McDonalds for a 4 year old

Tombo2001

I had never once mentioned the word 'McDonalds' to my kid. A few months ago, he said to me "McDonalds is the place where you get burgers".

I said "How did you know that". He said, "I saw it on the telly". Now I cant remember seeing a McDonalds ad in the last five years, but obviously they are still there for day time tv.

Anyways, that was that until yesterday he said "Can we go to the McDonalds near the library to get burgers".

We have places that we go for Burgers and Chips such as GBK or Bobo, and I suggested there. But he said no, he wants McDonalds. I think someone at his new school must have spoken about it.

Now personally, I hate McDonalds. I hate it. I have visions of putting spoons of lard into my stomach when I drive past it.

However..... I liked it when I was a kid.

What does the book of good parenting say to do in this situation?

juneg

Chill out.
When you walk under the golden M of MacDonalds and look around, you will be consoled that you are doing a good job as a parent and that your kids arent so bad after all.

We go rarely but I see no harm in it

Scortho

Tombo2001 wrote: »

I had never once mentioned the word 'McDonalds' to my kid. A few months ago, he said to me "McDonalds is the place where you get burgers".

I said "How did you know that". He said, "I saw it on the telly". Now I cant remember seeing a McDonalds ad in the last five years, but obviously they are still there for day time tv.

Anyways, that was that until yesterday he said "Can we go to the McDonalds near the library to get burgers".

We have places that we go for Burgers and Chips such as GBK or Bobo, and I suggested there. But he said no, he wants McDonalds. I think someone at his new school must have spoken about it.

Now personally, I hate McDonalds. I hate it. I have visions of putting spoons of lard into my stomach when I drive past it.

However..... I liked it when I was a kid.

What does the book of good parenting say to do in this situation?

Right first of all I'm not a parent!
But going from my parents experience they used it as a treat when we were really really good! But it might only have been once or twice a year! And they hated it too!
While I loved McDonalds at the time, mainly because it was a treat, I'd much prefer to go to BOBOS or JoBurger nowadays!
If you use it as a treat I'd say it'd be fine! But don't make it into a regular occurrence!

Tabnabs

If you're kid hasn't been to McD's before, you may be pleasantly surprised when they are uninterested in the food and struggle to do more than nibble at it. We were...

clappyhappy

We took our 3 in last thursday night for a treat. Eldest was 8 and wanted to buy his own clothes and go to macDonalds. It was their 2nd time there this year. the food isn't very healthy but once in a while its fine. I had a caesar salad and OH had a wrap, yes the kids had happy meals, but its not going to do any harm using it as a treat.

Tombo2001

juneg wrote: »

Chill out.
When you walk under the golden M of MacDonalds and look around, you will be consoled that you are doing a good job as a parent and that your kids arent so bad after all.

We go rarely but I see no harm in it

Twice a year would be fine, but my worry is that he'll be screaming for it every weekend. Will have to pitch it with him that its only a very very special treat.

But problem is (and I'm not casting aspersions on other parents....ok I am....) there's bound to be some kid in his class who will ruin it for me by saying "we go there every Thursday"

She Devil

If your kid eats healthily normally, then a treat like this every now and again shouldn't be any harm.

pwurple

Moderation.
Id say once in a while will be fine. Your kid may not even like it. We've never been either, but at some point someone will be having a birthday party or something there.

I've seen 9 month olds sitting in their buggy with a happy meal, effectively being weaned onto it. You're fine.

Moonbeam

I would treat them to it occasionally.

January

He might scream for it every weekend but you are the parent and you say when he gets what. My two always think we're going to McDonalds when we pass it by, they get a bit disappointed when we say "not today" but then that's the end of it. They know it's treat food and they get it once in a blue moon and even when they do get it they won't even eat most of it, they like the toy and the balloon more... it's more mammy who has a hankering for a Big Mac now and then :eek:

It won't kill him, or you, and he might not even like it!

Rasmus

Tombo2001 wrote: »

I had never once mentioned the word 'McDonalds' to my kid. A few months ago, he said to me "McDonalds is the place where you get burgers".

I said "How did you know that". He said, "I saw it on the telly". Now I cant remember seeing a McDonalds ad in the last five years, but obviously they are still there for day time tv.

Anyways, that was that until yesterday he said "Can we go to the McDonalds near the library to get burgers".

We have places that we go for Burgers and Chips such as GBK or Bobo, and I suggested there. But he said no, he wants McDonalds. I think someone at his new school must have spoken about it.

Now personally, I hate McDonalds. I hate it. I have visions of putting spoons of lard into my stomach when I drive past it.

