To take DD 5 to McDonald's every other weekend?

[quincyquince]

She's gluten free, so has a portion of small chips and either a small mcflurry or orange juice or sauce with the chips.

We go after swimming.

This is ok, right? My friend thinks it's awful that she goes twice a month. But it's not like she's having the processed bread and cheese and stuff all the time?

For me this is such a non issue, my kids are now nearly 14&18yrs old. The odd mcdonalds when they were smaller and I was too tired to cook filled a gap and made everyone happy.
There are bigger parenting challenges to worry about than small things like the odd visit to mcdonalds.

Really? I'm a bad parent because I take her to eat 20 chips twice a month?

Fucking hell...

Yeah, chips and ice cream twice a month is tantamount to child neglect 🙄

This
when you have teens you realise stuff like this is a complete non-issue

🙄

You can be a brilliant parent and still go to McDonald’s every couple of weeks.

I SO wish the 'gluten free' thing was true. Unlike vegetarianism, it definitely isn't a life style choice. For coeliacs it usually means months or years of nasty gastric symptoms (one of my brothers was hospitalised before being diagnosed as he was so ill). It means a blood test now, followed by an Endoscopy and the only treatment is a totally gluten free diet for life. Accidentally being given full of gluten bread in Sweden put me in bed for days. It really is that bad.

But no one has said it’s worse than crack, that was hyperbole added in, alongside the lentils and kale hilarity, to deliberately exaggerate to insult the dissenting voices.
I didn’t call the op a bad parent, and have missed it if someone else did.
the second part of your post is your opinion which is entirely valid as your own opinion. Equally valid is all the peoples opinion who do think it creates a junk habit. People are allowed different opinions to you.

Honestly, it's chips and an ice cream, it is by far not a big deal. Just take her and enjoy it

You asked.

She’s learning that unhealthy junk food is a reward and something to relish, at age 5. She’s developing a taste for fatty salty sugary processed food. Associating it with good times.

I like McDonald’s chips myself and could happily eat them several times a week instead of the 2-3 occasions per year I allow myself. One has to make these things the exception, not the rule.

have fun, eat the chips, make the memories

Not a reflection on the OP, a general observation, this comment sums up a lot of the replies and attitudes on this thread and is one of the many factors explaining why many children today are overweight.

She'd think I was a terrible mum. Mine have macdonalds once a week...this week they've had two.

Stop fabricating.

No one has said she’s a “bad” parent. I said it’s not great parenting, which is different from bad. I think it shows poor judgment.

No one equated chips with crack.

Oh have a word with yourself !

Or she’s learning that a few chips every so often is fine in an otherwise healthy diet.

Exactly. Chow down fast, fatty food as a “reward” for doing the most mundane things. Because parents can’t be bothered to shop for and prepare healthy meals, or can’t be the adult & withstand children pleading.

Obesity is an extremely expensive public health problem.

Are you proud of this?

You are obsessed with fat people. Equating some chips to obesity isn't healthy thinking, not that you care you find fried food and people who eat it repulsive!

Or she's learning that it is part of a balanced diet, much like every food is and its not a treat, its not something special, its not something to gorge herself on when she gets the chance. its just food.

oh just read other posts from that user. they're a right judgy fucker 😂

I avoid presenting McDonalds or similar junk food places as a “treat”. Cheap, mass produced, unhealthy food should not be considered a treat in my mind. I’m also conscious of not rewarding with food generally or linking in happy memories with eating unhealthy food. I think habits like this are developed in childhood.

That said. That’s my thing and how I think about valuing good quality food. It’s definitely not awful parenting or anything.

Would the responses be the same if OP was taking her to some posh cafe for a ‘hot choc’ or slice of cake every two weeks 🙄

Of course not, throw the word Mcdonalds in and people lose their shit.

There was a thread last year about go to Mcds orders and one poster was an absolute twat of "how can you possibly put that food in your mouth, no wonder everyone is fat" then on another thread was talking about a burger place nearby that they LOVED...where they had burgers...and chips...and onion rings. No fucking difference other then snobbery

TBF it’s mostly shits and not much giggles! :-)

There’s nothing wrong with having McDonalds once a week - it’s one meal out of 21 🙄

I like McDonald’s chips myself and could happily eat them several times a week instead of the 2-3 occasions per year I allow myself.

I couldnt live like that

I need to enjoy what im eating and feeling restricted all the time would be hell
If i feel like maccas fries i will get them, if i feel like KFC, i will get it