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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS favorite place to eat is McD, which we only go to on road trips. He would LOVE to have a birthday party there, but his friend's parents are so sanctimonious and judgmental about food ("is that organic? We only eat local or at least organic") that we could never have one there.

Life would be much easier if we lived somewhere between the two coasts!

So true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there an activity or just playing in the play area?

Honestly? I would think it's a little low-rent but my kid would probably love it.

Low-rent?

"low-rent" means "for the poors"

McDonalds is not cheap... its not low rent anymore. Overpriced crappy food.

This! The only thing I will eat are their salads which have actually stepped up a bit in recent years. Who remembers the shaker salad they had years ago? So good! Oh and the pies and ice cream sundaes are still winners.

How funny! I was just talking about the salad shakers at McDonalds to someone the other day. I looooooved those things! I definitely still have a soft spot for a Mickey D's ice cream cone. Their lattes are pretty good, too.

[Anonymous]

To contribute, we were poors when I was a kid, so I definitely had a McDonald's birthday once and went to them and always enjoyed them very much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are vegetarians and there's not much except fries and shakes for my kids to eat at most fast food restaurants (except Taco Bell). So probably not, but I guess it would depend on the situation.

You wouldn't let your kids go b/c there wouldn't be anything for them to eat. I find that a bit strange. 90% of the parties we go to have pizza for lunch. DS doesn't eat pizza but it doesn't mean we skip the party.
I feed him first or if it is a family that knows he doesn't eat pizza there will be some nuggets there are well.

DS wanted to have a birthday party in NYC a few years ago. We used to live there and he still has some friends there. It was last minute so we just did it at the local McDonald's.
It was crazy and chaotic and cheap. Our party in Va last year was not a McDonalds and it was crazy and chaotic and expensive.

I don't think we would ever do one here at a fast food place but that is more about social norms than there being anything wrong with occasional fast food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS favorite place to eat is McD, which we only go to on road trips. He would LOVE to have a birthday party there, but his friend's parents are so sanctimonious and judgmental about food ("is that organic? We only eat local or at least organic") that we could never have one there.

Life would be much easier if we lived somewhere between the two coasts!

So true.

While they are sucking on a starbucks...

[Anonymous]

This is how I feel and yes, I know, everyone parents differently.

DH and I have a fairly structured parenting style and we limit sugar and screen time, eat pretty healthy etc. However we feel children should experience all of life and learn there is a lot more outside of their little home bubble. Grandparents want to give them candy and no bed time - no problem - we feel grandparents should be able to enjoy their grandchildren. Party at McDonalds? Sure! Its not about the food its about celebrating their friends birthday. Sleepover where the parent doesn't shop exclusively at farmers markets and whole foods? Whats the big deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is how I feel and yes, I know, everyone parents differently.

DH and I have a fairly structured parenting style and we limit sugar and screen time, eat pretty healthy etc. However we feel children should experience all of life and learn there is a lot more outside of their little home bubble. Grandparents want to give them candy and no bed time - no problem - we feel grandparents should be able to enjoy their grandchildren. Party at McDonalds? Sure! Its not about the food its about celebrating their friends birthday. Sleepover where the parent doesn't shop exclusively at farmers markets and whole foods? Whats the big deal?

I like your outlook and i totally agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vegetarian PP here. I did not know about Roy Rogers and the mac and cheese - filing that away. Sometimes we get side orders at KFC if we're desperate. We have done the cheese sandwich thing at every fast food place. They always look at us like we're nuts. Oh well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are vegetarians and there's not much except fries and shakes for my kids to eat at most fast food restaurants (except Taco Bell). So probably not, but I guess it would depend on the situation.

We are veggie too - taco bell, subway, roy rogers (they have mac and cheese), and a few others are fine. My kid if desperate will get a cheese sandwich.

Roy Rogers does but the small is really small so you may need two or a large (no kids meal). Noodles and Co is very veggie friendly and their mac and cheese is one of the better ones. Panera has good mac and cheese too.

Fellow vegetarian here - FYI, McDs fries are not vegetarian friendly - they have beef bouillon on them. Watch out for Taco Bell hidden stuff too - it's been decades since I ate there but I remember there being shellfish broth in something that you wouldn't expect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vegetarian PP here. I did not know about Roy Rogers and the mac and cheese - filing that away. Sometimes we get side orders at KFC if we're desperate. We have done the cheese sandwich thing at every fast food place. They always look at us like we're nuts. Oh well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are vegetarians and there's not much except fries and shakes for my kids to eat at most fast food restaurants (except Taco Bell). So probably not, but I guess it would depend on the situation.

We are veggie too - taco bell, subway, roy rogers (they have mac and cheese), and a few others are fine. My kid if desperate will get a cheese sandwich.

Roy Rogers does but the small is really small so you may need two or a large (no kids meal). Noodles and Co is very veggie friendly and their mac and cheese is one of the better ones. Panera has good mac and cheese too.

Fellow vegetarian here - FYI, McDs fries are not vegetarian friendly - they have beef bouillon on them. Watch out for Taco Bell hidden stuff too - it's been decades since I ate there but I remember there being shellfish broth in something that you wouldn't expect.

PP here - just checked Taco Bell out of curiosity and it turns out they've changed and actually do offer vegetarian items now & are free of some of the biggies for allergens including peanuts & shellfish too!

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of things that kids do/eat/drink at parties that they KNOW they won't get at home. I don't see why having McDs or Chick Fil A is any different (unless you are vegan/vegetarian). But most places have salads/fruit/yogurt...

For the first few years of my kids lives, they only got cake and juice at parties. When they asked for it at home, I just said we didn't have any. They still think cake is just for celebrating, and they are 4 and 5.

We went to a party at CFA a few years ago. It was cramped, but fine. The kids had fun. We eat McDs and CFA occasionally, so it isn't a novelty for them.

[Anonymous]

I went to one in Kindergarten, and I still remember how exciting it was. My parents wouldn't take us to McDonalds, so I was thrilled just to be there, and we were taken on a tour of the kitchen to see how the food was prepared. Then we got Happy Meals and ice cream cones. It wasn't just showing up and eating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vegetarian PP here. I did not know about Roy Rogers and the mac and cheese - filing that away. Sometimes we get side orders at KFC if we're desperate. We have done the cheese sandwich thing at every fast food place. They always look at us like we're nuts. Oh well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are vegetarians and there's not much except fries and shakes for my kids to eat at most fast food restaurants (except Taco Bell). So probably not, but I guess it would depend on the situation.

We are veggie too - taco bell, subway, roy rogers (they have mac and cheese), and a few others are fine. My kid if desperate will get a cheese sandwich.

Roy Rogers does but the small is really small so you may need two or a large (no kids meal). Noodles and Co is very veggie friendly and their mac and cheese is one of the better ones. Panera has good mac and cheese too.

Fellow vegetarian here - FYI, McDs fries are not vegetarian friendly - they have beef bouillon on them. Watch out for Taco Bell hidden stuff too - it's been decades since I ate there but I remember there being shellfish broth in something that you wouldn't expect.

Panera also has meat in their 'vegetarian' items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I wouldn't let my kids go to any party held at a fast food restaurant. Right now they don't know that fast food exists and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible.

Yes. Be bitchy to people who can't afford to to throw a party with all organic products and teacher your children how to be rude just like you!

[Anonymous]

Do they even offer birthday parties at these places anymore?

[Anonymous]

We'd go, but I'd be cursing the parents the whole time for choosing such an unhealthy venue.