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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How usual is it to have Dominos once a week?

133 replies

12purplepencils · 11/08/2025 21:33

Aibu to think this isn't very healthy for a child/teenager? A medium pizza to themselves every single week without fail.

Or am I being judgy? Is this quite common and not a big deal?

I won't give my opinion unless asked but I don't think it's a great message to give to a young person that this is a good routine to carry on, surely would be better to have it fortnightly at least or a smaller pizza 🤔

OP posts:
Boredlass · 12/08/2025 07:49

It’s fine. Even ‘healthy’ food like porridge turns to sugar in your body. Every single carb does

Drivingthevengabus · 12/08/2025 07:50

NoctuaAthene · 11/08/2025 23:21

I think YABU, mostly because you must have known that mentioning Dominos on here (or McDs or any other form of cheap takeaway popular with poor people) would bring out all the MN frothers and pearl clutchers ranting about less-than-zero nutritional value and 'swimming in disgusting grease' and suggesting unrealistic elaborate homemade versions such as panko-ing your own organic chicken goujons as though little Johnny will go for those over lovely processed uniformity (but then of course their darling Ptolemy and Octavia actually prefer sushi tinkly laugh ). Plus of course the whole 'wasting money' judgement that comes out regularly in any takeaway discussion...

Back in the real world I think it's quite normal for families to have a takeaway of some form once a week, maybe most people do vary it a little more than having the exact same thing every time but then again kids are fussy and might not eat a curry or Thai or whatever (or only eat chips/fried rice which is hardly more nutritionally sound). Whether it's 'healthy' is impossible to answer, no one meal is really healthy or unhealthy in isolation - depends entirely on context and the rest of the child's diet. For a child with severe SN and a very restricted diet it might be the healthiest thing they eat all week. Or it could be the child's weekly treat in an otherwise very balanced and unprocessed diet. And although I take issue with the idea there's 'no nutritional value' in pizza, there is obviously some, even if that was true there's more to food than the macros and vitamins, there's also joy and familiarity and comfort - maybe the weekly pizza is the child's comfort thing especially if they have to move between parents houses, or a bonding moment with their parent or it might be that a reliable and quick takeaway option is what gives their parent enough time and energy to get them to an activity or just to retain their own sanity, there are so many reasons for it.

Plus I think the circumstances in which offering any unasked for thoughts, however kind and gentle, about someone else's child's diet is a good idea is are so narrow as to be basically nil - I very much doubt the child will come to any long term harm from a weekly pizza even if the rest of their diet isn't great either, kids can do really well growth and development wise even on highly restricted diets that would make MNetters swoon, and if food doesn't become a battleground and source of conflict often any fussiness or limitations will improve just with time. As someone else said if you really want to help the child probably encouraging or supporting them to do more physical activity or sport might well be more beneficial and less controversial than their food?

Excellent post!!

Love all the competitive pizza people on here (can't believe it too to page 3/4 for an Ooni to get a mention 🤣).

XWKD · 12/08/2025 07:52

It's not unusual at all. My (healthy-looking) neighbours get takeaways all the time. I never do. It's fine.

Whatafustercluck · 12/08/2025 08:02

A takeaway of some description once a week is probably fairly normal, but Domino's is bloody expensive. My kids love Domino's but we don't get it that often. If you're talking about diet/ calories then my teen is also very slim and can manage a medium quite easily. If they're eating plenty of healthy food, fruit and veg, I really can't see the problem.

knor · 12/08/2025 18:11

Hmmmm I think it’s very dependable on the bigger picture. Do they eat really well the rest of the week and it’s their big treat? Are they of “normal weight” and have a happy relationship with food? Is it affordable for the family?
I don’t think it’s the biggest deal but I do think some families are more into takeaways than others. Some people I know have a takeaway every Friday as a treat.
at Uni, we definitely use to eat takeaway all the time, especially dominos

knor · 12/08/2025 18:11

Hmmmm I think it’s very dependable on the bigger picture. Do they eat really well the rest of the week and it’s their big treat? Are they of “normal weight” and have a happy relationship with food? Is it affordable for the family?
I don’t think it’s the biggest deal but I do think some families are more into takeaways than others. Some people I know have a takeaway every Friday as a treat.
at Uni, we definitely use to eat takeaway all the time, especially dominos

Iwishicouldflyhigh · 12/08/2025 18:11

12purplepencils · 11/08/2025 21:33

Aibu to think this isn't very healthy for a child/teenager? A medium pizza to themselves every single week without fail.

Or am I being judgy? Is this quite common and not a big deal?

I won't give my opinion unless asked but I don't think it's a great message to give to a young person that this is a good routine to carry on, surely would be better to have it fortnightly at least or a smaller pizza 🤔

Absolutely not. Take away is a treat meal, once a month (at most).

knor · 12/08/2025 18:11

Hmmmm I think it’s very dependable on the bigger picture. Do they eat really well the rest of the week and it’s their big treat? Are they of “normal weight” and have a happy relationship with food? Is it affordable for the family?
I don’t think it’s the biggest deal but I do think some families are more into takeaways than others. Some people I know have a takeaway every Friday as a treat.
at Uni, we definitely use to eat takeaway all the time, especially dominos

Lollipop81 · 12/08/2025 18:20

If he is overweight and unhappy about it as you have stated why don’t you suggest making your own pizza together as an alternative. Could alternate between the dominoes and doing that.

DampTree · 12/08/2025 18:24

I know this isn’t answering the question but it sounds like it’s a part of a special ‘ritual’ for them both and in that respect it’s to be celebrated.
maybe the food itself could be varied but sounds like they both enjoy it and not just because of the pizza.

