To think letting kids eat McDonald’s weekly is borderline neglect?

[BeAlertBeaker]

It’s not “a treat” if it’s regular.

I’m not suggesting that one meal out of 21 instantly equals neglect and I think most people reading in good faith can see that.

What I am saying is that when fast food becomes a weekly staple - not an occasional treat - it reflects something deeper about how we view children’s health, convenience, and long-term habits.

It’s not about percentages, it’s about patterns. And pretending it’s harmless because it’s “only once a week” ignores the fact that food habits form early and they stick.

Oops. My well behaved children, none of whom have teeth or weight issues,play multiple sports, are all working at or beyond age related expectations, go put looking clean and tidy are all borderline neglected because we stop off at McDonald's between football sessions once a week for tea

Call social services

YABVU

Neglect? You're undermining the term.

You need to realise that actual neglect comprises much much more than giving some fast food.

Can't decide if you're sheltered, privileged or just an idiot.

This. You really have no idea about the lives some children have to live if you consider this neglect. Also, it is recommended to indulge yourself sometimes so you don't crave that food all the time. I knew someone at school who's parents would not let them eat anything sweet, salty etc and their behaviour at parties around food was insane. A once a week treat is absolutely fine.

Your assumption couldn't be any more wrong 🤣🤣

You're in for a shock when yours are teenagers and have their own buying power.

I can think of plenty of things worse than buying your kid a cheeseburger after an activity once a week. Nightly ice cream for dessert, even a weekly ice cream cone is worse. A lot of breakfast cereals are probably worse than a McDs burger once a week for things like sugar content, colours, etc. I think of all the food 'sins' you can commit, a weekly McDs cheeseburger is the least of your worries (though if you add a soft drink it gets worse).

Daily maybe. But weekly is totally normal? Don't most kids get a treat meal once a week? Most families have a takeaway or fast food once a week. Maybe they can't afford to go to pizza express or whatever and the children like the taste of McDonald's. It's just food. Not great quality but it's not going to kill you!

Macdonalds does contain some nutrition.

https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/good-to-know/nutrition-calculator.html

I can point you towards searches/resources what constitutes neglect if this helps as you seem to not know.

And ?
The pp said they share it as a fsmily a nugget or two isnt going to lead to obesity.

OP you are getting a lot of grief here but just one look at the child obesity rates in this country, and it’s clear that many many parents feed their kids junk regularly and don’t parent properly. IMO giving kids junk food regularly is neglectful and lazy.
Many moons ago I was an Au-Pair in England (long before I lived here) and I was shocked what type of food children got fed at home while the parents cooked nice healthy meals for themselves. (Freezer food and ketchup for the small kids pretty much daily)

I would say this is not neglect. I would say it's not great however feeding kids unhealthy food is complex and rooted in many socio-cultural factors so maybe isn't knowingly being harmful but in the long run is being perhaps harmful.... it's a really difficult one. Kids diets in the UK are amongst the unhealthiest in the world and I think as a society we are largely in denial about this. I taught primary school kids overseas in an eastern European country and their school meals were soups, salads, polenta etc and ate similar at home. My own diet as a child was very different to what most kids eat in the UK now so I do feel a bit sad about the long term health impacts for kids.

I gave my kids home cooked healthy meals everyday but there was one night a week during primary school when various after school activities made the evening so manic that a quick trip to Macdonalds for a happy meal was cheap and easy and made life easier for everyone. So no it isn't neglect in my opinion. When I was a kid we had one day a week ( Thursday for some reason) when we were allowed to buy a small mix up bag of sweets as a treat. Something you only have weekly is a treat in my eyes.

Would weekly Pizza Express be ok, or weekly Leon, or weekly something else more middle class?

Because you can get unhealthy fried food from pretty much any food outlet.

Fair enough, “borderline neglect” clearly hit a nerve and I can see how that phrasing might come across as dramatic.

My aim wasn’t to insult individual parents but to challenge how normalised regular fast food has become in many households. When something nutritionally poor becomes routine, not occasional, especially for kids who rely on adults to shape their habits, I do think it deserves stronger language and scrutiny.

I’m happy to discuss it without the hyperbole of people can look past the wording and engage with the actual point.

Mine went once a week, after swimming lessons. Rest of the week was home cooked food and a balanced diet. In no way were they neglected. Now older teenagers, they rarely choose to set foot in there, eat well and are a healthy weight etc. Conversely, their cousin who wasn’t allowed fast food and treats spends a fortune on takeaway now that she has the freedom.

No it's definitely not. And if you're talking about neglect, at least have the balls to say it instead of saying 'borderline'. Other fast food or takeaways can be worse. But once a week of anything foodwise can be part of a balanced diet

I don't think it's healthy but I don't know any parent who would claim otherwise! But it's not neglect.

There is a whole bigger issue of children's nutrition which fast food does play a role in. In parts of Scotland in particular its horrendous when you see the results of surveys on children's nutrition and understanding. That's why there is a push in schools but also to help parents with basics like how to cook healthy and cheap.

It's about breaking cycles to teach skills and getting people involved - community allotments or fridges etc also help.

Every week is excessive (in my opinion), but not neglect.

This.

There is so much anger and defensiveness on this thread.

Weekly junk food of course isn't neglect but it's encouraging bad eating habits and our obesity problem is soaring.

Bloody love a McDonald's (or a Domino's, Chinese, KFC etc) and defo have something of that ilk every week. I don't think we have a reason for it other than "we like it" and I'm not going into how fat or sporty or otherwise my kids are; obese children aren't obese because one meal out of 21 is a Maccies. Having lived with foster children in my childhood I can say with confidence that it's absolutely not neglect and tbh your post is pretty insulting to all those who have experienced emotional, mental or physical neglect. 🍔🍟

The orthorexia on here is such bullshit it cracks me up.
It's also an insult to those who either work with children experiencing actual neglect or those that have experienced it.
But the goady nonsense that claims to pass as intelligent discussion on here these days is almost a parody

I'd be less concerned about a weekly cheeseburger alone though. It's when you add soft drinks you start to get those problems.

My mother was neglectful. I remember eating sugar sandwiches and dry cereal. We were all underweight and I would steal food from the local shop. A weekly McDonald's might not be ideal but it's far from neglect.

"Possibly not a great idea, though who am i to judge?" - YANBU
"Neglect" - YABU and ridiculous.