As a kid, there was nothing better than getting picked up from the school carpool lane and heading to the McDonald’s drive-thru for an impromptu surprise treat — a cheeseburger and fries, chicken nuggets or the holy grail of after-school snacks: an Oreo McFlurry.

But despite those warm, fuzzy memories, McDonald’s and I had been estranged for a good long while. I avoided McDonald’s, and fast food in general, for years, mostly out of a desire to eat and be healthy. But now that I have my own school-age kids, I find myself back at the golden arches, and ba-da-ba-ba-baaaa, I’m lovin’ it.

Perhaps a vignette will help illustrate why. Recently, on our way to a birthday party at the bowling alley, my boys got ravenous. We had time to burn. I spotted a neon “M” and we pulled over. I ordered a $1

See Full Page