However..... I liked it when I was a kid.

What does the book of good parenting say to do in this situation?

Your son has more than likely seen the ads of happy kids happily chomping down on burgers in McDonalds. (Yes, they are on during the day). If you don't want him to eat McDs then that is your decision, which I could easily agree with, but every now and again it probably won't do any harm. I prefer to give this kind of treat than sweets, fizzy drinks and crisps (I hate stuff like chewy bars, coloured e-number crap) but each to their own.

A pediatrician once told me that even McD is acceptable in moderation - there is the meat (protein) the bread (carbs) and the cheese (tiny bit of calcium) and the milkshake (calcium). Moderation is the key and I think that means once a month or so, probably less - that is at least my understanding.

I remember it being sooo good when I was a kid too, but think it is revolting now. Back then though, we might have gone once or twice a year and only for a birthday. If those rules could be applied today, we'd be grand.

I'd go to BK before McD - it seems slightly less bad for you.

lukesmom

Everything in moderation is fine. I wouldn't worry to much about it to be honest

vicwatson

He wants McDonalds because it's hard to drive around or indeed live in this world without seeing some form of MCD advertising, he probably saw Ronalds big head on a poster by the side of the road some day.

I say deffo let them have a treat if they are bothered, but as a treat and as part of a healthy balanced diet.

Lucutus

Guilty of 'treating' our kids to that crap in the past.

Nowadays, when the shining light of the golden arches is on, that means they are sold out of happy meals.

Likewise, when the ice-cream van blares music outside the house, that means they are sold out of ice-cream.

Spend the money on the quality ingredients for good homemade burgers and keep a decent ice cream ready in the freezer instead.

missis aggie

Its if course up to you, but I personally don't like the idea of McDonald's being associated as a treat... in the end of the day its a take away with highly processed food...

vicwatson

missis aggie wrote: »

Its if course up to you, but I personally don't like the idea of McDonald's being associated as a treat... in the end of the day its a take away with highly processed food...

That's why it's a treat - because it's processed food

Daffodil.d

If you have managed to get your kid to four without having to do Mc ds you did well. I was 16 when I had my first Mc ds. There just wasn't one in my town before that. Anyway, I only do it as a fast food treat. Very rarely My two kids love it then. When I get asked at other times I just tell them That the owner is on hols and its closed. As parents We're always doubting ourselves. But imagine there are people who bring their kids there very often without even questioning the health factor.

SusieBlue

As part of a balanced diet I see no issue with it being a treat now and then. If you totally deprive him of it he'll feel like he's missing out which won't work out well in the long term.

Obviously if he's eating pizza and chips every night of the week I wouldn't condone it at all but if he eats healthy most of the time I don't think there's any harm in the occasional bit of chocolate or fast food

Greenmachine

Not sure how your child has seen the commercials and not you.

Big Bag of Chips

If you bring him and he asks for it again you say.. not today.

As January says, you're the adult!

I don't see any harm in it occassionally. It's a treat in our house too. But not a 'treat' in the sense of a reward, its a treat in the sense of it's seldom!

No harm.

Hotblack Desiato

Greenmachine wrote: »

Not sure how your child has seen the commercials and not you.

Creche? That's how the dreaded Barney crept in, he's banned from the house.
Oh yeah, they had her doing prayers without telling us, too

I wouldn't worry about McDonald's etc if, as the small print on the ad says, "eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet". Our 4.5 year old has been in there I think twice (when the adults were starving on a shopping trip) and wasn't that bothered about it, would pick at a few chips, lick the ketchup off them and not eat the chips or burger. Fine by us

It's great that CBBC, CBeebies and RTE Jr don't have any ads, the toy ads would bother me more than the fast food ads tbh.

Ayla

Anything in moderation.

Honestly, I always have a bit of chuckle when people are so against McDs but don't have any problem ordering off a kid's menu at 90% of the restaurants out there. Kids are never offered anything but burgers/chips, sausages/chips, nuggets/chips or fish fingers/chips. If you're lucky you'll get lasagna/chips, but that's about it. I've almost never seen any fruit/veg on offer at a restuarant.

Compare that against McD's who has started including a fruit cup (ok, like 3 grapes) and a thing of raisins, maybe some yoghurt, and you can get water instead of sugar juice (aka ribena et al). Yes, I know the burger/nuggets have all sorts in it, and the chips are loaded with grease & sodium, but they are anywhere you go. KFC/BK/any chipper will be at least as bad.

