big deal however, is a red flag to me for both children.

Id want my kids to view it as a poor substitute for proper food, not a massive treat and a source of extra fun tbh for them to have a healthy view of this type of food for the longer term

I say this as a mum of now adult sons who did use this sort of food as ‘treats’ back in the day. I look back on those choices now with regret as that ‘treat food’ mentality has definitely harmed one of my sons

I wouldn’t give them squash regularly.

A few chips twice a month wouldn’t worry me.

It’s ridiculous to say that anyone not feeding their toddlers McDonald’s is over anxious about food and are causing damage to their children. Mumsnet madness. 🤪

@LampLighter414

lol you being sarcastic?

I've seen this too. It's the kids with the extremely strict parents who lose the plot with junk food once they reach adulthood because the experience the novelty of it without any restrictions. Everything in moderation is definitely the way. Also lolling at the pps whose young teens are saying they will never drink alcohol etc. I remember vehemently saying I will never drink or smoke when older. Yet here I am beer in one hand, rollie in the other 🤣

@Johnnysgirl dentists are pretty hard to come by & impact of covid pretty long term

www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/08/diy-dentistry-on-the-rise-as-90-of-nhs-practices-not-seeing-new-patients

But I have been calling to register all 3 of us as a family. I will now just call and see if they'll see the 3 year old.

Id want my kids to view it as a poor substitute for proper food, not a massive treat and a source of extra fun tbh for them to have a healthy view of this type of food for the longer term

This is a really, really, REALLY unhealthy attitude to give to kids about food. It should be about recognising what is a balanced diet and not attaching negativity towards a certain good group. Unless you actually want your children to have an eating disorder I guess

OP, when we were young my brother and I were taken to McD's or BK maybe monthly, I was taken out for ice cream after most dance classes, I imagine my brother had something simiar, I don't recall, we had unlimited access to food at home but mostly ate home cooked meals. I have great teeth and was very slim up to my late 30's (and then it wasn't a food obsession that was the cause of the gain) and I have a healthy aversion to fastfood and sweets. My poor brother has the opposite, poor teeth, loves fizzy drinks and fast food. You can't know how your children will turn out.

DS1 had multiple food allergies and a Happy Meal of Fish Fingers, fries and Tropicana was a safe, reliable meal to eat when out.

The impact of being allergic to milk, eggs and soya was heavily restrictive. 99% of risen bread products is off-limits for a start.

A decade later and he's at the low end of healthy weight, and fit which isn't a bad outcome for an autistic, dyspraxic child, despite my apparently McRuining his life from a tender age. He still like McDonalds because being autistic, he likes the predictability of the format and menu and it saves us many a meltdown which helps life along now he's only 5" smaller than me.

I've had run-ins with MN food police that couldn't grasp the concept that allergen free food was safer than exploding his skin and digestive system for the next month on whilesome things like organic milk.

I'm not going to claim that McDonalds is great health food, but it's often no worse than any other convenient ready to eat foods, and can, with sensible choices be better than other foods such as a "meal deal" sandwich combo. A crispy chicken sandwich and bottle of water is cheap and actually healthy.

I never gave my DC squash when young. My teen has it now sometimes with soda water but youngest not keen.

However, I was given at least 2 cups a day of squash growing up and have never had a filling. So your reply seems rather hyperbolic to me. We did have it very weak, though.

@AppleBottomRats

a McDonald’s meal a week would have not caused your weight gain issues! Unless you were literally ordering all the menu to eat. the other meals you were eating the rest of the week must have been high calorie homemade or not