How funny. Growing up, our limit for TV was 2 hours a day until we went to college. I'm not TV obsessed and we weren't couch potatoes. If I'm home alone I usually don't turn the TV on. Maybe for background noise? Though for summer vacation, the TV did a lot of babysitting...we lived in a place where it was actually too hot to be outside for long periods of time so we stayed indoors from, say, 10-4. As for McDonald's, we didn't go often as a child (maybe every few months) because we couldn't afford to eat out often. Yes, for us, McDonald's was "going out to eat."

I love to cook now, and don't really like McDonald's. But if my kids do, and we go once or twice a month, I won't kill myself over it. Isn't the whole point of eating healthy, homemade food nearly all the time being able to indulge and enjoy some crap every now and then?

Anonymous wrote:Look people, it's possible for a child to grow up without fast food and be normal. I promise. I'm the one who said I'm against McDonald's as a corporation and I love how people are telling me Starbucks and Chipotle are no worse. First of all, I've never eaten at Chipotle, and second, having a chai latte or a cup of coffee from Starbucks is not the same as eating a hamburger from McDonald's.

I am against McDonald's because of how they have changed farming practices in this country. As the largest purchaser of meat, they really created industrial farming or at least greatly contributed to it. All of our meat comes from four main factories, and if you think the steak you order at a nice restaurant is any different from the quality of meat at McDonald's you are fooling yourself. Not to mention, it is full of crap and sodium, and it is so processed it does decompose. YUM.

I'm a food snob, and we don't eat very much meat, and the meat we do eat is from a few particular sources. I never at McDonald's as a kid so why would I start when I have kids? My kids eat junk food. We eat cake, ice cream, cookies, in moderation etc. but that to me is very different than eating a fast food meal. This is how I grew up and my husband too - it wasn't weird, we just didn't go to McDonald's as a family very often.

It's sad that eating dinner at home is considered weird or abnormal.

This is us, exactly.

6 yo
no mcdonalds
TV sometimes...no strict rules, many days/weeks none at all, some days 1 hour (if he's sick, it's pouring out).

Anonymous wrote:I just posted the above link about fast food and didn't even realize Chipotle was on that list, too... towards the bottom. Oops. Those of you arguing over your Chipotle should check it out.

Did you actually read what the author said about Chipotle, though? It's the portion size and the fact that it doesn't (didn't) have a kid's meal option. Nothing about food being processed, hormone-free, etc., etc. Pretty unsophisticated methodology if you ask me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the "no Mcdonalds but chik-fil-a every week" folks. It's still fast food! Wendy's might be "tastier" than McDonalds, but also, fast food. McDonalds may be the big bad, but it's far from the only bad.

True, but the chicken nuggets (or whatever they call them at Chik-Fil-A) are actual pieces of chicken, unlike McDonald's processed nuggets. Not saying that the breading/frying is healthy, but I'd rather eat a real piece of meat than something that is processed and formed.

Eh, I beg to differ on that one. Yes, it's fast food and the choices you make determine how healthy your meal is, but McDonald's doesn't even offer half the options that somewhere like Chick-fil-A does: sunflower multigrain bagels, grilled chicken wraps, fresh fruit cups or carrot salads to substitute for fries... I believe they hand-bread their chicken and chop the cabbage and carrots for their salads, too. (DH's younger brother worked at one in high school so I've learned a little, but I won't lie - I eat there on occasion and it's pretty good).

Found this online: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/americas-best-and-worst-restaurants

Chik-Fil-a might offer healthy options, but it is still fast food. My mom, who has been on WW for years and very successful with it always choose McD's when on the road, because with their salads, she knows exactly what she's getting, how many points, etc, and that she can make it work for her. Sure, compare a large Big Mac meal to a chik-fil-a salad and chik-fil-a comes out ahead, but there are healthy options at most fast food places now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are out of touch, but in a bad way. not having a television in the house?

