McDonalds for a preschool snack?!

weddedwife

Picked up DD from preschool today to discover she had McDonalds and a cupcake for her snack today...insert frowny face. It was some kid's bday so I get the cupcakes, but...McDonalds? In what universe is that a healthy "snack"?

She goes to a coop preschool where parents work in the classroom and are responsible for signing up for snack days. They are "supposed" to bring healthy snacks...no junk food. Birthday treats are an occasional exception.

I am pretty upset for a few reasons. She had never had McDonalds til today. We don't feed her that junk. We don't eat fast food, particularly McDonalds because we have issue with the way they market to kids, not to mention there's nothing nutritional whatsoever about their "food". Also, of course she was too full for lunch and wouldn't touch it. Why did some parent feel the need to decide to feed my kid a full meal at snack time? And a crappy one at that? We have deliberately not exposed her to McD's so for this to happen at school frustrates me. I know that we can't protect her from all junk food but I feel like between the birthday treats and the special party days like Halloween, the Thanksgiving party and Christmas, that's plenty of junk food.

Would anyone else find issue with this? I guess this is really just a vent. Our only option to control what she gets at snack time is to not allow her to eat what the other kids are having and to pack her a snack. I honestly wish that was the policy in place at this preschool, but it's not and we knew that going in. In fact it was the one thing I didn't like about the school but it wasn't a deal breaker. I don't want her eating junk but I also don't want her to be the singled out kid that can't eat what the rest of the kids have, but I will if this continues. I'll definitely be voicing my concern about the snacks when she goes on Thursday...

ppants

I can understand your concern, but since it's not a deal breaker, I would ask how often this situation is likely to occur. If it's too frequent for your taste then send a snack in, but I would allow it occasionally so she isn't completely left out. It's good to have a conversation with DD about healthy foods and sometimes foods so she can better understand.

MsAlyss

What exactly did they have?  Are you sure they didn't bring in those little packs of apple slices?  My DS sees a McD's sign & yells for apples, he thinks that's all they serve

weddedwife

They had chicken nuggets, fries and juice. And each kid got a toy...so I'm guessing this parent bought happy meals for each kid? Isn't that kind of expensive anyway?

sucredee

weddedwife:

They had chicken nuggets, fries and juice. And each kid got a toy...so I'm guessing this parent bought happy meals for each kid? Isn't that kind of expensive anyway?

That would make me a little cranky as well. For starters that's not exactly a "snack" but a full blown meal (and a bad one at that). And granted you won't be able to shield her from all that is bad but at this age especially I would not appreciate it if my kid was given McD's without asking. If it was at a birthday party it would be one thing because you can't control what other people feed their kids (i still wouldn't like it but I would be less upset if that makes sense) but I think that for a school or daycare it is very inappropriate. 

DD had her first "gymnastics" lesson tonight. I was really taken aback when at the end the teacher offered them suckers without asking us if that would be OK. First of all I feel that it is completely unnecessary to be giving candy after any kind of lesson and I have a problem with suckers, especially for 2.5 year olds. It was before dinner time, I did not want her to have it in her car seat (safety reasons and they're sticky as hell and it was blue). I let her have it for about 5 minutes and then I took it away which she wasn't happy about. Since it was the first time I don't know if this is done every week but I am going to say something about it next week. I don't have a problem with giving my kid sweets (she gets a cookie after dinner every night and loves black licorice and chocolate every once in a while) but some candy is just so bad for your teeth that I would like to avoid it as much as possible especially this young.

roxy_jj

If it's a rare treat, I wouldn't worry about it.  DD received McDonald's in preschool for a child's birthday one time too.  They did tell us ahead of time, so we could opt out if we wanted to.  I let her have it because I don't have an issue with her having fast food on special occasions.  The only time we give the kids fast food is sometimes when we're on road trips, so it's pretty rare.  Now if the fast food became a regular thing, then I would get annoyed. 

June2007

Yeah that would bother me too. Especially since the say 'healthy snacks' only. I don't think that should have been allowed. Those parents should have hosted a birthday party at McDonald's for their child's birthday on their own time if they wanted to served that food.My kids have no idea what McDonalds is and I intend for it to stay that way for sometime.

Our preschool is very strict with snacks, nothing fried, nothing with HFCS, nothing too sugary or processed, no dips unless it's something like hummus. For birthdays, only healthy low sugar muffins are allowed as a treat. Even their lunches from home have to be very healthy, no cookies, candies, prepackaged treats or cereal allowed. I love this because I can give treats without pause at my discretion knowing it truly is an occasional thing.

