by Marga Raudsepp

Created on: August 12, 2008

We have had good times at McDonald's, we have had bad times at McDonald's. We have had memorable experiences at McDonald's, we have walked out of McDonald's. We have admitted to eating frequently at McDonald's or we have hidden the fact that we ever ate there at all. Now as American as apple pie, McDonald's is a place we love to hate, but it was undeniably a part of our daily lives at one time.

I first discovered McDonald's when it was second in favor to the vastly popular Wetson's in Long Island, New York. In the 60's we were sure Wetson's, not McDonald's, was here to stay. Now we wish we had bought shares in the little hamburger place that tried harder!

Over the years my children and I have visited McDonald's for every kind of meal, from breakfast to lunch to supper to after school snacks. At first, having fish sandwiches as an alternative to cheeseburgers was an idea right up my alley. Decades later, when ice cream was added to the menu, I was in heaven! The addition of restaurant seating in the 70s was a novelty and changed the eating habits of the nation. Until then, McDonald's had been a walkup outdoor stand! Now whole families could eat their evening meal at a McDonald's restaurant for very little money. At the end of the 70s, Mcdonald's started serving breakfast. (Before that they didn't open until 11 AM!) As a young mother, I thought that was such an innovation. Imagine, we could combine breakfast with an outing for the toddler and not have to fuss in our own kitchens.

Somewhere along the way they started handing out little plastic toys to children. The notion of receiving toys at a restaurant, so common today, was unheard of decades ago. These were do-it-yourself snap-together McDonald's characters, all in one colour blue or green or red plastic. The kids loved them. That's how McDonald's became even more popular. It was now a place to get toys (which were always played with before any food was touched).

After 4 decades of McDonald's culture, we've had our fill of their hamburgers, preferring the ones we make ourselves at home, or the gourmet burgers available in so many new-style fast-food restaurants. The fries are still enjoyable for an occasional snack, the chicken offerings tasty for a kid who's hungry on the way home from practice, but we are no longer drawn to McDonald's as we once were. All thoughts of nutrition are left at the door as we walk in under the golden arches. We're not kidding ourselves. Even my children know not to include their McDonald's

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>