I went to MacDonalds today. . .and was so happy!

[eachpeachpearplum]

We have one of those MacDonalds with the Play Land attached. I had been steering away since I went 100% as the french fry smell. . . .well you know, I think that smell alone is a mind altering drug -Lol!

So, I decided to bite the bullet as I needed somewhere to hide during this heat wave and grabed the two wee ones. . . along with my insulated picnic bag - FULL OF RAW FOODS!

We arrived and set out our picnic. No reaction at first from other parents but then we started getting stared at. I thought I would get complementary comments or smiles.

No I did not.

I got daggers shooting at me! I was feeling so good about myself - you know that happy feeling you get with raw - that it did not bother me in the least. I DID make a purchase too btw.

But what I did also felt was this HUGH sense of sadness for everyone there; I so wanted to share the raw food message like some sort of crazed evangelical minister from the movies! I felt like we had this light around us - it was very wierd! I could feel the unhappiness of everyone around me.

What you might find interesting too is that with high raw That Smell I mentioned earlier would have devistated me but today. . . nothing, nope, nadda twinkling of desire!

My kids never once asked for them too!

[PATH301]

WoW having your kids not ask is a huge statement by itself!!!!!!!!!!!

[misslinda]

good for you !!!!!!!!!!! " you deserve a break today at........... :) "


cheezers!

[Graciebeliever]

Original message by Eachpeachpearplum
"But what I did also felt was this HUGH sense of sadness for everyone there; I so wanted to share the raw food message like some sort of crazed evangelical minister from the movies! I felt like we had this light around us - it was very wierd! I could feel the unhappiness of everyone around me"

Wow is this the total truth!

I find myself almost weeping at the sadness and lostness I sense around most people. Grocery stores kill me for this and I too feel like there is a light around me as I walk around all that delightful produce.

On the contrary, when someone is vital and glowing you have to believe that they eat at least enough raw to give them that precious aura. Maybe this is just me but I have noticed that people either really gravitate to me or they really put their head down and ignore me.

Like for instance, yesterday when I went shopping I loaded up on all my fruit and veggie staples and the guy checking me out said "Wow, you must have a lot of cooking to do" and I said no actually I don't cook anymore I eat everything raw and he literally stopped what he was doing and he looked at me dead in the eyes and didn't say anything, it was almost like he wanted to see inside me and know what my thoughts or motivations were.

The YOUNG bagger behind him piped up and said "yeah man I'm eating lots of stuff raw now too, it is awesome" and the spell was broken and the checker seemed to want to ask me 1000 questions but he just looked down and rang me out. I thought at first he would ask me why but something inside must have stopped him. I felt very sad

[chilove]

Wow! Good for you! Very cool!

I know what you mean about the sadness. So many times I get depressed when I think about how much people are suffering and how needless it is. But that is why I'm determined to dedicate my life to letting people know about the wonders of raw. :-)

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Biff]

I usually make it a habit to buy something at any business that I go to and use their facilities. If I go and meet friends at a sports bar to watch a game, I will at the very least, order a few bottled waters if they do not have anything else on the menu that I am willing to eat.

If I go to a fast food place to let my daughter play there, I will buy a chicken sandwich, and an order of fries, and get it in a "to go" bag. (I do not eat anything in it, nor does my daughter.) I then feel free to sit there with the bag on the table and let my little one play. My daughter plays in the playland, snacks on the healthy food the I brought separately -- and the restaurant makes their money off of me.

Then, on my way home from the fast food joint, I give the bag of food to a homeless person on the side of the street that is holding a sign up wanting a handout. I feel that this arrangement, everybody gets something that they want.

This might help with the "stares" that you get from other parents, as it might be possible that they were upset that you were using the playland for "free" and too cheap to buy anything. (not knowing that you know the facts of how bad fast food is for your child!)

[Sharon in Colorado]

Biff that is an excellent idea, thanks for bringing that up - I was actually thinking the same thing!

I don't normally take my kids to a private establishment just to play unless I'm going to support them. However, I was never one to take my kids to fast food playlands, but if I did, I'd either buy a bottle of water or a salad, or even a meal of some sort and drop it off with a homeless person.

The daggers of looks were probably that you were using their facilities for free, and not supporting their business. The facilities are actually put there for paying customers, so the children have something to do while the parents are eating. Funny thing, it's usually for parents who can't control their children, LOL.

Not that I've had to run into a fast food restroom off the road when travelling - ha. Sometimes though I'll try to buy something if I have a buck in my pocket, like a bottle of water.

Sometimes when we have an occassional meeting at Whole Foods or Wild Oats, even if I'm not hungry, I'll just get a bottle of water.

EPPP I think it is great though to be in an establishment like that and resist the temptation, you did well. It takes a lot of practice for sure. Now I just don't dig fast food smells, the smells don't agree with me.

[Conscious Midwife]

I usually make it a habit to buy something at any business that I go to and use their facilities. If I go and meet friends at a sports bar to watch a game, I will at the very least, order a few bottled waters if they do not have anything else on the menu that I am willing to eat.