I have a TV in the house. Two, in fact. I don't turn it on. My other family members love it. I am out of touch with reality TV and all the crap that passes for popular culture. I was always 'out of touch' even as a teen. It's done me nothing but good.

you seem out-of-touch weird to me. no offense. what do you talk about at the water cooler at work? how do you do small-talk? i.e, being completely ignorant with respect to pop-culture is indicative that you may just be a social oddball, and in most walks of life that is not going to be a good thing. depends on your profession I suppose.

My small talk consists of talking to people about their kids and their hobbies, and current events and the weather. I can talk football and college basketball. There are some people who talk about Glee and Dancing with the Stars and The Situation, but not me.

Do you talk about nothing but TV at the water cooler?

how do you watch college sports if there is no tv in your house?

I never said I watch college sports. But I do, and I know this will truly shock you, I actually attend the games! Live and in person! I do read the sports page of the paper and sometimes check out online sources. And I do watch things like the State of the Union address, the weather forecast and sometimes the local news on TV. I find sitcoms and reality TV a total waste of time. I prefer to read, exercise, listen to music. I also spend time physically being with my friends - maybe that does make me a "social oddball," since I'd rather see my friends than communicate with them electronically.

TV -- never for now, but DD is only 16 mos and in daycare during the week. We have a couple of DVD's for her, but she isn't interested in watching for more than 5 mins. I'm sure that'll change at some point, and I'd like to try to limit her and help her make smart choices when she's older. I grew up watching hours of TV every day after school, and I do see the value in catching popular cultural references, but we'll have to see what effect it has on her and whether it takes her away from better uses of her time.

McD's -- absolutely never... we're kosher!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the "no Mcdonalds but chik-fil-a every week" folks. It's still fast food! Wendy's might be "tastier" than McDonalds, but also, fast food. McDonalds may be the big bad, but it's far from the only bad.

True, but the chicken nuggets (or whatever they call them at Chik-Fil-A) are actual pieces of chicken, unlike McDonald's processed nuggets. Not saying that the breading/frying is healthy, but I'd rather eat a real piece of meat than something that is processed and formed.

Eh, I beg to differ on that one. Yes, it's fast food and the choices you make determine how healthy your meal is, but McDonald's doesn't even offer half the options that somewhere like Chick-fil-A does: sunflower multigrain bagels, grilled chicken wraps, fresh fruit cups or carrot salads to substitute for fries... I believe they hand-bread their chicken and chop the cabbage and carrots for their salads, too. (DH's younger brother worked at one in high school so I've learned a little, but I won't lie - I eat there on occasion and it's pretty good).

Found this online: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/americas-best-and-worst-restaurants

The problem with this is that how this author ranks "healthy" is not terribly enlightened. Low calorie, processed food that children will want to eat will rank more highly than high-calorie "real" food. A salad with nuts and avocado slices drizzled with olive oil is going to have more calories than a small McD's hamburger--but I am doubtful that the hamburger is going to be more healthful than the salad. My kid would rather eat the avocado slices and nuts than a hamburger--and I think that it's because we have trained his palate to appreciate good food. Sure, we allow him to have "junk food" every once in a while, but we are setting the foundations at home for healthy eating.

Live and let live people. I don't care what other people do, just don't be self-righteous about it and judge my choices.

I think the world (or at least DC) would be a much happier place if people judged less and stopped feeling guilty about everything.

I grew up eating fast food occasionally and watching TV a good deal (youngest of 5, latch-key kid). I also read a ton of books, played sports, got straight As, and got an advanced degree. My parents had some rules (no sugar cereals, nu bubble gum) but in general were pretty laid back. And I have lots of nice memories of watching TV together over the years (baseball with my Dad, Masterpiece Theater Sherlock Holmes with my Mom). I also loved "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island." (yes, I'm old)

I am pretty laid back as well. My kid doesn't watch much TV during the week because she is at day care, but on the weekend she watches cartoons in the morning and sports (with us) during the day. I don't have a time limit on it, its just whatever seems reasonable based on that day, the weather, our schedule, etc.

We go out to eat pretty regularly and sometimes its fast food. I know its not the healthiest thing in the world, but 80% of time we are eating well at home.

Bottom line... I like fast food and TV, and I don't feel an ounce of guilt for either. I set reasonable limits with my kid, but I grew up with the stuff and turned out fine. I won't judge you if you stop implying that my kid will be fat and stupid because of my choices.