jlw2505

My kids daycare and now the elementary school does not allow treats of any kind, not even for birthdays and for parties, it is very strict (at my kindergarten DD's party, one of the room mom's made the snack that was pre-approved by the school for example) so this sort of thing would not happen.  I don't think what was served was OK as it is way to much for a snack.  The cupcake should have been it.  As far as kids eating fast food - it will happen and as much as you want to avoid it, you can't without making your child stand out.  If your child attends any birthday parties where food is served, they will get it.  My 4 year old was at a party this fall where the parents basically took an order of what kind of Happy Meal each kid wanted and ran and got that (with apples at least) and then served cake.  Such is life.  Normal party fare includes stuff like this, pizza, hot dogs, etc.  I get being upset about it in the setting that it happened and I would speak to the school about it but in general, I think you need to accept that you feed your child however you want in your home but that when they are out with others, it might not always be what you prefer.  In my house, we don't eat red meat, we don't eat bacon and honestly, we rarely eat chicken and turkey - we do a ton of veggie and soy things and fish but when the kids are at school or even with my ILS, I know they eat the things we don't eat at home and I am fine with it.  They are getting a great balance of food and don't feel like they are missing out on things.  Keeping kids away from things may make them want it more and when they are older and making their own choices, they may not make the best ones if they are not taught young that you can eat a lot of things (good and not so great) as long as you do it the right way.  We don't have sugary desserts every day so when they get it, its a treat and special - its not used as a reward for good behavior - if we feel like going for ice cream, we go but we balance it all out and my kids understand what is healthy and what is not.  I have been complimented many times on my kids food choices and they are only 4 and 6. 

 

Sorry this got long but bottom line - talk to the school about as the time/place type of thing was not a good decision but relax a bit.

KathrynMD

I would let this go.  Unless you want to home school your LO, they will be exposed to fast food and McDonalds.  Just teach your child healthy habits and discuss treats vs. healthy foods, etc. FWIW - DD has eaten @ McDonalds maybe 4-6 times (on road trips and once or twice for the playground) and she never asks for it or expects it.  Its a special treat that she's happy to have, but it isn't something she's obsessed with or craves all the time either. 

I would clarify with the school what their policies are though. 

Angela814

KathrynMD:

I would let this go.  Unless you want to home school your LO, they will be exposed to fast food and McDonalds.  Just teach your child healthy habits and discuss treats vs. healthy foods, etc. FWIW - DD has eaten @ McDonalds maybe 4-6 times (on road trips and once or twice for the playground) and she never asks for it or expects it.  Its a special treat that she's happy to have, but it isn't something she's obsessed with or craves all the time either. 

I would clarify with the school what their policies are though. 

Yeah, this. I don't think fast food eaten occasionally is the end of the world.

MIL is our primary babysitter when I work (1-2 days/week), and she takes DD2 to McDonalds almost every single time. It's to the point where DD2 asks about McDonalds every time Grandma comes over. Considering she's watching her for free, there's not a whole lot I can say about it. We end up eating fast food a few times a month when we have early activities after school for DD1 too.

I do understand the concern with feeding the kids a full meal when they're supposed to be given a snack.

Karma1969

Let it go. 

ghcc

I don't really have much advice, but wanted to say that yes, it would bother me. I personally probably wouldn't say anything if it isn't a frequent occurence, but while I get that my kids will be exposed to tons of junk over the course of their school lives (makes me sad just writing it) there's no need to feed an unhealthy MEAL at snack time, especially at age 3! DD#1 has had McDonald's once. She is 4 and it was recently. I was glad to see that she thought it was pretty gross. :-) We've worked hard to instill good eating habits in her and was proud that she chose not to eat too much of it.

mgrulke

Nope!  But everyone has their own ideas of how to raise their children.  I think you could talk to the person in charge and next time someone brings in McD or another unheathly treat make sure your child does not recieve that treat.  Just make sure you have a back up snack so your child has something else to eat. 

JoannaJes

They handed out McDonalds, not tiny bottles of liqour. If you don't want to homeschool, you are going to have to accept that your child is going to be exposed to things that don't align with your own personal beliefs. It is part of living in a society.

What exactly is going to happen after eating McDonald's one time? I feel like there is no perspective here.  

ETA: I read the replies, and saw several other posters touched on the home school thing, ha ha. 

JoannaJes

mgrulke:

Nope!  But everyone has their own ideas of how to raise their children.  I think you could talk to the person in charge and next time someone brings in McD or another unheathly treat make sure your child does not recieve that treat.  Just make sure you have a back up snack so your child has something else to eat. 

I think this is a great way to plant the seed of disordered eating, IMO. Here kid, eat your freeze dried apple slices while watching the rest of your class eat french fries. No way that could go wrong! 

neverblushed

I think you are justified in being irritated about this.  I've been known to feed my kids a happy meal from time to time, but that's my decision to make, not a decision for some birthday kid's mom to make for me.  If your child gets invited to a birthday party at McDonald's, people have the option of not going.  But to bring happy meals in as a "snack" to a preschool is really inconsiderate, in my book.

Even if most people don't worry about feeding their kids fast food occasionally, it's never something another parent should take for granted! 

I'm guessing that the school and the teacher had no idea what the mom was going to bring, and that they were just as surprised as you were. 

heymommy

Let it go.  It was a birthday PARTY for a classmate. Maybe the birthday child wanted McDonald's. Don't ruin all the fun by mentioning it to the school and then all the outside food will be banned.