So, OP, the way I see it anywhere can be as good or as bad as you want it to be. It's not McD's that the enemy, it's what you choose to order for your child wherever you choose to go.

Orion

Greenmachine wrote: »

Not sure how your child has seen the commercials and not you.

Unhelpful and irrelevant posts like this are not welcome on the Parenting forum. Please do not do it again.

Hotblack Desiato

Ayla wrote: »

and you can get water instead of sugar juice (aka ribena et al).

Ooooh. That takes me right back to the second time our daughter was on a plane, she'd just turned 3 and had never had a sugary drink (not that we'd ever made a fuss about it though.) Mammy thought the Ribena was sugar-free, it wasn't. Thankfully I suppose, it didn't really kick in until we got off the plane but she was still looking for more 2 days later. "BEENA, BEENA, WANT BEENA" :eek:

mathepac

Scortho wrote: »

Right first of all I'm not a parent!
But going from my parents experience they used it as a treat when we were really really good! But it might only have been once or twice a year! And they hated it too!
While I loved McDonalds at the time, mainly because it was a treat, I'd much prefer to go to BOBOS or JoBurger nowadays!
If you use it as a treat I'd say it'd be fine! But don't make it into a regular occurrence!

You must have picked up the exclamation-pointitis in MaccyD's too. Most normal people end sentences with a full-stop. <-- see these little guys, very handy but not sold in MaccyD's.

Hotblack Desiato

Most normal people call McDonald's, McDonald's.

Checkmate, atheists would-be grammar nazi.

mathepac

ninja900 wrote: »

... Checkmate, atheists would-be grammar nazi.

Thankfully I didn't comment on anyone's grammar. Or some posters' cowardliness.

McD's is fine once in a while. Just watch how much you let your kids have. When I worked there I recall people buying Big Macs and such for kids as young as 4 or 5. Even only once in a while, that amount of junk is just too much for a child in one sitting. A Happy Meal and maybe a sundae is more than enough.
I would also warn people against eating the salad: it's almost always in bad condition when it arrives and though they serve it the same day, it doesn't look great. You're better off just grabbing a burger or something; it won't kill you

January

I've just had to warn and infract several people in this thread for posting off topic and unhelpful posts. Please keep this discussion on topic and giving advice!

Davidth88

OP , We have a 6YO ( and a 1 YO who isn't relevant for this thread YET )

We eat in McD about 4-5 times a year .

Useful if you are out , and you want to feed your little one , quick / clean ( usually ) etc .

It's no worse IMO than any other fast food ( chippy or whatever )

It is wrong that they clearly market themselves to kids , but there you go


Our little one usually has the ' Happy Meal ' which consists of chicken nuggets , and small fries and water , then a 1 euro ice cream after

As long as they are not living on it I see no harm

Everything in moderation .

We rarely have takeaways ( she has never had a chipper meal / chinese etc ).

amiable

Ayla wrote: »

Yes, I know the burger/nuggets have all sorts in it, and the chips are loaded with grease & sodium, but they are anywhere you go. KFC/BK/any chipper will be at least as bad.

What do you think are in the Burgers and Nuggets?

As others have already said OP in moderation it's fine.
Agreed I wouldn't make it a weekly thing but every couple of months is Ok in my honest opinion.

As has been said already just explain to your 4 year old that you can't go there all the time.

Tombo2001

missis aggie wrote: »

Its if course up to you, but I personally don't like the idea of McDonald's being associated as a treat... in the end of the day its a take away with highly processed food...

very few treats are good for you, that applies in adulthood as well as childhood.

But i take your point.

Its not so much 'denying him a treat' that would concern me....

.....more that I dont want him to be the only kid in the class that never went to McDonalds.

Ayla

amiable wrote: »

What do you think are in the Burgers and Nuggets?

Burgers = mince meat, which means it gets all the leftover bits of the animal. Then it has grease, sodium & whatever additives they use to bind the mince.

Nuggets = technically McD's says it only uses 100% chix breast meat, but again there are binding additives, not to mention whatever they use to make the crumb coating. Butter, grease, deep fried oil.

These are not specifically against the burgers/nuggets produced by McD's. They are used by every mass food producer to make the food, which is what I stated in my original post. But I think giving a child these foods (wherever they are made) should be considered carefully & in moderation/balance with other natural & healthy foods.

Tombo2001

Greenmachine wrote: »

Not sure how your child has seen the commercials and not you.

happy to address this point

(i) he has been with a child minder for much of the past year during day time. I dont have much control over the ads he watches while there.

(ii) maybe I did see them but just didnt notice. Any more than I would notice an ad for any other thing that I've no interest in. I am guessing McDonalds know full well how to pitch an ad a child.

