Say No to McDonald's

For you folks who love getting in on the latest boycott, this probably won't be that exciting to you. This is not a post about McDonald's doing anything terrible, rather it's about the fun that I had with my kids yesterday on our trip down to Bradenton, FL to see the G-parents. I have diabetes and have been adjusting to that over the last couple months. Fast food is one of those things that I would do well to stay away from. Because of that, and the fact that gas is $4 a gallon right now (and I don't want to think about what that adds up to on a 17 hour round trip in an SUV) we decided to pack lunches and dine at a rest stop on the way down.

We had to begin our meal at the crowded rest stop by making sandwiches on the hood of my Pathfinder, but finally got to sit down when a covered concrete table came available. We had fun watching a robin hopping around on the ground nearby. Sydney walked around gathering up a few magnolia leaves pretending they were tail feathers and Boone and I sat and talked back and forth to each other in funny voices. The three of us enjoyed the break from the trip and as my dad says "made a memory." Sure, there was no cheap plastic toy that came with our meal but it was healthier, cheaper and tailor made to each of our tastes. We didn't have all the packaging that gets thrown away and ate for about $3 instead of $15.

So next time you get the chance and if you have a little time for prep before hand, say no to McDonald's and eat cheap with your family at a rest stop - and see if it doesn't turn into a fun memory.