I bet the kids didn't even touch the food and only ate the cupcake. 

stever

I'd be annoyed but wouldn't make a big deal about it as long as I was sure it wasn't a frequent occurance.

sunnyday016

KathrynMD:

I would let this go.  Unless you want to home school your LO, they will be exposed to fast food and McDonalds.  Just teach your child healthy habits and discuss treats vs. healthy foods, etc. FWIW - DD has eaten @ McDonalds maybe 4-6 times (on road trips and once or twice for the playground) and she never asks for it or expects it.  Its a special treat that she's happy to have, but it isn't something she's obsessed with or craves all the time either. 

I would clarify with the school what their policies are though. 

I agree. 

penguingrrl

I'd be annoyed by it. My kids have had fast food on occasion,  usually when my aunt is babysitting because she thinks they like it. I'm not thrilled she gives it to them but I get over it. We limit take out/greasy, salty foods to once a week max (often pizza from a local place that uses higher quality ingredients, sometimes take out from the local taco place, etc... never chain fast food restaurants), so I would mostly be annoyed that now I don't get a night off from cooking that week.

I think it's incredibly presumptuous of the parent to do that given that it spoils kids lunches and other parents may not be okay with their kids eating that junk. If it was at our school, which doesn't have any sort of parents organization, I would bring it up with the teacher and/or director and say I wasn't thrilled. I'm fine with cupcakes, cookies or whatever to celebrate a birthday, but fast food really crosses a line with me.

weddedwife

Glad to see I'm not the only one who finds this somewhat inappropriate! As I said in my op, I don't actually expect to protect her from all junk food, just didn't expect fast food to be served at school w/o notice. (So the home school comments were pretty funny And I think someone said it was a bday party so I should relax; actually it was a regular school day and just happened to be a kid's bday, for which they are allowed to bring treats, but typically that just involves a small treat and not a full meal.

According to the teacher this is a very rare occurrence, though she did kind of give the side eye like we were crazy. She mentioned that this family owns a McD's franchise, so now it's making a little more sense. There's other kids in her class that are on the restricted food list for various things: meat, peanut butter, dairy, etc. so we just had them add her to the list for no fast food. If it really is such a rare occurrence then it may not even ever come up. But if it's more common than they claim then we'll be covered.

brewcitybride

I get a little riled up about McDonalds, too, as my father-in-law buys my DD a Happy Meal too often for my tastes. But, you have to have some perspective - from the second your child is born, you are teaching her how to make good decisions. She will always be temped by things, and the choice will someday be hers to make, without you there. My DD knows that McDonalds is a treat, and that it's not healthy (obviously apples are the exception). But I let my anger about it go - she doesn't get it often, she knows it's not the norm and that it isn't a healthy option, but more of a "treat", and since you don't give it to her, then I would let it go.

shellybird101

JoannaJes:

mgrulke:

Nope!  But everyone has their own ideas of how to raise their children.  I think you could talk to the person in charge and next time someone brings in McD or another unheathly treat make sure your child does not recieve that treat.  Just make sure you have a back up snack so your child has something else to eat. 

I think this is a great way to plant the seed of disordered eating, IMO. Here kid, eat your freeze dried apple slices while watching the rest of your class eat french fries. No way that could go wrong! 

  I really wanted to say a annoyed tone(but it hard to explain through written words) that you could be the mom that makes your kid sit on the side lines cause they might get hurt, and then later than explain to your crying child why he/she couldn't participate.  I didn't say it that way cause most of the time on these boards when you speak your mind about parenting skills you are blasted.  Hey she can do whatever she wants.  I can honestly say that my DD and myself enjoy McD, no we do not eat there alot, but for a treat or break at cooking its great GREASE! hehe 

macchiatto

Ah, if they own a McD's that does make more sense. They probably thought it would be a special/fun treat for the kids in honor of the birthday. If it rarely happens it wouldn't really bother me. My kids are pretty healthy eaters and I'm not wild about all the snacks they get at preschool but since I know they're eating healthy the rest of the time I don't worry too much about it.

shannm

macchiatto:

Ah, if they own a McD's that does make more sense. They probably thought it would be a special/fun treat for the kids in honor of the birthday. If it rarely happens it wouldn't really bother me. My kids are pretty healthy eaters and I'm not wild about all the snacks they get at preschool but since I know they're eating healthy the rest of the time I don't worry too much about it.

I agree.  Although it was a pretty weird choice (especially considering it is a coop situation which tend to be a bit "hippier" for lack of a better term).  

On a related note, we picked DS up earlier from extended care the other day.  As DH was putting him in the car, they handed me a warm brownie.  I was so confused and they told me that the X-day teacher just pulled them out of the oven and that was his snack for the day.  Part of me was like "WTF, a brownie?  What happened to apples?"  and the other part of me was like "OMG, a brownie!!  Why doesn't someone make me warm brownies for my afternoon snack?!?"  LOL, I was so pumped when he only wanted a small bite and gave me the rest.