Whatinthedoopla · 12/08/2025 19:07

I have dominoes once a week, I would share one with my partner, but he doesn't ever want to, so I always end up eating 3/4 of a medium pizza. I guess this post has shown me that I eat to much pizza

Missj25 · 12/08/2025 19:20

12purplepencils · 11/08/2025 21:33

Aibu to think this isn't very healthy for a child/teenager? A medium pizza to themselves every single week without fail.

Or am I being judgy? Is this quite common and not a big deal?

I won't give my opinion unless asked but I don't think it's a great message to give to a young person that this is a good routine to carry on, surely would be better to have it fortnightly at least or a smaller pizza 🤔

I don’t see an issue at all once a week if eating healthy the rest of the week , completely normal 🤷🏻‍♀️

LetsGoOnHoliday · 12/08/2025 19:21

It all depends on context. For a healthy weight, active child who eats well the rest of the week it's fine. For the situation you describe, you aren't wrong in thinking it might be an easy change to make towards a healthier lifestyle and it's not ideal for that particular child

Could it be every other week? Could they make their own? Even branching out to other takeaways could be a good way of introducing different foods? Domino's is so expensive for what it is and a child of that age can understand that. Could they look at the finance/ not good value for money element rather than diet and swap the dominoes routine for something else the kid would rather have/ do?

Blades2 · 12/08/2025 19:31

Judgy much.

families tend to have takeaways once a week, and 15 year old boys, eat a lot!

Middleagedspreadisreal · 12/08/2025 19:31

whoboo · 11/08/2025 21:38

Unless it is your child and you are asking "is this a good thing to do"? Who cares. Kid will be happy and fed (probably fat but meh).

Meh? Being 'fat' causes all sorts of health issues!

Onmywayhometonight · 12/08/2025 19:35

My kids did this for maybe 6 months when they were in Year 12/13 - they moved on and outgrew Dominoes, it wasn’t the healthiest thing but sometimes it best to just say nothing.

girlfriend44 · 12/08/2025 19:37

What a horrible post.
Stop wasting your money and cook a decent meal.
Pizza is expensive, crap, and fisent fill you up.

Putneydad7 · 12/08/2025 20:06

We used to regularly get family dominos (probably weekly) and it was so addictive, presumably the fat and the salt. I stopped it when my BP was off the charts, so many complaints from kids, but since then the missus and I have both lost a load of weight. Obv it wasn't just the dominos, but it was emblematic of that high fat, high cal, low nutrition takeaway that should be eaten very sparingly. So my point is maybe don't get into bad habits that will bite you on the (probably ample sized) bum!

Bambamhoohoo · 12/08/2025 20:19

How can something you eat once a week be addictive? 🤨

Blablibladirladada · 12/08/2025 20:46

Ahaha I did that as a Friday treat for a few months then got gored. Surely boredom will happen too? Just wait it out…

Rapunzel91 · 12/08/2025 20:50

Dominos is not nice pizza.

We regularly have pizza, sometimes once a week but homemade as it’s easy and tasty.

As others have said, depends on the rest of their diet.

soupyspoon · 12/08/2025 20:52

SummaLuvin · 11/08/2025 21:39

I don't think it's a great message to give to a young person that this is a good routine to carry on, surely would be better to have it fortnightly at least or a smaller pizza

I actually think it's a great message to help build healthy relationship with food to understand that no food simply good or bad, but that in the context of other meals which are balanced and nutritionally dense and varied, pizza can and should be enjoyed regularly. Children shouldn't be taught calorie counting and food restriction are healthy.

The OP suggests having a slightly smaller one or having it less frequently

In what world is that a food restriction or calorie counting

No wonder we have an obesity epidemic.

Pizza is a great food but this child is overweight already and low about it. He is eating too many calories and the regularity of such a calorie dense item every week wont help.

DiscoBob · 12/08/2025 20:56

Pizza once a week is fine. Same as burger or fried chicken is Ok once a week. But if you were to have all three regularly and barely any veg/loads of UPF then it's not great.

It depends on the person's weight and activity levels too.

Ideally have salad with the pizza or a veg heavy meal earlier on. But life is too short to deny yourself a treat sometimes. It's just food after all. Not crack, not heroin, not whisky!

Bambamhoohoo · 12/08/2025 20:58

soupyspoon · 12/08/2025 20:52

The OP suggests having a slightly smaller one or having it less frequently

In what world is that a food restriction or calorie counting

No wonder we have an obesity epidemic.

Pizza is a great food but this child is overweight already and low about it. He is eating too many calories and the regularity of such a calorie dense item every week wont help.

Show quote history

Imagine, just imagine you having a pizza with your kid and your new girlfriend told you they should have a smaller one with salad. Not only terribly rude but a very socially awkward and weird thing to do.

soupyspoon · 12/08/2025 21:05

Bambamhoohoo · 12/08/2025 20:58

Imagine, just imagine you having a pizza with your kid and your new girlfriend told you they should have a smaller one with salad. Not only terribly rude but a very socially awkward and weird thing to do.

Show quote history

She hasnt suggested this to them has she. She hasnt said that.

She specifically even said she wasnt going to give an opinion

She is talking about it on here, getting a range of views.

Thats the nature and purpose of a chat forum, to ask things of people that you might get a range of views on, particularly for sensitive things you might not want to voice outloud to friends or family.

And if you think thats rude in any case, someone having an opinion on how a child is fed or bought up, its fairly standard in most other countries that the wider network around you have a view about your or your childrens' lifestyles. Only in this country do we keep our gobs shut for fear of 'judgement'/

God forbid anyone have an opinion on something

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