This is a sponsored post from BlogHer and McDonald’s.
Contest is now over. Congrats to entry # 77, Angel Jacklyn who was chosen by random.org as the winner. Thanks to all who participated!
I loved taking a sneak peek inside the McDonald’s Brand and company during the McDonald’s Family Time Getaway in Oak Brook, IL. The McDonald’s representatives could not have been more accommodating and genuine. McDonald’s invited our entire family on this event, what a treat!
We started our McDonald’s experience with lunch at a local McDonald’s Restaurant then spoke to the company’s top executives. This was one of the highlights of the trip for me. The women of McDonald’s were beautiful, smart and completely down to earth. They told us their history with McDonald’s and the things they love about their job. It was really priceless to hear from these women.
Another highlight of this trip was a tour of the Oak Lawn Ronald McDonald House. What an amazing organization. The House is beautiful and helps so many people in need. I think the whole room was brought to tears listening to the presentation. I feel lucky to have been a part of it all.
One of my kids’ favorite activities was the “Taste and Tour Quality at McDonald’s: A Family Sensory Experience and Look Behind the Counter.” We talked with the quality control team and tasted some yummy breakfast items such as the Egg McMuffin, Apple Dippers and the McGriddle. My kids were in hog heaven as the servers brought out all of these different items from the McDonald’s Breakfast Menu.
Another discussion that I enjoyed was, “Your Food: From Farm to Restaurant. This discussion was about how we as parents can feel good about the food our family eats at McDonald’s. We talked to the Chicken Doctor who explained that McDonald’s uses only the white meat of quality chicken and also to the McDonald’s Nutritionist who showed us how we can mix and match menu items to equal 600 calories or less. This was a great discussion.
McDonald’s Executive Chef Dan led a discussion about how McDonald’s menu items go from concept to restaurant. It was amazing to learn how long the process is to actually get a new recipe on the menu. There are extensive tests that are done throughout the country. I loved getting a first taste of the fruit smoothies that are coming out soon and their newest menu item in testing…Fruit and Maple Oatmeal. It was INCREDIBLE. I would order it any day of the week!
The kids had a ball cooking with McDonald’s Chef Dan. They got their very own Chef Hat, apron and had a chance to roll up their sleeves and make their own fruit kebabs and fruit smoothies. This was a real treat. Chef Dan and the other Chefs could not have been more kind.
McDonald’s truly went above and beyond for this event. The entire family loved it. I feel lucky to have been a part to learn more about this incredible brand.
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Be sure to enter the Family Time Happy Time Sweepstake for some fun prizes valued at $100.
One Winner will Win:
- A Smile Tote Bag
- $25 AMC Gift Card
- $20 McDonald’s Gift Card
- Fleece Blanket
- McDonald’s Frisbee
- McDonald’s French Fry Playing Cards
- Monopoly Junior Board Game
- Organic Lip Balm
- McDonald’s Vintage Character T-Shirt
- McDonald’s Stainless Tumbler
- McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy Set
To enter, leave a comment here on Picky Palate telling us… What is your favorite thing to do as a family? Vacation, sports, reading books, cooking…anything, we want to hear it.
Eligible entrants can do up to two of the following options:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) Follow one of the links at https://www.blogher.com/family-time-happy-time and provide your email address and your response to the sweepstakes prompt
See Official Sweepstakes Rules HERE
Come see the other Blogger Reviews on the BlogHer Round Up HERE.
Please leave any questions you might have about the trip or McDonald’s here as well. Thanks!!
Welcome to my online kitchen! Picky Palate is where you’ll find family friendly recipes along with the best Disney eats, tips and copycat recipes! 
As a family in these very trying financial times, we love to swim and eat out in our own backyard!
My husband and I love to read books to our daughter while she takes her bath.
What a fun experience!
we like to do family activies together, like visiting a zoo or going to an aquarium
What a fun trip.
I love to go to the beach and enjoy the rays (sun) with my family.
My family likes watching movies together and playing outside.
I was a single mom of 2. We lived the lives of baseball and softball and the games were always at night and no time for dinner. So fast food for us was a life saver, and the lower prices saved us from the poor house. And I always made a game of “who’s turn to pick where we ate”. It was a special time just the 3 of us that I will always treasure.
We love hanging out at home..whether it is playing in the yard or wrestling on the living room floor.
We hit the BMX track near our home. Usually, I’m the only mom on the track but I don’t mind. It’s good, quality family time and my kids enjoy it.
We love to travel to interesting places to see the World’s Largest EVERYTHING!
Lana @ ilovemy5kids
We try to play outside as much as possible during the summer!
we love to ride our bikes
Nothing beats a family vacation. We enjoy getting out in the great outdoors and enjoying as many different experiences together that we can.
It sounds/looks like you guys had a fabulous time! We love going to the lake for family time!
We love to read and have family movie or game nights.
Our favorite thing to do as a family is sit around, talk, and laugh.
Favorite family activity is outdoor time. Whether it’s camping, fishing, or just playing in the yard. We love the outdoors.
WE LOVE TO TAKE CAR TRIPS TO SEE THE COUNTRY. McDONALDS IS ALWAYS OUR FAVORITE LUNCH STOP.
Reading to my kids was always one of my favorite things to do…now I am reading to my grandkids. And I am lovin’ it!
playing an walking
We like to sit out in the yard at night and star gaze. It is magical.
It is especially marvelous during a meteor shower.
Summer means family time. Some parents groan at the thought of the kids home all day, but I love family time. My family tries to take a walk around the neighborhood every single night of the week. It is great bonding time and we get to talk about each of our day’s while getting excercise so we can eat McDonalds and not feel bad!
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY HOLIDAY DINNERS BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS TOGETHER (AUNTS,UNCLES, COUSINS, SISTERS BROTHERS, NEPHEWS,NIECES, CHILDREN AND SO ON……..
I love family vacations-whether small scale (beach) or large scale (Disneyland)-but mostly, i just love hanging out with my fam-BBQs, etc.
tweeted. . .
http://twitter.com/kdolphins7/status/20071668755
We love to go swimming together.
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blogged.http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/2010/07/giveaway-picky-palate.html
We love cook together
Our family loves to have Family Game Night. Card games, board games, snacks, and lots of laughs!
http://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/20038312591
traveling! and cooking dinner.
We love taking vacations. Even short overnight getaways are a fun way to spend time together!
Going on family vacations are so much fun!
Our favorite family activity is going camping once a year. It helps us get back to nature and to just enjoy the beauty of the earth. this year we couldn’t go because of a much needed new pellet stove, so we could have heat, but we have already picked out our destination (Beth Page in VA) for next summer.
frugalmdmom at comcast dot net