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Opinions on Mac Donalds needed for Radio 5 interview tomorrow

215 replies

Carriemumsnet · 14/04/2005 17:13

Hi all

Justine's going to be on the Victoria Derbyshire phone in tomorrow morning 10-11am

The topic is:

It's now 50 years since McDonald's opened its first store in the US. Obviously since then its become a global power?but with the film super-size me and the anti-obesity campaigning, we are asking - "Has McDonald's had its day?"

Obviously because of how McDonald's markets itself towards kids and families, parents opinion is vital in this. Does the parent of today still take the kids to McDonald's for a birthday treat?once a month treat?or do we really now feel too worried about what's in the food? Do we think giving our kids a bit of what's bad for them as a treat is actually a good thing?or is it that we're actually impressed with the moves McDonald's have made to introduce healthier options..and after all - they know how to keep the children entertained!

Your views please!

Thanks as always

OP posts:
bundle · 14/04/2005 19:12

yes dahlia, but it's potatoes fried in oil, not a list of additives as long as your arm and it's the nice greek chap earning a living not a multinational exploiting people.

cod · 14/04/2005 19:14

Message withdrawn

serenity · 14/04/2005 19:20

Blu, Olleys is lovely, food is wonderful and it's somewhere we would go for dinner. BUT,it's not cheap and it's not particulary accessable for a dive in lunch.

When you are wandering around the shops (croydon for example) and the kids are baying for food, it's wonderful if you know somewhere quick and reasonably priced that ISN'T a fast food place, that has high chairs, and things they will actually eat etc.

I can understand the arguements that McD's is an evil corporation, but then aren't they all? Most of us shop in supermarkets who have probably a worse track record in dealing with their small suppliers, forcing local shops and greengrocers to close and being generally unsociable, but they don't seem to attract the same vehemence!

I don't think MNers are typical of most peoples views in this, or at least anyone I know!

Please don't shout at me, but going by MN's track record do you think that it might be because you feel McD's is just a little bit......dare I say it........common?

morningpaper · 14/04/2005 19:21

Foxinsocks: What's wrong with the PizzaExpress chicken salad? It's an adult's main meal. The fat is from olive oil, almonds, chicken and dough sticks. It's not a side salad of rocket that they are smearing with hydrogenated lard. It's just a newspaper trying to make a headline. Any adult who has an ounce of intelligence knows that a chicken/caesar salad has lots of fat - fat isn't evil in itself!

SoupDragon · 14/04/2005 19:22

What does it matter unless you're taking them there every day???

serenity · 14/04/2005 19:22

OOps didn't finish a sentence there

It's wonderful if you know somewhere........but I don't.

sorry must preview.

PsychoFlame · 14/04/2005 19:22

LOL, took the words right out my mouth!!

morningpaper · 14/04/2005 19:22

I hate to say it, but I'm rather partial to eating with my dd in ... Wetherspoons. Shhh!

Dahlia · 14/04/2005 19:23

Its also wonderful if your child will eat lots of different foods.

foxinsocks · 14/04/2005 19:24

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it.

Blu · 14/04/2005 19:25

well, in London, obviously, Cod, How else would they afford the business rates?

foxinsocks · 14/04/2005 19:26

that was for morningpaper by the way...

WideWebWitch · 14/04/2005 19:26

I don't think cheap = good though and I think the demand for cheap food has created new problems, i.e. need for better margins leads to cost cutting measures leads to feeding sheep brains to cattle leads to bse. And increased profit was the motive.

WideWebWitch · 14/04/2005 19:28

Agree, fat per se isn't the enemy but hydrogenated fat has nothing going for it at all!

Blu · 14/04/2005 19:30

Olleys has adult specail deal at £5-75 and kids meal at £3 something...that's what we have. Has wine and beer too - that's an advantage!

I sort of agree about the 'common' question, and really don't mean to be arsey about it. But I just hate giving them my money for food I don't like, places that are uncomfortable (and are designed to be - fast food places don't want to lounging around spinning out a coffee for ages). I honestly would rather get a sandwich for me or DS.

foxinsocks · 14/04/2005 19:33

'warm salad of succulent chicken, chargrilled aubergine and crunchy toasted almonds with baby spinach, rocket, rosemary, honey and lemon dressing, served with baked dough sticks'

personally I wouldn't guess that had 942 calories and 35% fat, twice the amount of calories as a big mac.

I know fat isn't everything. I'm not an imbecile nor am I an adult without an 'ounce of intelligence'! I was just posting that to try and put things into perspective a bit.

JoolsToo · 14/04/2005 19:33

McDonalds wasn't around when my kids were little and for that I'm grateful - (although they did eat plenty of home made chips!).

I have had a McDonalds myself - its gross!

snafu · 14/04/2005 19:44

Croydon is really pretty awful for alternatives, I have to agree with you there, serenity!

bunny2 · 14/04/2005 19:49

We do take ds there about once a fortnight, he loves the food there despite being weaned on good, organic, homemade food! The reason I dont mind taking him there is he has food allergies including a very serious nut allergy. McDs in one of the few places to provide adequate information re food content. In many other places my questions get brushed off with a vague "all our products might contain nuts" type response which is no use whatsoever.

morningpaper · 14/04/2005 19:51

Not suggesting you don't have an ounce of intelligence fis, but it's just an attention grabbing headline "1000 CALORIE SALAD!"

M&S has some sandwiches that have nearly 1,000 calories. (Tasty ones too!)

TBH I never think about calories at all but I don't think 900 calories is DREADFUL for a restaurant main meal?

foxinsocks · 14/04/2005 20:01

yes I agree with the 'attention grabbing headline' but then that's what papers do innit!

I think 900cals is a lot for a salad but then again, I love pizza express pizzas and they have miles more cals! I imagine for a restaurant meal, 900 odd cals is probably about norm.

Flossam · 14/04/2005 20:01

Mcdonalds won't have had its day yet IMO. It is desperately stuggling to keep up with the times and seems to be doing it better than its competitors. The healthier choices are actually nice and it is food I would enjoy eating, I had a grilled chicken cesear salad earlier this week there, it was lovely. I'd even consider taking my mum there!

morningpaper · 14/04/2005 20:03

But it's not really a sald is it? It's chicken drenched in olive oil and almonds with a bit of rocket tossed in for colour ... making me drool just thinking about it...

Flossam · 14/04/2005 20:06

the chicken was grilled, not oily or greasy. The salad dressing was a bit naughty but healthier lighter alternatives were available. It was a better ceaser salad than I have been served in other, more desirable establishments, and it was less than 500cals all in which isn't bad for a lunch IMO.

morningpaper · 14/04/2005 20:22

Sorry Flossan my comment about not really a salad was directed at Foxin Socks