I am now going to ruin this thread and stomp on your happiness.

Taking your children to McDonalds is CHILD ABUSE.

try saying know to two screaming kids who see the golden arches and want to go to micky dees.

You can say what you want. You are the parent. The children are not parenting themselves, that is why they have parents. If they compain, you know what's best... Clogged arteries, in this case. Acquired obesity. Possible diabetes. All because the kids wanted to kick the big red clown in the nuts and maybe chew on some fries in the mean time.

Maybe children should write their own curriculum in school, too.

EDIT by Slave #17: Clarified the title (was:McDonald's low-fat menu changes)

Originally posted by mbg I am now going to ruin this thread and stomp on your happiness. Taking your children to McDonalds is CHILD ABUSE. You can say what you want. You are the parent. The children are not parenting themselves, that is why they have parents. If they compain, you know what's best... Clogged arteries, in this case. Acquired obesity. Possible diabetes. All because the kids wanted to kick the big red clown in the nuts and maybe chew on some fries in the mean time. Maybe children should write their own curriculum in school, too.

All I can say to this is...............CRAP!!!!!!!! There's nothing wrong with taking your kids there for a weekly meal. It's sure better than trying to take kids to Denny's - where they start to fidget after a few minutes, due to boredom. At least at Mcdonalds there's the Play Area where they can romp and play while Mom & Dad actually get to eat a meal in relative tranquility. Try telling little Johnny who's 5 years old that he can't go to see Ronald McDonald because it's gonna clog his arteries....give me a break!!!!!! It's a fun outing for the entire family....perhaps your parents didn't do this with you, but I know of lots of other parents who treasure mealtimes with their kids, no matter what the food is. Child Abuse my butt!!! It's called FUN!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by snagglepuss All I can say to this is...............CRAP!!!!!!!! There's nothing wrong with taking your kids there for a weekly meal. It's sure better than trying to take kids to Denny's - where they start to fidget after a few minutes, due to boredom. At least at Mcdonalds there's the Play Area where they can romp and play while Mom & Dad actually get to eat a meal in relative tranquility. Try telling little Johnny who's 5 years old that he can't go to see Ronald McDonald because it's gonna clog his arteries....give me a break!!!!!! It's a fun outing for the entire family....perhaps your parents didn't do this with you, but I know of lots of other parents who treasure mealtimes with their kids, no matter what the food is. Child Abuse my butt!!! It's called FUN!!!!!!!!

You're really 21st century, aren't you? That's not a compliment.

Please look, again, at what you wrote. You sound like the spokesperson for the McDonald's marketing wing. If you don't see anything wrong, I will leave it alone.

You wouldn't tell a 5 year old that he can't see Ronald McDonald because it would clog his arteries. What you would do is be a parent and make better choices. Keep your reasons to yourself. Ronald McDonald should never have been allowed to become so important to this child.

Originally posted by roxxyroller I agree! Mickey's has been around for yrs, and I've been going there pretty much since birth! My entire family actually still enjoys going there, and if there was any harm being done...people would stop altogether. Look at Toronto for instance. A Mcdonalds basicly on every other corner...and jammed all of the time! People these days run such a busy life, and appear to eat on the run.....so chomping down a burger and fry on the go is much more healthy than a bag of candy or chips!

Are you and it the same person?? Where would you get this "healthy" idea from?

If there was any harm being done, people would stop altogether. You mean, like smoking? There has been campaign after campaign to stop people smoking, and it continues. Fast food hasn't had nearly as much attention...

There's this idea out there that if you're not overweight, you're healthy and it's not true at all.

If people these days run such a busy life, then they should have an ounce of planning. You can create meals in advance. You can make a healthy lunch for yourself in 10 minutes.

I don't know why you are so proud of a McDonalds being on every corner in Toronto. It's a sign of things gone wrong. That big red clown is laughing at you.

I guess it also doesn't matter all the money that's been raised for Ronald McDonald House for those with Cancer. But then someone who's self centered wouldn't care about that either......

Originally posted by roxxyroller Oh yes! Great point there! They are really nice too...stayed in one in Toronto when my friend got her leg amputated at the knee with cancer when she was 17...they treated us like royalty!! Go Ronny goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! (Makes me crave a mac combo right about now!)

Crispy Chicken Combo here....no lettuce on it...but LOTS OF MAYONNAISE (so I can clog my arteries).....large fries (with extra salt) and large Diet Coke........

Yummmm Yummmm

Originally posted by snagglepuss All I can say to this is...............CRAP!!!!!!!! There's nothing wrong with taking your kids there for a weekly meal.

While I might not be as militant in my objection as mbg is, I have to disagree with that. A weekly meal at McDonalds? It is definitely your choice, but I would think that all around it isn't great for a child to eat McD's at least once a week. Is there something so wrong with a nice home cooked meal with the family, sitting around the dinner table? Costs less, is healthier, and a nicer atmosphere.

Just my opinion.

Originally posted by chdude3 While I might not be as militant in my objection as mbg is, I have to disagree with that. A weekly meal at McDonalds? It is definitely your choice, but I would think that all around it isn't great for a child to eat McD's at least once a week. Is there something so wrong with a nice home cooked meal with the family, sitting around the dinner table? Costs less, is healthier, and a nicer atmosphere. Just my opinion.

I can understand you pointing out the "Norman Rockwell" dinner scene, but the fact is that families nowadays have less free time. They're either taking the kids to some sort of sport, music or whatever type of lessons. Mom works all day and so does dad. The last thing on their minds is cooking a meal...so the fastest route they see is going for that McHappy Meal. To me as long as the family is still all there together that's what matters. The kids are still yakking about this and that..mom & dad talk about the day's events and everyone then goes home- where there's no dishes to do and they can just relax for a couple of hours before it's time to put the kids to bed and start all over again tomorrow. A few McChicken Nuggets won't kill anyone....

When I was growing up - I got to eat at McDonal's and it was considered a treat. Not the norm. But my mom was a homemaker and was home all day so she had oodles of time. But when I got to be a teen-ager and a Burger King went up about 2 blocks from home, well the nights that Dad worked late, mom and I would share a Whopper and Fries and conversation. I still recall all those times where we talked and I was treated more like a friend than a daughter. Don't mean to sound like a commercial here..but it's the truth. Doesn't really matter what you eat, so long as you're enjoying it and the company is good also.

But that's my opinion.

I dunno... I tend to agree with mbg and chdude3. I honestly believe with all we know about the risks associated with childhood obesity MickeyD's once a week (or more if so be the case) probably does border on child abuse. I think it's a cop-out to say that families are too busy to cook. There is such a thing as time management... What ever happened to thinking ahead and planning such as throwing dinner in the crockpot the night before?

I may be a big meany parent (my job, by the way, to actually raise my kids and say No from time to time) but I severly limit *all* junk foods. My 13 yr old is allowed 1 can of pop a week and 1 small bags of chips... that's it. If it's not a fruit or vegetable it's ain't happening... It does matter what one eats, especially kids! We are teaching them eating habits for the rest of their lives during their early years. I for one do not want to be responsible for a child of mine one day developing diabetes, heart disease or any other disease associated with unhealthy eating habits or obesity.

Just my 2 cents on a subject that I feel very passionate about...