PollyA, well said. If I could give rep points from my iPhone, I would.

I was exactly the same with my two. DD didn't have Maccas until ooo I don't know, after 12mths I think. I'd take a bread roll if we went to a shopping centre round lunch time, make sure we ate before going anywhere and avoid being on the road at dinner time.

Then we started going down to the beach house, leaving home at bedtime, she'd sleep. We'd stop at Maccas and grab a bite while she slept. Then she got older and when we drove through she'd wake up and cry. Then we had DS and her crying would wake him up. So now we leave when it's near sleep time, drive until they are both cracking it ( ) and stop at Maccas. Same reasons as above - clean, baby change, secure playground. I can get water for the kids but yes they do have chips.

And yes I said they - last night I gave my 7.5mth old Maccas chips. Seemed fair - everyone else was having chips, he kept crawling over to DD and grabbing at her chips so I slurped all the salt off a nice soft one and gave it to him. He loved it. Please don't call child protection on me

Having said all that, I am incredibly strict with DD's normal, everyday diet. We don't give her processed snacks, she only eats fruit, crackers, cheese or veggies as snacks. So I figure every now and then, Maccas is ok.