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Original poster

is it mean to ban McDonald's?

56 replies

donnie · 30/04/2005 15:41

a friend of ours is moving quite a way away and is having a farewell children's party in McD's for her dd. Our dd is invited. The problem is so far we have never let her go to McD's as we are so opposed to it - both the food it sells as well as from a business ethic perspective - and yes, I have read Fast Food Nation! so the question is do we let our dd go to her friend's party or not? the children are in the 3 - 4 age range.

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JanH · 30/04/2005 15:42

Once won't hurt, donnie - will you be there too to check what she eats?

SenoraPostrophe · 30/04/2005 15:44

Is your dd likely to find out and feel she has missed out? If so, I'd let her go (I do have the ocassional McD's myself though).

vickiyumyum · 30/04/2005 15:45

i rarely let my kids eat at mcd's, but if it was a party then i would probably relent, especially for someone who was leaving the area. if you are that opposed to the food, you could always take a packed lunch and just let your dd have milkshake, stating food allergies to the staff if they question you.

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SenoraPostrophe · 30/04/2005 15:45

lol, Janh. because there are so many healthy alternatives she can have there.

But i do agree, once won't hurt.

SenoraPostrophe · 30/04/2005 15:46

maybe sneak some marmite into her burger so she doesn't get a tatse for it.

Original poster
donnie · 30/04/2005 15:47

thanks ladies, I suspect it is a bit mean to bar her from going....one of us will be there anyway so we can try to control what she has!

OP posts:
JanH · 30/04/2005 15:47

She might choose a salad, SP

Original poster
donnie · 30/04/2005 15:48

believe me , she would NOT choose a salad! quite like the marmite idea though....!

OP posts:
SenoraPostrophe · 30/04/2005 15:50

assuming she doesn't like marmite obviously. And if she's a right-thinking child she won't!

JanH · 30/04/2005 15:51

Was kidding about the salad! But they have more fat and salt than the burgers and nuggets, don't they?

WestCountryLass · 30/04/2005 15:53

I would let mine go for a one off party. She probably won't like it if she's not used to eating processed crap

Original poster
donnie · 30/04/2005 15:53

do they? the salads have MORE salt than the nuggets ? now I really have heard it all.....

OP posts:
wheresmyfroggy · 30/04/2005 15:54

You watched Supersize me then Janh?

mrspink27 · 30/04/2005 15:55

nothing on this earth would allow my dd's to eat McD's... as far as that goes i am a food nazi! did you wacth supersize me ... and read fatland, fast food nation etc.... not even a milkshake yuk! and I dont want my dd's to see it as a treat! I agree to take along a pack up... very hard i know especially when they are in the midst of all the other kids eating!

JanH · 30/04/2005 15:57

ivillage.co recommendations for people on particular diets; it says

JanH · 30/04/2005 15:57

Noooo, wmf! Missed it!

Flip · 30/04/2005 15:59

Sorry to but in... Hi Janh!

JanH · 30/04/2005 16:03

Hi, Flip!

donnie, it was this from Which that I was remembering I think:

Original poster
donnie · 30/04/2005 16:06

I can't say I am that surprised Janh - the dressings/croutons are obvious places to cram salt and fat I suppose.It seems to make a nonsense out of the whole 'fast food goes healthy' initiative though.

OP posts:
Flip · 30/04/2005 16:06

I spend at least one meal a week at McDonalds and I'm a size ten. Okay perhaps more like six times a week. It doesn't do me any harm and I let my kids eat it to although not as much as I do. I'm sure that everything is bad for you in some way or other. Live for today. I wouldn't stop your little girl enjoying herself. You won't be able to stop her when she's a teenager.

How are you Janh? It's been a while since we chatted.

MissChief · 30/04/2005 16:09

NO! Crap, plastic food in plastic environment -
not real eating out experience at all! If we can't afford Pizza Express or somewhere similar, nothing wrong with packed lunch for day out

Flip · 30/04/2005 16:10

MissChief, it's a party she's talking about that's being held at McDonalds. Is one junk meal worth making your kid a social outcast over?

Ameriscot2005 · 30/04/2005 16:14

Never say never...

snafu · 30/04/2005 16:16

Flip - six times a week? Seriously?

Ummm, I am pretty anti-McD's but I would probably let my ds go in the same situation. A one-off isn't going to do any harm, particularly as it's a special occasion. (I still don't understand why parents have parties at McD's but that's another thread, I guess.)

KBear · 30/04/2005 16:17

I think that the more you say no to something the more they want it and the first place she will head with her pocketmoney on her first trip out with her friends at age 13 or whatever will be McDonalds. I think going down the "everything in moderation" route is a useful life lesson. My humble opinion!

I do avoid McD's myself but we do succumb occasionally to milkshakes and the odd Happy Meal. I do understand your view about the company's ethics though.