I just posted the above link about fast food and didn't even realize Chipotle was on that list, too... towards the bottom. Oops. Those of you arguing over your Chipotle should check it out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are out of touch, but in a bad way. not having a television in the house?

I have a TV in the house. Two, in fact. I don't turn it on. My other family members love it. I am out of touch with reality TV and all the crap that passes for popular culture. I was always 'out of touch' even as a teen. It's done me nothing but good.

you seem out-of-touch weird to me. no offense. what do you talk about at the water cooler at work? how do you do small-talk? i.e, being completely ignorant with respect to pop-culture is indicative that you may just be a social oddball, and in most walks of life that is not going to be a good thing. depends on your profession I suppose.

My small talk consists of talking to people about their kids and their hobbies, and current events and the weather. I can talk football and college basketball. There are some people who talk about Glee and Dancing with the Stars and The Situation, but not me.

Do you talk about nothing but TV at the water cooler?

how do you watch college sports if there is no tv in your house?

As you can see if you read the quote above carefully, I state," I have a TV in the house. Two, in fact."

yes, and you also say you do not turn it on. So I'm guessing you do not turn it on because it is in fact already on all day, set on ESPN? thanks.

Not the poster you're quoting, but have you ever heard or the sports page in the newspaper? How about SI.com or ESPN.com? You really seem hung up on "catching" the previous poster with the TV on, but that's pretty secondary to the fact that you can't imagine making water cooler conversation about anything other than television.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the "no Mcdonalds but chik-fil-a every week" folks. It's still fast food! Wendy's might be "tastier" than McDonalds, but also, fast food. McDonalds may be the big bad, but it's far from the only bad.

True, but the chicken nuggets (or whatever they call them at Chik-Fil-A) are actual pieces of chicken, unlike McDonald's processed nuggets. Not saying that the breading/frying is healthy, but I'd rather eat a real piece of meat than something that is processed and formed.

Eh, I beg to differ on that one. Yes, it's fast food and the choices you make determine how healthy your meal is, but McDonald's doesn't even offer half the options that somewhere like Chick-fil-A does: sunflower multigrain bagels, grilled chicken wraps, fresh fruit cups or carrot salads to substitute for fries... I believe they hand-bread their chicken and chop the cabbage and carrots for their salads, too. (DH's younger brother worked at one in high school so I've learned a little, but I won't lie - I eat there on occasion and it's pretty good).

Found this online: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/americas-best-and-worst-restaurants

Anonymous wrote:I love the "no Mcdonalds but chik-fil-a every week" folks. It's still fast food! Wendy's might be "tastier" than McDonalds, but also, fast food. McDonalds may be the big bad, but it's far from the only bad.

I'm one of the no McDs but Chick Fil A people. My issue with McDs isn't that it's fast food. It's because I think the taste sucks. Chick Fil A on the other hand, I lurve. I'll take a waffle fry any day over a McDs fry! And don't get me started on the chargrilled chicken fruit salad. It's divine!

Nope.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are out of touch, but in a bad way. not having a television in the house?

I have a TV in the house. Two, in fact. I don't turn it on. My other family members love it. I am out of touch with reality TV and all the crap that passes for popular culture. I was always 'out of touch' even as a teen. It's done me nothing but good.

you seem out-of-touch weird to me. no offense. what do you talk about at the water cooler at work? how do you do small-talk? i.e, being completely ignorant with respect to pop-culture is indicative that you may just be a social oddball, and in most walks of life that is not going to be a good thing. depends on your profession I suppose.

My small talk consists of talking to people about their kids and their hobbies, and current events and the weather. I can talk football and college basketball. There are some people who talk about Glee and Dancing with the Stars and The Situation, but not me.

Do you talk about nothing but TV at the water cooler?

how do you watch college sports if there is no tv in your house?

As you can see if you read the quote above carefully, I state," I have a TV in the house. Two, in fact."

yes, and you also say you do not turn it on. So I'm guessing you do not turn it on because it is in fact already on all day, set on ESPN? thanks.