Anyone watch McLibel?

[ina]

I can see you enjoyed that... rant I mean, not the food! I feel the same about McD. I must admit, the last time I went in there was after a longish night in the pub, with a stomach that was full of liquid and desperately needing solids - and no other place open. I think I had a beanburger or something like that, but even in my drunken state I noticed that it was awful...

Never again! Take a sandwich if I want to go on the booze next time! (Can't see that happen in the near future, anyway... )

Ina

[Guest]

I hate, hate, hate McD's, but can understand why they are a success with kids. My own beg me to take them, and I give in about once every 6 months, then give them a lecture on how awful the food is and how the quantity of packaging is damaging the environment (not to mention the beef herds and the rainforests). I make them take the recyclable packaging home. So I figure I am making them think I am not such a miserable mother by letting them go, whilst using it as a useful educational opportunity!

Three minutes later they are hungry again, too!

[Chickenlady]

That was me! Damn computer keeps logging me out!!

[Chickpea]

I found that McDs were one of the very few places I could take the kids to eat that didn't treat us like dirt, and as a consequence we ended up eating there fairly often (I say fairly often - we don't eat out at all often, but when we did it was usually at McDs). Also Starbucks and Pizza Hut. The food is mank, and the corporate ethics are nonexistent, but that's no different from any other large corporation. So if anyone is thinking of starting up a business but can't think of what to do, try a cafe where you have plenty of high chairs, things to keep the kids occupied whilst the food arrives very quickly, food that kids actually like, staff that don't mind if the kids chuck the food all over the floor, and prices low enough that the mum doesn't mind too much when the kids chuck the food on the floor, then you'll be doing at least as well as McDs. And if you can add in food that is at least moderately healthy, food that the mum will like to eat (a decent cup of tea would be a good start), and en ethical corporate policy then I will come and eat there once a week.

[Shirley]

blimey Mrs Pea... you dug deep to find this one :D

I am not a McD fan it has to be said... cotton wool buns and cardboard tasteless beef with processed cheese slices - the only good bit was the gherkin on the bun that most folk chuck on the ground outside!!!! The beanburgers are marginally better - and if I do end up with McD's as the ONLY choice on a drunken night out (highly unlikely as I dont' even get as far as a sober night out these days) I'd choose a beanburger as the 'safest' choice.

Oh wouldn't it be bliss if there were child friendly cafes selling healthy food that kids would eat... not stuff that sends them bouncing off the walls... and where you don't have to worry so much about little people throwing tantrums.. (and food) - oh... and where you can feed your baby in the way that nature intended without fear of discrimination. Yes... a decent cup of tea would be essential too.

[The Chili Monster]

Chickpea wrote:

So if anyone is thinking of starting up a business but can't think of what to do, try a cafe where you have plenty of high chairs, things to keep the kids occupied whilst the food arrives very quickly, food that kids actually like, staff that don't mind if the kids chuck the food all over the floor, and prices low enough that the mum doesn't mind too much when the kids chuck the food on the floor, then you'll be doing at least as well as McDs.

My boss has a client that runs an organic burger joint, high chairs galore and toys for the little 'uns, but he's going bust ... he can't compete with McD's for prices, advertising and location.

[Chickpea]

That's a real shame. I would go out of my way to patronise somewhere like that, if there was anywhere around here.

[ina]

If you get a chance, read "Bad Food Britain" (Joanna BLythman) on that subject. Britain seems to be the only country (apart from the USA) where they offer "special" menu choices for kids, and especially bad ones at that. Other countries may have the high chairs etc, but the only difference in kids' food is the size of the portion. And she quotes one woman who lives abroad as saying that she's ashamed of her nationality when she sees British tourists in a restaurant she likes to frequent - British kids are so used to getting something special, to get it NOW, and to be allowed not to eat "properly"... What went wrong, and where?

Actually, that book makes a pretty good attempt at answering that question. Highly recommendable. Mmh, I think I should have put that in the book section...