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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nugget drama

144 replies

madcol · 04/07/2008 21:15

My mum was babysitting my DS today ; when I asked what he had had for lunch she said ' chicken nuggets' from McDonalds.

She knows my opinions on this type of food. He would never be given these kind of things at home and she knows this very well. He doesn't even eat meat - his own preference.

When I asked her why she said she neede to find something in a hurry but the McDonalds was directly opposite a waitrose and DS would have been very happy with some ricecakes. I personally see no justification for going to McDonalds unless no other food is available.

I know one Mcdonalds meal will not kill him but I am really cross with my mum for going against my well-voiced opinions about DS's food.

OP posts:
windygalestoday · 04/07/2008 21:31

what toy did he get????

yvonnek · 04/07/2008 21:31

i still say give packed lunch!

Sidge · 04/07/2008 21:33

I can see why you'd be unhappy but there's probably more nutrition in 4 Maccy D's chicken nuggets than Waitrose's entire rice cake stock...

You either need to lay it out properly for your mum and give her a list of what he can and cannot eat, or not let her have him at mealtimes.

BetteNoire · 04/07/2008 21:33

McD's chicken nugget Happy Meal does not a healthy balanced meal make.

But neither does a rice cake!

I am always surprised at how critical people are of how other people treat their children.

We don't go to McD's, but if my children were with my mother, and she took them there for one meal there once in a while, I really wouldn't get stressed about it.

I'd think, "how nice that my children are out with my mother. She managed to bring me up quite nicely, so I trust her to care for my children too".

I think it is good for children to get input from other adults.

If you really have such a desperate desire for your child never to set foot in the Den of Ronald, send him to your mother's with a packed lunch.

But put a bit more than a rice cake in it, for goodness sake!

Original poster
madcol · 04/07/2008 21:34

I can't afford to have someone look after my child. I would be better off not working.
She does me a great favour by looking after DS but I'm not sure that that means that I cannot specify / provide guides of how I would like him to be looked after.

I suppose that is the luxury of payed-fr childcare.

Do childminders/nannys tend to follow 'rules' specified by the parents generally?

OP posts:
hatrick · 04/07/2008 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

squeaver · 04/07/2008 21:36

You know, I think you'd be getting a slightly easier time on here if you hadn't mentioned ricecakes.

Original poster
madcol · 04/07/2008 21:38

The problem is Sidge I do tell her generally what foods he likes and what kind of things we like him to have.

By the way before anyone reports me to social services my DS does not eat only rice cakes. They just happen to be one of his favourite foods at the moment and great if you are out and he is grissly which was hte rationale given for the McDOnalds

OP posts:
BetteNoire · 04/07/2008 21:38

So your mother looks after your child for you, without payment?

You are extremely lucky.

She is very kind.

SlartyBartFast · 04/07/2008 21:39

don't listen to them
listen to me

i agree with you

JamInMyWellies · 04/07/2008 21:40

when I saw thread title I thought it was going to be about poo.

suwoo · 04/07/2008 21:40

I think McD is the spawn of the devil and judge from up high all parents that take their kids there. Guess what my two had for their tea??? Yes, McDonalds! It was a treat and they do actually secretly go there monthly not very often so it was exciting. DS is 18 months and eats very well and this was no big deal to him or me either.

Original poster
madcol · 04/07/2008 21:41

Squeaver I'm not concerned about an easy time. Just interested in how other people see this . I feeling upset about it but it's clear to me that most people don't see this as a big deal which is informative and helpful to me. Suggests I'm getting upset about nothing. So probably very subjective problem.

By the way what is everyone's problem with ricecakes?

OP posts:
SlartyBartFast · 04/07/2008 21:41

was it a treat.. did you mother say?

fishie · 04/07/2008 21:43

it is true about the rice cakes. they aren't much good for satisfying hunger you know madcol, some protein is good. hence the nugget issue.

TrinityRhino · 04/07/2008 21:44

I have no problem with ricecakes
in fact all three of my girls love them
I adore them with lots of marg and cheese on
BUT they are fairly devoid of any calories or nutrition

therefore not a LUNCH for a growing child

there were spawned as an adult diet food

hatrick · 04/07/2008 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Divastrop · 04/07/2008 21:46

squeaver-i thought the same

Original poster
madcol · 04/07/2008 21:50

No not a treat - a means-to-an ends . Grissly child whilst out. Hence the ' go-to hell- and do- not- pass- go ' suggestion of ricecakes. - I reiterate not what my child has for lunch but an good and IMO harmless way of temporarily satisfying him.

OP posts:
SaintGeorge · 04/07/2008 21:56

"My mum was babysitting my DS today ; when I asked what he had had for lunch she said ' chicken nuggets' from McDonalds."

So the rice cakes are irrelevant then if you don't give them for lunch and it was his lunch you specifically asked your mum about.

BexieID · 04/07/2008 21:58

Fast food in moderation is ok. Like when you're out shopping and want something quick kinda thing (which happens in a blue moon). Personally it wouldn't bother me if Tom had chicken nuggets. In fact i'd be over the moon if he actually ate something like that! I would be annoyed if someone fed him something I didn't want him having though.

Heifer · 04/07/2008 22:04

Have you ever told your mum NOT to take him to mcDonalds? if you have then you have every right to be miffed.

I asked my brother and SIL when they asked to look after he when she was around 11 months, not to take her to MD and I found out when DD could talk that she had been there a few times with them over the years...

I asked them not to , they never told me they had.. Never trusted them again.. (although to be fair there were many things added to the MD affair that made me so untrusting of them.

Elasticwoman · 04/07/2008 22:06

I managed to avoid macd for so long my dc didn't like the food there by the time they tried it. Dd1 went to another child's party there. I wouldn't mind but the parents were a gp and a paediatrician! You'd think they would provide better food, wouldn't you?

Theresa · 04/07/2008 22:07

My children are now 6 & 9 and both grans providefree childcare and i consider this makes us very lucky. When they were pre school I used to take the older one to gym club and my mil used to come along to help with the (then) baby while I took older dd around the apparatus. There was a sweet shop nearby and sometimes we'd buy them some chocolate as a treat. Then mil started to buy chocolate every week. I did not agree and this is the one thing we have ever really fallen out about. Seems pretty trivial looking back! Dh agreed with me however we both fel we have to accept that if they;re looking after kids we cant impose the rules 100% of the time, you have to cut the grans a bit of slack!

MmeBovary · 04/07/2008 22:08

Sorry I recently did another post about whether parents worry too much about cetain things - and this is a prime example! The odd McD's will cause no harm to a child! Everything is fine in moderation. If I had family close by who offered to take dd out for McD's once a week I would jump at the chance (in fact I'd probably go too) Ricecakes do not constitute lunch for anyone unless they are really desperate to lose weight...

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