Why My Children Have Sworn Off McDonald's

My children have sworn off McDonald’s. For good.

In some ways, I’m glad about this. And I couldn’t agree more with their reasons. My son has been conflicted about McDonald’s for quite some time.

Every time we pass the golden arches, he’ll make some remark about McDonald’s being the most unhealthy of all fast food restaurants. Yet, he’d eat there willingly. And when I’d offer him apples instead of fries, he’d still opt for fries.

But my daughter made the final declaration, holding her hand up, asking me to “promise, we won’t ever eat McDonald’s again.”

Her reasons are just as valid. The Happy Meal menu board outside clearly indicated that the toys being offered were mini Only Hearts Pets (for girls like her who adore cute little animal toys) and Bakugan (for boys except my son who would prefer to get the Only Hearts Pet to give to his sister). Those toys, I’ll note, are still being promoted on the McDonald’s Happy Meal site.

Yet instead, we were given a Halloween Penguins of Madagascar toy and an old Shrek toy. I should add that my children purposefully avoid going to McDonald’s during Shrek promotions because they dislike those toys so much.

When I called to ask about the random, old promotion toys we got, I was told they were clearing out their bin because the promotion had ended. Um, not according to the McDonald’s Happy Meal homepage or the menu board.

I opted to end the conversation and move on. So did my children.

The healthy food reasons, and bad toy experience on top of a mediocre cheeseburger that may daughter couldn’t stomach turned out to be the final straw. They both agreed that we should wash our hands of McDonald’s for good.

And I couldn’t agree more…

Except maybe for those moments of deep craving for fries and a BigMac. Oh, and the eggnog shake during the holidays.

But, it looks like I’ll have to satisfy those cravings when I’m on my own, or during the workday.

Just don’t tell my kids.