If I see an Aldi ad for cycling gear, I will pick it up and read it in some detail......the lights, the reflective gear, tee shirts and so on. My kid wont notice it though. How come he wouldnt and I would?

amiable

Ayla wrote: »

Burgers = mince meat, which means it gets all the leftover bits of the animal. Then it has grease, sodium & whatever additives they use to bind the mince.

Nuggets = technically McD's says it only uses 100% chix breast meat, but again there are binding additives, not to mention whatever they use to make the crumb coating. Butter, grease, deep fried oil.

These are not specifically against the burgers/nuggets produced by McD's. They are used by every mass food producer to make the food, which is what I stated in my original post. But I think giving a child these foods (wherever they are made) should be considered carefully & in moderation/balance with other natural & healthy foods.

You made it sound like there was lots and lots of bad stuff in them. (leftover bits aren't all bad)
McDonalds also don't fry their burgers in oil unlike a lot of other fast food outlets so it is a small plus.

They are burgers. They are not designed to be healthy but we both seem to agree in moderation is not a bad thing.

Tombo2001

amiable wrote: »

You made it sound like there was lots and lots of bad stuff in them. (leftover bits aren't all bad)
McDonalds also don't fry their burgers in oil unlike a lot of other fast food outlets so it is a small plus.

They are burgers. They are not designed to be healthy but we both seem to agree in moderation is not a bad thing.

I would be making the assumption that Mcdonalds food has zero nutritional value, or close to zero.

Which I would say of most fast food. Maybe a proper fish and chips (ie made with fresh fish) would be an exception.

amiable

Tombo2001 wrote: »

I would be making the assumption that Mcdonalds food has zero nutritional value, or close to zero.

Which I would say of most fast food. Maybe a proper fish and chips (ie made with fresh fish) would be an exception.

And in my opinion a meal with zero nutritional value every couple of months will do kids no harm but I stress that's only my opinion OP.

Do what you feel is right and I think you won't go far wrong.
Each parent has different ideas.

I would guess that fish and chips from a traditional chip shop would have more calories but I'm open to correction on that.

liliq

Big Bag of Chips wrote: »

I don't see any harm in it occassionally. It's a treat in our house too. But not a 'treat' in the sense of a reward, its a treat in the sense of it's seldom!

This would be my biggest "thing"... I don't like the idea of using McDonalds as a "treat" in the context of a reward- I don't like the idea of any food being used like that to be honest. It could set someone up for using food as a reward for themselves for any little acheivement and generally to create a feel good factor down the line as a teenager or adult.
I'd rather spend a fiver on a crappy toy or put it towards a day out at the zoo or something.

I tend to agree with the "everything in moderation" sentiment. I suppose if you never go you will create a mystery around it, and he'll just want to go even more. Hopefully like has been said, he won't even like it if he gets there!
The main issue I would have with McDonalds food would be the amount of salt in it, and how highly processed it is.

Tombo2001

one point.....I;ve noticed the words "in moderation" a lot.....which i presume people mean is "once in a while".

But the McDonalds meal as a treat is not a moderate treat compared to giving them a kinder egg or bowl of ice cream.

A kids happy meal has the same calorie count as 10 actimels.

EDIT: Illiq, this wasnt a response to your post, I was writing it the same time as you. Your point on fish and chips is well made, I would accept that.

amiable

I've never heard of GBK or Bobo. Can somebody fill me in what they are?

Big Bag of Chips

Does everything we eat have to have some nutritional value? How boring would that be?!
An occassional outing to McDonalds is not going to do any damage, lasting or short term, to your child.

You are the parent. You are in control of what he eats day to day. The occassional 'slip' is actually healthy.. in the sense that it takes the mystery away.

I had friends growing up who were never allowed sweets. After mass when we'd all get 10p to go to the shop they would be brought straight back to their car and given an apple. Which resulted in them gorging on sweets whenever they were invited to parties. They would spend the entire time at the table and would even be stock piling them in their pockets.

Rasmus

Why is there the assumption that everyone means 'reward' when mentioning 'treat' ? A treat is just that - treating the child to something different and not an acknowledgement of good behaviour.

pwurple

Tombo2001 wrote: »

A kids happy meal has the same calorie count as 10 actimels.

What an odd thing to compare it to. I wouldn't give a child an actimel either. One of the most highly processed and heavily marketed items on the market, with a list of ingredients as long as my right arm. Yikes.

