Tell McDonald’s what’s important to you when eating out with your family - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED!

[EmmaMumsnet]

Whilst eating out with the family can provide a much-needed treat and opportunity to reconnect, it can also entail much compromise in order to ensure that all members are satisfied with the outing. McDonald’s UK is keen to find out what is running through your mind when it comes to making that often tricky dining decision whilst keeping smiles on everyone’s faces.

Here what McDonald’s has to say: “We’re looking at new options for our Happy Meal and invited Mumsnet behind the scenes as we started the food development journey! Our restaurants have changed, options like kiosk ordering and table service make it easier for families to enjoy our food but we want to know what you look for when eating out as a family.”

Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, visiting your favourite family restaurant or simply popping into a local take away, we want to know on what basis you make such decisions. Is it the provision of colouring sheets for the kids, or haute cuisine for the more mature members of the family? Maybe you find it difficult to identify a restaurant with menus capable of pleasing all parties and resort to visiting several locations? Is making sure your children’s meals are well balanced or that the location is family friendly important to you?

Whatever your main considerations are when choosing somewhere to eat out with your family, please share them below and you will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

A clean table and area are my main priorities. I also want good service. If the people serving food are miserable I am unlikely to return as going out to eat with my family is a treat and I hate it when you feel you are putting the staff out just by asking for another drink etc.

We choose based on cleanliness, good service a good menu variety and value.

I like the kiosk, calorie count and table service.

There should be enough staff on duty to clean tables. We tend to eat out and have fast food after a weekly cinema trip. We walked in and out this week because the available tables all had rubbish on them.

Cleanliness is very important. One of my pet hates is the table being wiped with a wet cloth just as you sit down, please dry them.

I'd like more gluten free options, a bun and a cookie would make such a difference to the DC all being able to have food that looks similar. More vegetable side options like cucumber, bell pepper would be good, all of the kiddos are much more likely to eat vegetables than fruit. They don't eat chips or have fizzy drinks.

variety of foods-changing a bun from normal to seeded and/or changing a sauce does not make a burger continental/exotic or make it taste any different...do not expect you to change the basic menu we all love,but after a few years the basics become boring-add new foods on the menu occasionally so we have a choice of something different,and that does not mean just make same meals spicy-add to the menu :P

Anywhere when eating with young DC's:
Clean eating surfaces
Clean high chairs that fit the tables
Appropriately sized cutlery
Getting something to eat fast; crudités/ bread sticks while waiting
Menu being mindful of health guidelines for babies and children re: salt/ sugar/ honey
If grapes/ cherry tomatoes are offered, please cut lengthways

We don't need or want plastic toys and a shit load of litter

If you have colouring stuff, have sharpeners too. Have smaller colouring sheets or booklets to not take up so much space once food arrives

Cheerful staff who chat to DC/ parents
Bf friendly, maybe staff to offer a glass of water to a nursing mother. It won't always be accepted or needed, but the family will know bf is respected. Some parents are expecting negativity with bf, so a friendly"would you like a free glass of water while you feed?" let's us know we're welcome. And we'll remember it, tell our friends, and mention it on fora

Toilet/ sink/ baby change in one cubicle or room

A clean environment with children friendly loos, generally we take the kids anywhere so have experienced all ends of the spectrum but this helps with our childrens behaviour in places which are necessarily "for kids"

That they have healthy food options for the kids.

A clean environment, with a healthy varied menu. They enjoy the activity packs that are given out in some restaurants and it keeps them entertained as long as food comes in a reasonable time.

It is important for us to not feel that we have to whisper and cannot act like a 'normal' family! Space around our table is good too so we can get up for the toilet with easy!

Somewhere that's clean and has a very friendly family atmosphere.

being able to focus and talk to each other is the most important thing about eating out. It allows for an unstressful environment and to just be together

a varied, interesting kids menu with healthy options. Private booth sitting areas with activities for the children to keep them happy

Clean eating areas! Food to not be cold or soggy or limp!

It is important to have a range of meal options. I'm a light eater but my daughter has a real appetite. I tend to eat smaller portions and more healthy options but as a treat my daughter loves her guilty pleasures.

Clean, value for money and a family friendly atmosphere (no glaring at chatty toddlers!) - sounds simple but it's amazing how many places allegedly aimed at families fail to provide this!

Other things like colouring sheets, children's menus etc. are nice to have, but pretty pointless without getting the basics right!

Obviously I look for child friendly places but have to also consider my elderly parents so like to have lots of room for seating as they are not as agile anymore and I like room for the highchair. Also a GOOD highchair and not an uncomfortable one with no straps or padding ! I am never worried about colouring sheets as to me a family meal is about entertaining one another and enjoying the company and time together

Kid friendly environment. Good selection of food for all the family, including the kids.

A range of healthy options, good quality, nice atmosphere and a reasonable price.

Probably the most important things about eating out with kids for me is that the restaurant is family friendly. I have been places where it clearly isn't really designed for kids and you spend the whole time uncomfortable shushing the kids so as to not disturb anyone else. I like it when there is a play area and when the restaurant does things for the kids such as have crayons and paper so that they can entertain themselves. When it comes to food it is always nice to have a slightly healthy option for them but designed in a fun way that makes them want to eat it.

That the loos are clean and that the tables are cleared - it's offputting to have to see lots of rubbish left out on tables.

I think good food, deciding on somewhere that keeps everyone happy and convenient location

healthy nutritional food is foremost followed by child friendly place.

Quick service, and things on the menu that the kids like

A family friendly atmosphere. Clean eating areas and quick service is a must with hungry toddlers.

Healthy food options, clean high chairs/ environment and toilets that can facilitate young members of my family.

Our main priority is cleanliness. Clean tables and seats. We should all be able to clear up after ourselves and put our rubbish in the bins provided.