Page 20 | To take DD 5 to McDonald's every other weekend?

quincyquince · 2025-03-27T18:51:31+00:00

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?

TheHerboriste · 28/03/2025 21:02

quincyquince · 28/03/2025 20:25

So, only wealthy people should have babies?

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Only prudent, prepared and self-disciplined people should. One can be all of that without being wealthy.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 28/03/2025 21:03

TheHerboriste · 28/03/2025 09:39

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.

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Or one could unclench a bit and stop being so outrageously rigid?

Do you count? Like you want Mickey D's on 17 September, but then you go, "no, one can't. One already had some on 20 February, 31 May, 12 August, so that's it until next year?!

BinChicken1 · 28/03/2025 21:05

Or one could unclench a bit and stop being so outrageously rigid?

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 28/03/2025 21:08

Odras · 28/03/2025 09:54

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.

This baffles me right?

You say, "linking in happy memories with eating unhealthy food".

So, don't you have birthday cakes? Wedding or other celebration dinners? Eating out doesn't necessarily mean eating healthy food!

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 28/03/2025 21:13

TheHerboriste · 28/03/2025 10:20

Reading comprehension is your friend.

I said “not great.” Meaning, sub-optimal. Possibly mediocre.

Those words are not equivalent to “bad.”

Perhaps spend more time with a dictionary than trying to “gotcha!” on mumsnet.

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Could you be any more patronising?!🙄

NeverDropYourMooncup · 28/03/2025 21:14

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 27/03/2025 19:00

But why can you not do a treat that's not full of rubbish, like taking her somewhere that does proper cake made with real ingredients?

Clue's in the words 'gluten' and 'free', really.

Proper cake made with real ingredients = being very unwell.

Roughly half a potato sliced up and cooked in oil = not unwell

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 28/03/2025 21:15

TheHerboriste · 28/03/2025 10:47

When someone invites judgment by posting “AIBU to…” in a forum frequented by 1000s, they are inviting judgment. It’s disingenuous to become indignant at receiving a variety of honest feedback.

Also, who appointed you the comments police?

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When you post on the aforementioned forum, you are inviting comments.

That's what the poster did. Comment.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 28/03/2025 21:21

Odras · 28/03/2025 12:41

I don’t think it is bad parenting at all. People are making very low blows.

However I disagree that posters who are taking about habits have an unhealthy relationship with food. I don’t eat convenience food with any regularity and i think I have a very healthy relationship with food. I’m not denying myself. I just don’t really like the food.

McDonald’s with market themselves as a great treat for kids. But their food is not special and it’s bad for you. A homemade cake, a special meal in a restaurant, a freshly baked pastry from a bakery. These are all high quality occasional “treats” that have had care go into their creation. The thinking that mass produced cheap and widely available food is a treat is making us fatter and sicker.

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The child has coeliac disease so can't eat much of what you mentioned!

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 28/03/2025 21:29

TheHerboriste · 28/03/2025 21:02

Only prudent, prepared and self-disciplined people should. One can be all of that without being wealthy.

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So how are the four high-earning children?

Original poster

quincyquince · 28/03/2025 21:34

Odras · 28/03/2025 12:41

I don’t think it is bad parenting at all. People are making very low blows.

However I disagree that posters who are taking about habits have an unhealthy relationship with food. I don’t eat convenience food with any regularity and i think I have a very healthy relationship with food. I’m not denying myself. I just don’t really like the food.

McDonald’s with market themselves as a great treat for kids. But their food is not special and it’s bad for you. A homemade cake, a special meal in a restaurant, a freshly baked pastry from a bakery. These are all high quality occasional “treats” that have had care go into their creation. The thinking that mass produced cheap and widely available food is a treat is making us fatter and sicker.

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Person. But she can't have a lot of meals in restaurants or pastries from bakeries.

She has a healthy diet generally.

OP posts:

EarthlyNightshade · 28/03/2025 21:38

I think the people who think that McDonalds once every two week is responsible for the obesity/behaviour/every kind of crisis would be really surprised if they saw how many people off Mumsnet really live.
I'm pleased that McDonalds chips are more potato-y than I thought they were. I don't have them often but I do like them when they are freshly cooked, crispy and hot.

faerietales · 28/03/2025 21:41

EarthlyNightshade · 28/03/2025 21:38

I think the people who think that McDonalds once every two week is responsible for the obesity/behaviour/every kind of crisis would be really surprised if they saw how many people off Mumsnet really live.
I'm pleased that McDonalds chips are more potato-y than I thought they were. I don't have them often but I do like them when they are freshly cooked, crispy and hot.

And I suspect they'd be shocked about how many people on MN actually live, lol. Most of the food threads on here are always filled with the same people - they're not remotely representative of how the majority eat.

