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Parenting

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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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ThePreciousIdiot · 30/04/2005 16:19

I would let dd go to the party, particulaly if there are other childrern that she will/is/should be forming social bonds with.

If you won't know anyone other than the child moving away and you feel that strongly then probably not worth it.

Flip · 30/04/2005 16:20

I have been known to have breakfast, dinner and tea there with a snack later in the evening on my very busy days. My car drives itself through the drive through now. I do like my sausage and egg mcmuffins.

snafu · 30/04/2005 16:21

wowsers

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mrspink27 · 30/04/2005 16:22

I think that the more you lead by example and educate your children about healthy food etc and the rubbish peddled by McDs and similar that they will be able to make an informed and educated choice when they are older... i dont necessarily think it follows that the minute they have money in their pocket they will head for a Big Mac!

Gobbledigook · 30/04/2005 16:23

I think I'd let her go just on this occasion. Mine don't eat MacDonalds at all either but if there was a party I wouldn't keep them away.

wheresmyfroggy · 30/04/2005 16:24

I used to like a good mcD's/Burgerking but after watching supersize me i'm a bit put off to tell the truth.

Nothing to do with ethics or content mind you, it was more having to watch the poor bastard eat and eat and eat more mcD's till he was sick

I'm not squeamish but it was fairly gross

starlover · 30/04/2005 16:26

MissChief... there was a big article in the papers a while back about Pizza Express.
The majority of food there contains more fat, calories and salt than any of the things on McDonalds menu. There was one particular salad (i forget which), that had more than double the calories of a big mac!

KBear · 30/04/2005 16:26

So you never rebelled against your parent's wishes Mrspink? Have you never seen the hoards of teenage girls with their Claire's Accessories bags in McD's on a Saturday afternoon. I'm not saying they will all flock there but what I am saying is that children like to do what other children and saying no, although with sensible reasoning and ethical views, they will still want to because their friends do.

Gobbledigook · 30/04/2005 16:27

I don't think if you let her go she'll become hooked on it and that will be your 'good work' undone - as someone else said, she'll probably barely touch it. Mine have only ever had it twice and ate about a third of the chips and that's it - they didn't touch the nuggets or burger. Hurrah!!

So with the likelihood being that she won't like it - take some healthy snacks with you and let her just enjoy the party atmosphere and socialising with her friends.

KBear · 30/04/2005 16:27

And I HATE McD's myself, I'm just trying to think the way kids do.

Flip · 30/04/2005 16:34

My kids do eat healthy foods when my husband cooks. It's just I can't cook so if he's away on business then is either my mums for tea or McDoanlds.

mrspink27 · 30/04/2005 16:36

KBear, of course i have rebelled, probably more than many but thats another story... and its easy to sit here in my cosy world and hope that 10 years down the line my dd's wont be munching thru a happy meal at the first sniff of the golden arches!I really hope by that time i will have taught them sufficiently in order for them to make a properly informed choice. I have 4 nieces 9,10,14 and 16 and none of them frequent McD's or desire to.I hope my 2 will think it a bigger treat to eat at a decent restaurant occasionally!
takes off her rose tinted spectacles

KBear · 30/04/2005 16:52

LOL at the rose-tinted specs - we're all wearing those when it comes to our kids aren't we. "Mine will never smoke, drink (or worse - noooooo)" but truth is they will go their own sweet way hopefully guided by us to make sensible choices.

It's a worry innit!

Tinker · 30/04/2005 17:37

For a party, yes, I'd let her go. Most food at organised parties is crap anyway so you'd be setting up a childhood of banning her from going to parties.

BadHair · 30/04/2005 17:43

I'd say let her go. One Happy Meal won't do any harm, and she'll remember the party more than the food. In fact she'll probably be so excited with all the other children round that she won't eat much anyway.
Give her the grilled chicken pieces and carrot sticks instead of chips if you're that worried.

WideWebWitch · 30/04/2005 18:18

I'd let her go and I loathe McDonalds. Bet she says it was disgusting. Flip, watch Supersize me, I bet you won't want to eat there 6 times a week after that.

WestCountryLass · 30/04/2005 20:30

Flip, I know you say you can't cook but surely you can stick a potato in the microwave or grill some meat and steam some veg??????

I would rather my kids had beans on toast or a jacket spud with cheese and beans than a trip through the golden arches.

zebraX · 30/04/2005 21:06

Donnie -- I would let her go. It's part of the culture, if you ban it too much she'll sneak over there every chance she gets as a teenager...
Flip -- you haven't heard about this guy's one month of McD's only diet , then? His experience would put me off for life!!

Caligula · 30/04/2005 21:27

I'd let her go. If you want, give her a healthy sandwich beforehand, so she's not hungry.

Original poster

donnie · 30/04/2005 22:39

thanks for all your comments folks. The general view seems to be to let her go but stuff her full of apples and carrots beforehand so she isn't hungry!!!

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WestCountryLass · 30/04/2005 22:47

Deffo with the pre-feeding, I always do taht before parties. I don't mind him having treat foods but when that is all that will be on offer the thought of the postparty come down fills me with dread so I try and fill him up and avoid the meltdown.

Original poster

donnie · 30/04/2005 22:59

have just read the other McD thread and am now starting to become more militant again!!

OP posts:

ionesmum · 30/04/2005 23:49

I'm a veggie now but in the days when I used to eat meat Mcds always made me ill the next day. No way are the dds going near the place while they're little.

Donnie, could you invite your friends round to you for tea, or go on a picnic? My dd is three an dwould find thsi just as big a 'party'.

tigermoth · 01/05/2005 07:44

donnie, agree yo should let her go, but stuff her full of healthy food first.

pepsi · 01/05/2005 07:52

Chances are she wont eat it anyway, especially as its with loads of other kids.

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