If I go to a fast food place to let my daughter play there, I will buy a chicken sandwich, and an order of fries, and get it in a "to go" bag. (I do not eat anything in it, nor does my daughter.) I then feel free to sit there with the bag on the table and let my little one play. My daughter plays in the playland, snacks on the healthy food the I brought separately -- and the restaurant makes their money off of me.

Then, on my way home from the fast food joint, I give the bag of food to a homeless person on the side of the street that is holding a sign up wanting a handout. I feel that this arrangement, everybody gets something that they want.

I also find those fast food play areas not so sanitary, especially the indoor ones.

This might help with the "stares" that you get from other parents, as it might be possible that they were upset that you were using the playland for "free" and too cheap to buy anything. (not knowing that you know the facts of how bad fast food is for your child!)

DITTO

My guess was that the stares were out of shock that you brought your own food to a commercial establishments play area, not really th content of your picnic lunch. 'Cause I never get stares at a public park when I have kiddos and food in tow.

[eachpeachpearplum]

I usually make it a habit to buy something at any business that I go to and use their facilities. If I go and meet friends at a sports bar to watch a game, I will at the very least, order a few bottled waters if they do not have anything else on the menu that I am willing to eat.

If I go to a fast food place to let my daughter play there, I will buy a chicken sandwich, and an order of fries, and get it in a "to go" bag. (I do not eat anything in it, nor does my daughter.) I then feel free to sit there with the bag on the table and let my little one play. My daughter plays in the playland, snacks on the healthy food the I brought separately -- and the restaurant makes their money off of me.

Then, on my way home from the fast food joint, I give the bag of food to a homeless person on the side of the street that is holding a sign up wanting a handout. I feel that this arrangement, everybody gets something that they want.

This might help with the "stares" that you get from other parents, as it might be possible that they were upset that you were using the playland for "free" and too cheap to buy anything. (not knowing that you know the facts of how bad fast food is for your child!)

That's a good point; however I did actually but three bottles of water which the kids had poured into cups with lids & straws. But yes I like the idea of buying a meal and giving it to the needy.

Cheers

[Mookie]

McDonalds french fries use beef tallow.
They have no effect on me.... they are not even vegetarian.

I agree with everyone here who said the "looks" you got were probably
because McDonalds Playland is not a public park and you are not expected to bring your own food there.

[Veganforlife]

I agree folks were looking at you because of the non-paying issue. I'm a biker and when I'm on the road if I have to "go", I used to "go" in McCrap's (sorry, but I can't even say their name anymore - the crooks!), but after reading Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation I cannot even give them the satisfaction of my urine! For all I know, it may end up in the food - which would not surprise me!
Sorry, but I feel very strongly against McBarf's. I have never eaten a Big Mac and if given the choice of eating one or being shot, I would be shot. I feel THAT strongly about the corrupt corporation that is feeding our youth and praying on us guinea pigs. I feel this way towards McUgh's more then the other fast food joints, which I will not frequent, simply because McPuke's is the first to have gone nuts with their money-greedy CEOs, their revenues and spreading their cancer throughout the world.
I DO NOT like McSpit's!!!
I better not keep posting here or I'll be kicked off...

[Doe]

But what I did also felt was this HUGH sense of sadness for everyone there; I so wanted to share the raw food message like some sort of crazed evangelical minister from the movies! I felt like we had this light around us - it was very wierd! I could feel the unhappiness of everyone around me.

I get that feeling quite often in public especially when I see loving parents with small well behaved children. I feel so sorry for them, like Sarah Conner in the Terminator movie looking at the precious children that she knew were about to die. It's like time stands still for a moment, then life goes on. I do try to share the truth with those who will listen. It's just that at the times I feel that horrible sadness usually isn't the appropriate time. Especially not with my momentary "you're going to suffer and die" attitude. Guess I need to work on myself.

Teri S

[Rawkinlocs]

LMBO @ Veganforlife and all the many variations of the "McName"!

Why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel about Mc______!

McCrap
McBarf
McUgh
McPuke

Did I miss any? Oh yeah...McSpits LOL!

Maybe if parents called the place by THOSE names, kids wouldn't WANT to go!

"Hey Johnny, wanna go to McCrap-on-a-hot-sidewalk today?"

"Uhhh...no thanks Mom!"

[Vegan Diva]

I had the same reaction (as many people mentioned) when reading your post. I think the looks were do to not paying for a meal.

I do experience sadness when I watch the way some people eat. I felt this way last week watching a coworker eating lunch. His brother and wife dropped by the office. They were all scarfing down McDonalds food. He is making changes in his diet. He's been asking me questions for months and reading my blog. It can be harder for some to make changes in their eating lifestyle. Food can be extremely addictive.

@ Veganforlife,
I have similar feelings when I think about Mc____ and many other restaurants. I rarely eat out.

[juliebove]

McDonalds does sell salad and apples. Some locations have fruit salads. We used to go there and order these things. Now my daughter refuses to set foot into one, even if the toy does look appealing. After finding out that the fries contain wheat and milk (and not disclosing this fact), she sees them as evil. She is allergic to both of these things plus 5 other foods. When she first found out she would shout "Evil!" as we drove past one. Now she just ignores them.