What do you think about birthday parties at fast food restaurants? (McDonalds, Chick Fil A, etc...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If your child has a special diet then you bring something your child can eat. You don't expect your hosts to plan an entire birthday party for 20+ kids around your kids diet. Allergy/religious concerns maybe special accommodations but even then it is your responsibility as a parent to make sure your child has something to eat. Or here is a novel idea, have your child eat before or after and just go to enjoy the party.

Aside from the food, what does a party at a fast food restaurant consist of? I am asking sincerely. I mean, if it were a birthday party at Hershey Park, and your child got motion-sick on all of the rides, would you tell your child to stay off the rides and just go to enjoy the party?

No. I'd give him some dramamine and tell him to have fun.

Fun and dramamine don't go together.

This is apples and oranges. You can feed your kid before the party. Food is part of the party. However if the activity is something your child physically can't do then that is different. I would politely decline a party at an amusement park if my child had motion sickness or just didn't like rides. The rides are are core part of the party whereas food is just peripheral.

[Anonymous]

There may have been a distant ancestor that once consumed a primarily plant matter; for example a number of primates with whom we share a common ancestor consume plant based diets (as mentioned, gorillas). However modern day homo sapiens most certainly evolved to be omnivorous.

For starters, homo sapiens are incapable of producing B12 which, amongst others things, is integral for cognitive function, and in nature can only be sourced from animals (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110926165852.htm). Further, increased consumption of chains of long fatty acids which are found in meat are largely believed to be responsible for the relatively fast development of the homo sapien brain (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02/nsae-tsf021706.php).

And let?s not get started on the human palate, other trace minerals such as iodine, etc.

Bottom line is that there may be ancestors to homo sapiens that consumed primarily vegetable based diets, however homo sapiens are drastically different, particularly neurologically, and to suggest that humans are physiologically meant to be vegan or vegetarian is ludicrous.

[Anonymous]

We've been to a couple of parties at McDonald's. Not my first choice and I wouldn't have one there myself, but the kids had fun and occasional McD's won't hurt anyone. (I admit that I got a happy meal for myself when the Minions came out, so I have no room to criticize fast food, lol.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There may have been a distant ancestor that once consumed a primarily plant matter; for example a number of primates with whom we share a common ancestor consume plant based diets (as mentioned, gorillas). However modern day homo sapiens most certainly evolved to be omnivorous.

For starters, homo sapiens are incapable of producing B12 which, amongst others things, is integral for cognitive function, and in nature can only be sourced from animals (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110926165852.htm). Further, increased consumption of chains of long fatty acids which are found in meat are largely believed to be responsible for the relatively fast development of the homo sapien brain (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02/nsae-tsf021706.php).

And let?s not get started on the human palate, other trace minerals such as iodine, etc.

Bottom line is that there may be ancestors to homo sapiens that consumed primarily vegetable based diets, however homo sapiens are drastically different, particularly neurologically, and to suggest that humans are physiologically meant to be vegan or vegetarian is ludicrous.

Fortunately nobody has said that here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is apples and oranges. You can feed your kid before the party. Food is part of the party. However if the activity is something your child physically can't do then that is different. I would politely decline a party at an amusement park if my child had motion sickness or just didn't like rides. The rides are are core part of the party whereas food is just peripheral.

The rides at an amusement park party are a core part of the party, but the food at a restaurant party is a peripheral part of the party? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is apples and oranges. You can feed your kid before the party. Food is part of the party. However if the activity is something your child physically can't do then that is different. I would politely decline a party at an amusement park if my child had motion sickness or just didn't like rides. The rides are are core part of the party whereas food is just peripheral.

The rides at an amusement park party are a core part of the party, but the food at a restaurant party is a peripheral part of the party? Why?

Probably because it's a birthday party -- not a baby shower where the kids will be seated at the tables the entire party sipping tea and eating petit fours.

[Anonymous]

It's a one time thing. Its certainly not going to kill my kid or even harm him. Fun for DS, fun for me to see some of the other moms. Seriously, some of you need to let go a little.

