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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect my nanny NOT to feed my two year old a McDonalds Happy Meal?

654 replies

coolbeans · 18/12/2008 10:06

I know it's not the end of the world and he is nearly three but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect her to ASK me, at least, before takes him out and stuffs him full of chicken nuggets and chips for lunch.

I'm not against McD's as such, but he's still really little and there's no need to take him there yet - it's not a bloody treat - as she seems to think.

I think that's what has annoyed me most. It's just food, I don't want him associating it with being a "treat" outing.

OP posts:
jujumaman · 19/12/2008 17:10

Sorry, meant "to look after your building" not children - Freudian slip.

Still v exploitative imho

JaneLumley · 19/12/2008 17:10

Totally agree about the wheelchair and access thing. Was in paris with a disabled friend and it was really difficult. Agree about cold, but we tended to scoff baguettes in the chilly park and then go for a lovely warm cafe creme. Of late we found renting an appartement much cheaper than a hotel, but few have lifts.

Pingping, if you have places where it's good to eat, good for you. And I love greasy spoons, actually. I like tearooms too. I don't dislike McDs because I'm Very Healthy.

needmorecoffee · 19/12/2008 17:12

had to go into the catacombs and buy it on the black market Wrapster. Fighting my way past stick thin french women

Libraloveschristmas1975 · 19/12/2008 17:16

blueshoes "Anna: "And when my DH walked past their table, they all turned, stared and started drooling"

Were these English women teething? lolol"

That made me spray diet coke on my screen.

nappyaddict · 19/12/2008 17:16

Also I know I will be shot down here but sometimes my mum takes DS to burger king. He has the hamburger which is 100% beef and nothing else, a bag of fruit and carton of milk. I don't really see anything exactly unhealthy about it.

dreamingofagreenlawnchristmas · 19/12/2008 17:17

You need to sack her, nappyaddict. Its the kindest way all round.

wrapstar · 19/12/2008 17:18

beat her to death with a baguette!

frankie3 · 19/12/2008 17:22

I went to a party last week and all the children (aged 4) were fed take away McDonalds. They all loved it. The only mum who was shocked was one who has a full time nanny and said her child had never eaten McDonalds. I could almost feel her anguish as her child ate every mouthful, including a fruit shoot! I guess when you have a full time nanny it is easy to give out rules. When it is just yourself, with friends and relatives helping out it is easier to go with the flow and be flexible.

PingpingsatonSantasface · 19/12/2008 17:23

LOL at sack the Grandma, At the end of the day a little bit of fast food is not going to make your children explode neither is it going to make them Obese.

PMSL Wrapstar

jujumaman · 19/12/2008 17:31

Wrapstar

needmorecoffee · 19/12/2008 17:42

why did people stare at Anna's dh? Did he have a MacD?

sunnygirl1412 · 19/12/2008 17:50

When we were in France this year, ds1's favourite meal was steak tartare, and ds3 likes it too. Ds2 prefered rare steak or moules. They will try anything once, despite the fact that their feckless mother sometimes gives them McDonalds or convenience food at home!

Unfortunately, unless the exchange rate improves, our spending money isn't going to go as far next year, so we will need to find some budget options for eating out in France.

Incidentally, since we seem to have two such gourmet frenchwomen on this thread, perhaps they could recommend a really good recipe for french onion soup. I had it for the first time in Paris on our last day, and it was so delicious that I haven't dared have a go at making it, in case it's a disappointment - how silly is that!!

LiffeyCanSpellGeansaiNollaig · 19/12/2008 18:29

I'm curious, do those of you who ban McDonalds never, ever, ever eat chips and never, ever eat a burger?

Or, is it JUST McDonald's chips and burger?

And sorry if this question has already been asked!

JaneLumley · 19/12/2008 18:55

As one of the McDo haters... No, it's also Burger King burgers and Wimpy and Wendy's and any other chains including the ones that think they are posh. I'm fine with greasy spoons as a very, very occasional treat (though not for ds and dd). Oxford had a brilliant one called Bret's when I was a postgraduate.

Ds and dd have never eaten any fast food. Not even fish and chips.

Think I answered before on the fries. we lack a good local chippy. I do like chips but they need to be good, properly crisp and made with fresh oil. I'd rather not eat them if they are crap and soggy.

I'm fascinated by the incredulity with which this has been received.

JaneLumley · 19/12/2008 19:00

Sunnygirl, Anne Willan's recipe for French Onion works a treat. Key is good stock; beef or chicken is best. A real butcher will give you bones for virtually nothing.

PS. frankie3, I work fulltime and I don't have a full-time nanny. Never have had one. I had a part-time nanny when ds was 18 months-3 years. She was lovely, and I hated having her all the same. Since then schools, Dh and I share the care - which means mainly me.... but still no McDo.

piscesmoon · 19/12/2008 19:08

I'm just fascinated to know how your DCs manage a social life and children's parties JaneLumley.

Pantofino · 19/12/2008 19:20

I am just so shocked that this is still going. I know I am of a differing opinion to Anna but I do think many think she is the OP. She isn't of course. That poor soul has probably run for the hills and is currently knocking back wine (with the nanny) and wibbling at the furore that she has caused.

georgimama · 19/12/2008 19:22

Has anyone suggested that the Fernch should eat cake instead of bread?

May I do so if not?

Pantofino · 19/12/2008 19:27

I have a copy of that book "french women don't get fat". I must admit it involves more self discipline than I am comfortable with, but the basic tenet is that French women eat cream, and croissants, and patisserie and foie gras, and knock back wine and champagne etc, but they do all of these things in MODERATION.

The same surely should apply here. Anything in moderation is fine - unless you're talking class A drugs for example.

If you don't want the nanny to take charge to McDs or let them eat cream cakes then fecking tell her!!!!! This has already been said so many times.....

The thread has moved on from what the nanny should or shouldn't be doing to something much more unpalatable (even more than McDs) and quite snobbish.

Othersideofthechannel · 19/12/2008 19:29

Sunnygirl, I don't know if I am one of the 'gourmet Frenchwomen' to whom you refer but my French MIL always says my French onion soup is better than hers! [preen emoticon]
I use veggie stock but I caramelise the onions in butter for about 45 mins on a very low heat before adding the stock. Its a recipe from an M and S cookbook.

Othersideofthechannel · 19/12/2008 19:31

I agree - junk food in moderation.

Am I being unreasonable to think that threads in AIBU are not supposed to stick to the point?

piscesmoon · 19/12/2008 19:32

When my son did a French exchange with a fee paying school from the French Riviera, all the pupils were happy to eat out en masse at McDonalds-I don't think it was a new experience for any of them.

wrapstar · 19/12/2008 19:35

lol georgimama - does Mcdonalds sell cake? Maybe only in Paris...

georgimama · 19/12/2008 19:37

I don't know, but according to John Travolta in Pulp Fiction they serve beer.

izyboy · 19/12/2008 19:41

Haven't read much of this thread so I am probably commenting out of synch. I haven't taken my 4 year old to Maccy D mainly 'cos we are veggies. They used to do quite a good veggy burger and now I think they do a slimy roast veg torepedo instead which was gross if I remember right.

Anyway, as long as it is treated as 'just food on the go' and not as a 'special taboo treat' I can't see the occasional visit being a prob.