Original poster

quincyquince · 28/03/2025 21:42

faerietales · 28/03/2025 21:41

And I suspect they'd be shocked about how many people on MN actually live, lol. Most of the food threads on here are always filled with the same people - they're not remotely representative of how the majority eat.

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My daughter probably eats a better diet than they do 🤣 🤣

OP posts:

faerietales · 28/03/2025 21:45

quincyquince · 28/03/2025 21:42

My daughter probably eats a better diet than they do 🤣 🤣

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lol, you're probably right! I don't know anyone IRL who claims to eat the way people do on here. I'm sure a lot of posters have orthorexia or some form of disordered eating.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 28/03/2025 21:47

I wouldn’t want my child to get a taste for that type of processed food. It’s junk.

pimplebum · 28/03/2025 21:54

I don't have any issue with the snack itself, for me it's that McD is selling absolute shite and I don't want my kids to think this is "food"

the chicken nuggets are just chicken 💯 British chicken they have reduced the salt from them as well

much nicer than the nuggets your get in a pub meal

utter hysterical nonsense! frothing at the mouth over chips or whatever, go every week and bloody relax and enjoy yourself

TheHerboriste · 28/03/2025 21:55

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 28/03/2025 21:47

I wouldn’t want my child to get a taste for that type of processed food. It’s junk.

Agree. Or food in general as a “reward.”

BinChicken1 · 28/03/2025 21:57

Dont some people suck all the joy out of parenting

Flyboyblue · 28/03/2025 22:12

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Wishfulthinkingonmypart · 28/03/2025 22:24

SwanOfThoseThings · 27/03/2025 19:29

I think we should be trying to reverse the idea that fast food forms a regular part of a normal diet, as opposed to an occasional and irregular way of eating, so I don't think children should be taken to McDonalds as part of a fortnightly routine.

This. It’s the regularness of it that would bother me.

although I wouldn’t comment if my friends did it, there are far worse things.

Ponoka7 · 28/03/2025 22:26

TheHerboriste · 28/03/2025 17:46

Parents should always carry enough life insurance to sustain their families if they die. Can't afford the rates, can't afford the family.

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You must absolutely loathe those who get pregnant in war zones and impoverished countries.

Reason it out, we wouldn't have enough tax payers if people waited to be in the position you advocate.

@Stephenra research the main non cancerous reason for stomas. Gastro disorders are far from made up.

Flyboyblue · 28/03/2025 22:28

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CorbyTrouserPress · 28/03/2025 22:37

TheHerboriste · 28/03/2025 20:13

Reading comprehension is our friend. I said people who can't secure their children's future. People who can't get life insurance will have to find another way to do so. But most don't even attempt it; they just "fall pregnant" and hope for the best.

There are SO MANY "single mums" who post on here that they had a child by some arsehole, have "no family, friends or support network," but nevertheless thought it was an OK idea to produce a new human being without a Plan B let alone Plan C, D and E. That's reprehensible.

People who act like victims of circumstance when the perfectly ordinary consequences of their life choices meet up with perfectly ordinary events like illness, job loss, economic woes, etc. are not impressive. People who say "I have to feed my kids mcdonald's because I can't afford anything else" are not impressive, especially since every Tesco in the land sells beans, rice and other low-cost, more nourishing food.

SO tired of the excuses.

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“Parents should always carry enough life insurance to sustain their families if they die. Can't afford the rates, can't afford the family.”

This is what you said. Anyone who can’t afford life insurance can’t afford children. You never said people who can’t afford life insurance will need to find another way to secure their children’s future, you said if they can’t afford life insurance they shouldn’t have children.

PyongyangKipperbang · 28/03/2025 22:43

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 28/03/2025 21:13

Could you be any more patronising?!🙄

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Oh I think she can.....and I am sure is the "gift" that is in the charity shop by boxing day that keeps on giving.

PyongyangKipperbang · 28/03/2025 22:52

pimplebum · 28/03/2025 21:54

I don't have any issue with the snack itself, for me it's that McD is selling absolute shite and I don't want my kids to think this is "food"

the chicken nuggets are just chicken 💯 British chicken they have reduced the salt from them as well

much nicer than the nuggets your get in a pub meal

utter hysterical nonsense! frothing at the mouth over chips or whatever, go every week and bloody relax and enjoy yourself

I have worked in hospitality, mainly food led pubs, for years. Manager for many of them.

Inspired by this comment I had a look and actually McD's burgers and nuggets are far better quality than the ones we sell! In a chain pub that most McD haters would recognise and cheerfully take their kids to. Their burgers are all meat, ours are not. Their nuggets are all chicken, ours are not. My friend/colleague (chef) and I suspected this after many conversations about the falling quality of the food, but have never bothered to check before.

fI I had to eat out then I would pick McD's over a chain "family food pub" every day of the week. McDs food being good quality and all british is one of their big advertising points.