Taking children to McDonalds, is it child cruelty?
Discussion
Mastodon2 said:
Child cruelty? Unbelievable, OP should write for the Daily Wail. Forcing McDonalds down a childs neck every day is not right, but every now and then it's a treat. I eat at McDonalds / Burger King far more these days than I did when I was a child. When I was young, it was a occasional treat and one I was grateful for.
Here it is again, the "treat' word. Why on Earth is going to McDonalds seen as a treat, where one could go to any number of decent restaurants and eat excellent food? Even somewhere like a TGI Fridays has got to be better than a McDonalds, surely? I can see an argument that says McDonalds is ok occasionally because it's fast and cheap, but a 'treat'?Gaspode said:
Mastodon2 said:
Child cruelty? Unbelievable, OP should write for the Daily Wail. Forcing McDonalds down a childs neck every day is not right, but every now and then it's a treat. I eat at McDonalds / Burger King far more these days than I did when I was a child. When I was young, it was a occasional treat and one I was grateful for.
Here it is again, the "treat' word. Why on Earth is going to McDonalds seen as a treat, where one could go to any number of decent restaurants and eat excellent food? Even somewhere like a TGI Fridays has got to be better than a McDonalds, surely? I can see an argument that says McDonalds is ok occasionally because it's fast and cheap, but a 'treat'?Gaspode said:
Here it is again, the "treat' word. Why on Earth is going to McDonalds seen as a treat, where one could go to any number of decent restaurants and eat excellent food?
Because the food is high in salt, sugar and fat, and humans instinctively like that kind of thing. It's not clever, interesting, or, eaten too often, good for you, but it does tickle the receptors that an opportunistic hunter/scavenger like our species uses to identify good food sources. It isn't playing to learned tastes.
otolith said:
Because the food is high in salt, sugar and fat, and humans instinctively like that kind of thing. It's not clever, interesting, or, eaten too often, good for you, but it does tickle the receptors that an opportunistic hunter/scavenger like our species uses to identify good food sources. It isn't playing to learned tastes.
Quite. Sugar release chemicals in the brain. We're hardwired to consume it like crazy. We need to be careful around it otherwise we blow up like balloons...ooops!
Cock Womble 7 said:
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: You know the more I read this thread the more I have to ask - does anyone really believe that taking a child to McDonalds is child cruelty?
Of course not.Taking them to McDonald's and forcing them to stand outside in the rain and watch through the window while I tuck in to a Big Tasty® Meal is, however.
(Not my kids, you understand; my Sister's.)
uncinqsix said:
My kids (3 1/2 and 5) have never been and I'm pretty sure they don't even know what McDonalds is. I last ate there over 12 years ago. I just don't see the point when there are always superior alternatives around...
Do your kids never get treats, a birthday party, cake, etc? Machines is in that category. Everyday is a nono. Bit every now and then, no harm whatsoever. Why is it a treat to sit on plastic chairs in a plastic room and quickly eat bland food with your fingers?
When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheese with a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheese with a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
Snowboy said:
Why is it a treat to sit on plastic chairs in a plastic room and quickly eat bland food with your fingers?
When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheese with a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
Ask a three year old? When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheese with a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
Most that I've known absolutely hate nice restaurants...
Snowboy said:
Why is it a treat to sit on plastic chairs in a plastic room and quickly eat bland food with your fingers?
When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheese with a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
Why is it a treat to sit in a cinema with sticky floors, people chatting over the movie, and extortionate pricing? I don't know. My point was simple. Something like a Maccies should be a treat, (and yes, give a kid a happy meal, and they do consider it a treat, on the whole). It is no different to chuck E cheese, (is handing your child a handful of tokens to play arcade games a treat?). When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheese with a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
Everything in moderation. Simple.
Snowboy said:
Why is it a treat to sit on plastic chairs in a plastic room and quickly eat bland food with your fingers?
When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheese with a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
Do you really think that most younger kids would prefer a nice two/three course meal to a McDonalds? Really?When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheese with a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
Snowboy said:
Why is it a treat to sit on plastic chairs in a plastic room and quickly eat bland food with your fingers?
When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheesewith a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
I'd never heard of this before.When did that become a treat?
Surely a 'treat' should be a trip to a cinema, a park, a Chucky Cheesewith a big play area or even a 'nice' restaurant that does a decent two or three course meal.
Looks Eductional
Fair enough.
It just shows that everyone is different.
I still disagree that McDonalds 'should' be a treat when there are so many other things to offer a child as a treat.
Do any adults here consider McDonalds as a treat for themselves?
If so, is it because you enjoy the food? The convenience? The decor? Or something else that I seem to have missed?
It just shows that everyone is different.
I still disagree that McDonalds 'should' be a treat when there are so many other things to offer a child as a treat.
Do any adults here consider McDonalds as a treat for themselves?
If so, is it because you enjoy the food? The convenience? The decor? Or something else that I seem to have missed?
TheHeretic said:
Do your kids never get treats, a birthday party, cake, etc? Machines is in that category. Everyday is a nono. Bit every now and then, no harm whatsoever.
They get plenty of treats: cakes, chocolate, sweets, chips etc, but all in moderation of course. It's fine as part of a balanced diet. My objection to maccas is more on taste and quality grounds than how healthy or otherwise the food is. Life's too short to eat food you don't enjoy, and there are many, many local food places that are better and more deserving of my money than they are.
Halb said:
If you notice, this is Jamie Oliver targeting the US market. Despite the fact the structure of the business is the same, each national market is set up differently and run by those native to that market on the whole.In the UK all beef is sourced locally with nothing added. The fact McDonald's were not implicated at all in the recent horsemeat scandal verifies this.
As for the nugget comments, Jamie is famous for his rants a few years ago about the rubbish put into the cheap nugget brands that can be bought. McDonald's UK have been using 100% chicken breast for many years now.
I guess you can give people the facts but if they choose to doubt or believe rumours, then there is nothing more can be done.
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