Plus, the sums are a bit off. Actimel is 75 kcal.
I'm not sure what's in happy meal, but I'm guessing from the thread it's child portion of nuggets (160), chips child size (100), apple slices (15) and a drink.. from water (0) or juice (90) or coke child size (110)

That's 275 with water, or 385 with coke. Nowhere near 750 calories. So it's more like 3.5 overprocessed actimels.

liliq

Tombo2001 wrote: »

EDIT: Illiq, this wasnt a response to your post, I was writing it the same time as you. Your point on fish and chips is well made, I would accept that.

Amaibles post, but it was a good point

amiable wrote: »

I've never heard of GBK or Bobo. Can somebody fill me in what they are?

GBK= Gourmet Burger Kitchen, I assume Bobo is similar.

Rasmus wrote: »

Why is there the assumption that everyone means 'reward' when mentioning 'treat' ? A treat is just that - treating the child to something different and not an acknowledgement of good behaviour.

Probably just the vernacular. We got a "treat" for getting a good school report, or not running riot at a funeral or something when we were kids. It was the word used for reward...

Tombo2001

pwurple wrote: »

What an odd thing to compare it to. I wouldn't give a child an actimel either. One of the most highly processed and heavily marketed items on the market, with a list of ingredients as long as my right arm. Yikes.

Plus, the sums are a bit off. Actimel is 75 kcal.
I'm not sure what's in happy meal, but I'm guessing from the thread it's child portion of nuggets (160), chips child size (100), apple slices (15) and a drink.. from water (0) or juice (90) or coke child size (110)

That's 275 with water, or 385 with coke. Nowhere near 750 calories. So it's more like 3.5 overprocessed actimels.

According to this the average Kids happy meal has 616 calories.

I had referenced a number for an adults meal.
http://www.fastfoodmarketing.org/media/fastfoodfacts_kidsmealcalories.pdf


As regards choice of Actimel.....it also is a 'treat'.

Using the 616 figure, one average happy meal = 8.2 Actimels.

I used Actimel to give context to the word "in moderation".

Would you give your kid 8 Actimels in one sitting.

amiable

Tombo2001 wrote: »

According to this the average Kids happy meal has 616 calories.

I had referenced a number for an adults meal.
http://www.fastfoodmarketing.org/media/fastfoodfacts_kidsmealcalories.pdf


As regards choice of Actimel.....it also is a 'treat'.

Using the 616 figure, one average happy meal = 8.2 Actimels.

I used Actimel to give context to the word "in moderation".

Would you give your kid 8 Actimels in one sitting.

I personally don't give my kids any Actimels

Ayla

If anyone's really that interested, here are the nutrition figures straight from McD's website:

http://www.mcdonalds.ie/content/dam/ireland/docs/nutrition.pdf

dark crystal

My goodness, you'd swear it was class A drugs the child was asking for, not a hamburger!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a child, who otherwise eats perfectly healthy food, having a hamburger, fishfingers or a few nuggets every once in a while. They also provide raisins or a fruit cup with every Happy Meal and a drink such as milk, water or juice.

I wouldn't be promoting McDonald's as a regular meal for kids, but I wouldn't be demonising it for them either. A healthy balance is what it's all about, imo.

pwurple

Tombo2001 wrote: »

According to this the average Kids happy meal has 616 calories.

I had referenced a number for an adults meal.
http://www.fastfoodmarketing.org/media/fastfoodfacts_kidsmealcalories.pdf


As regards choice of Actimel.....it also is a 'treat'.

Using the 616 figure, one average happy meal = 8.2 Actimels.

I used Actimel to give context to the word "in moderation".

Would you give your kid 8 Actimels in one sitting.

I don't give children any actimels. I wouldn't even have them in the house. How the yoghurt market got so enormous I will never understand. Marketing masters at work there. But that's a bit off topic.

The site you references gives 385 as a happy meal of 4 nuggets, apple slices and a glass of milk. The figues are just wrong as far as I can tell from the official ones. It has used the adult portions to calculate those, instead of the child ones possibly. See the official site Ayla posted above for the actual figures.

Tombo2001

dark crystal wrote: »

My goodness, you'd swear it was class A drugs the child was asking for, not a hamburger!

.

No you would not swear its Class A drugs the child was asking for.

We've been discussing the calorie content of McDonalds happy meals, not bloody syringes and methadone.

Why is it not possible to have a discussion about childrens nutrition without this sort of comment.

amiable

I have a brother who wouldn't dream of bringing his kids to McDonalds but has no problem bringing them to Supermacs.
It's a strange world we live in. He's adamant that Supermacs isn't as bad for them as McDonalds.