[Anonymous]

My 3 year old guy is crazy about Chick Fila, and it's a rare treat for him. He'd think he'd died and gone to heaven if we had his bday party there. I have no idea why those small indoor playgrounds are soo exciting, but between the applesauce, little books that come with his meal, and playground, it's his favorite thing ever.

And I frankly don't feel so terrible about the food. We do the grilled chicken + applesauce and water for him, which is not the healthiest but relatively benign as far as fast food goes.

I would have never considered a birthday party there! Thanks for the idea, this low-rent lady is going to run with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is apples and oranges. You can feed your kid before the party. Food is part of the party. However if the activity is something your child physically can't do then that is different. I would politely decline a party at an amusement park if my child had motion sickness or just didn't like rides. The rides are are core part of the party whereas food is just peripheral.

The rides at an amusement park party are a core part of the party, but the food at a restaurant party is a peripheral part of the party? Why?

Probably because it's a birthday party -- not a baby shower where the kids will be seated at the tables the entire party sipping tea and eating petit fours.

Thank you. I think people here are purposely being obtuse. Have these people been to a kid's party? Typically it is 60 min (sometimes 90 min) of activity followed by 20-30 min of food before your slot at the venue is over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is apples and oranges. You can feed your kid before the party. Food is part of the party. However if the activity is something your child physically can't do then that is different. I would politely decline a party at an amusement park if my child had motion sickness or just didn't like rides. The rides are are core part of the party whereas food is just peripheral.

The rides at an amusement park party are a core part of the party, but the food at a restaurant party is a peripheral part of the party? Why?

Probably because it's a birthday party -- not a baby shower where the kids will be seated at the tables the entire party sipping tea and eating petit fours.

Thank you. I think people here are purposely being obtuse. Have these people been to a kid's party? Typically it is 60 min (sometimes 90 min) of activity followed by 20-30 min of food before your slot at the venue is over.

I have been to a kid's party, but not to a kid's party at McDonald's/Chik-Fil-A/whatever. What do the 60-90 minutes of activity consist of?

[Anonymous]

The party consists of kids playing with each other in the climbing structure. It's not rocket science people. These are kids. Let them run around, feed them, open gifts and go home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The party consists of kids playing with each other in the climbing structure. It's not rocket science people. These are kids. Let them run around, feed them, open gifts and go home.

Well now you have opened up the whole open gifts at the party vs open at home debate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is apples and oranges. You can feed your kid before the party. Food is part of the party. However if the activity is something your child physically can't do then that is different. I would politely decline a party at an amusement park if my child had motion sickness or just didn't like rides. The rides are are core part of the party whereas food is just peripheral.

The rides at an amusement park party are a core part of the party, but the food at a restaurant party is a peripheral part of the party? Why?

Probably because it's a birthday party -- not a baby shower where the kids will be seated at the tables the entire party sipping tea and eating petit fours.

Thank you. I think people here are purposely being obtuse. Have these people been to a kid's party? Typically it is 60 min (sometimes 90 min) of activity followed by 20-30 min of food before your slot at the venue is over.

I have been to a kid's party, but not to a kid's party at McDonald's/Chik-Fil-A/whatever. What do the 60-90 minutes of activity consist of?

Why are you set on the location? That is the format of all out of home kids parties. Gym parties, craft, parties, heck even at a park party there is time for activities and then time to eat. The eating time is always a smaller component than the playing part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The party consists of kids playing with each other in the climbing structure. It's not rocket science people. These are kids. Let them run around, feed them, open gifts and go home.

Well now you have opened up the whole open gifts at the party vs open at home debate

And my opinion is that if the birthday child wants to open gifts, so be it. It is his/her birthday party. I think it is incredibly rude not to open a gift when someone gives you one. It is flat out rude to pile them on a table or put them in a bag and not open them. Parents say how boring it is to watch people open gifts at a party but the party isn't about them.

[Anonymous]

Do I have to bring organic free range gifts to offset the fast food party?