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

For us eating out it is always a treat so I guess it’s nice to feel a bit special even in a fast food restaurant.
Table service is good but not essential.
I hate the latest fad of TVs or tablets for kids to play on. A meal out is a shared experience and tablets just detract from the family time.
Goes without saying that good hot food is important and no salt on the chips before they’re served!

We are a busy family of 6 who seldom eat out, so when we do, it has to be right. We look for:

• A menu which caters for all of us, which means vegetarian options and healthy choices. I still do not understand why McDonalds do not offer a vegetarian Happy Meal or more choices for vegetarians generally. Quorn and soya products are so easy to get now, there really is no excuse. Salad options all year round would be good too, as well as a non-chicken/ bacon salad option that is more than just lettuce and tomato. Instead of calorie laden milkshakes and fizzy drinks, how about whole fruit smoothies or flavored still water?
• Space for us to sit together as a family with enough space on the table, as opposed to being crammed together in a booth with no elbow room.
• Clean tables, seats and cutlery, plus plenty of napkins. The last time we went to MCDonalds there was ketchup smeared all over the seat, which my DD sat in.
• Good service, which is fast and polite. There is nothing worse than surly looking staff who clearly don't want to be there, or who start clearing tables before everyone has finished.
• Periodic offers and promotions will encourage us to return. Eating out is expensive and many restaurants offer a free or discounted child meal with a full adult meal, or a fixed discount on certain days/ times.

Speed of service is a real key factor for us, with three little ones it can be quite the ordeal going out for a meal, kids getting hungry and waiting ages for food = niggles! Thankfully whenever we go to our local McDonald's we've always been served quickly and food has been ready quickly. I like the colouring sheets to keep them entertained, although they are often out of the crayons. I think it would be great if every happy meal came with a piece of fruit, trying to enforce healthier eating.

I want to be served my hot drink in my own travel mug, instead of being told- as I was in your Petersfield store recently- that Health and safety rules stop that being possible, and that you have to serve it in your cup, lid included, and then I can decant it myself.

Come on macdonalds- you can do better than that....

I have DC 10 & 9 - McDonald's is top choice for them and tbh I find it a perfectly acceptable family meal once in a while. Choice is good, but would like more veggie & fish options. Also an alternative to French fries - chunky fries? Or rice? (KFC & Nando's do excellent fast food rice...)

Touch screen ordering and table service is great. I'd like a bit more space at the table.

My biggest hate is the computer game screen thingies on the tables. Hate hate hate them. Screens at the table is rude. Anti-social. Plus they also get in the way and are covered in greasy ketchup fingerprints. Massively lower the tone of the clean, bright cafe/restaurants. Get Rid!!

Gluten free options would be great and not just for children. So many people are gluten free because of medical conditions and dietary requirements. Maybe there could be a grilled chicken fillet option for all burgers and I don't mean that horrible smelly slimey grilled chicken they do now which actually tastes so much better if you ask them not to heat it btw......completely safe as it's pre cooked!
A side salad for children in their happy meals? Or corn on the cob as a side option.

I hate phones/tablets at the table so I think the Happy Meal toys are great!

I love McDs to be fair and can't fault any restaurant I've ever been to

Appealing vegetarian option, please! I just have a coffee in McDonald's. Their vegetarian Deluxe (ha!) burger thing is truly awful. Also give a children's vegetarian option; they don't all want meat at every meal.

Hotter food in McDonald's pls
Fast clearing of tables
Fast service
Friendly staff
I love the toys

The most important part for me is being in a clean environment and something to keep the little ones entertained while you eat your dinner.

When I have visited McDonald’s in a busy location I always struggle managing my LO, tray and pushchair so I think it would be good for McDonalds to do a table service for families and the elderly.

The fruit should be complimentary as promoting healthy eating is essential.

Our main considerations are: 1) healthy and tasty food ( Our son hates chips, fish fingers, nuggets and other kids food so will eat the burger out of the bun and a donut! in McDonald's, so we only go if friends want to.) a hot pasta option is always a safe bet. 2) not too expensive 3) with booth style seats to keep the little ones in. im not bothered about toys / colouring in etc as i take my own when i'm out. Id rather the food was nutritious than there were colouring sheets.

Cleanliness;
Something for kids to colour;
Clean toilets and plenty of toilet paper;
Healthy food that also tastes good;
Freshly prepared hot food - I hate getting a burger that has stood for longer than five mins.

We go to McDonald's because it's conveniently located, is good value and has a family friendly environment.

I would like to see healthier kids meals by offering something other than frying as a cooking option - baked or grilled instead.
More side options like Sweetcorn, peas, baked beans, coleslaw etc...

Definitely well balanced meals. Including automatically a portion, at least, of vegetables. I dislike where I have to add it on as my Dd isn't really going to eat the chips for instance.
Why children's meals don't often incorporate rice and other carbs is beyond me.
Especially because it's assumed children just want/like junk when often it isn't true. Definitely fruit, maybe even yogurts offered for desserts. I don't mind my Dd having icecream at the end of the meal but I do wish it came with a couple of small bits of fruit that she could have alongside it.

Sometimes we choose a place and just have Dd eat our food if the children's menu isn't great. Oh and actually properly portioned children's food. Even small portions come out with way to much on the plate /bowl.

clean.
lovely food whether your there for a take out or a haute meal its gotta be nice cared for meals.
we love mcdonalds and sometimes it just hits the spot so good on you.
not to be preachy.if I go out I want to go out and feel ok I don't want health menu this healthy options calories controlled that.going out is a treat I want to feel treated.
nice service.things can always go wrong but as long as people are nice to you it make a huge difference.
half portions for kids on normal meals.
colouring for the kids.

With 5 kids who get bored very easily a colouring or activity sheet and crayons (to keep even better!!)
Also ive found that the computer screens in mcdonalds for kids to use are a life saver when it comes to stopping them wanting to mess about or running around

Cleanliness, in the kitchen and toilets and eating areas

A decent kids menu that is more imaginative than sausages / chicken nuggets & chips - fine as a treat but so dull to be presented with these options every time. Paper and crayons always much appreciated & speedy service

Yes massively to half portions of adult meals. That would be amazing.
My kids want more than just a burger or nuggets. You used to be able to get one version or a wrap but haven't seen it in ages.

The kids menu is boring and in today's world when kids are more food conscious not good enough!

A smaller varied
version of the deli wraps would be great but there have been loads of times the kids have fancied something on the adult menu but not been able to eat it all.

Less pandering to unhealthy kids food - chicken nuggets, chips, beans etc. Smaller portions of adult food is preferable.

Have a look at the Smulpaapje revolution in The Netherlands - brilliant scheme.

Bigger choice of non deep fried food.
Child sized cutlery and glasses.
No screens at the table.

Clean high chairs.
Enough room for the high chair that you don't feel you're in the way of wait staff or others trying to get past the table.
Small portions of reasonably-priced healthy food, rather than/as well as a beige "kids' menu".

More than any other factor for me is that the space is clean. Clean tables, clean loos and obviously clean preparation area.
I like the fact that some restaurants seem to be stepping up on the recycling front too - separating waste and liquid etc.

My daughters love going to resteraunts which have a play area even if they don’t particularly eat much food inside! Just a small space with little toys and books.

That’s there’s some sort of entertainment for the kids!