Joe Wicks: Why My Children Have Never Eaten McDonald's

Joe Wicks, the fitness personality known to millions as the Body Coach, has revealed that none of his four children has ever eaten at McDonald's. The 40-year-old, who has built a career on promoting healthy lifestyles and public fitness, told Times Radio that he has also avoided the fast food chain for the past decade. His revelation comes as he promotes his new cookbook, Healthy Start, which focuses on nourishing family meals.

What did Joe Wicks say about McDonald's and his children?

In an interview with Cathy Newman on Times Radio, Wicks stated plainly: 'They've never had McDonald's.' He explained that his own last visit to the chain occurred in 2015, on the night he met his wife Rosie. 'The night I met her, actually, we're driving back from a rave, and we stopped at the 24-hour McDonald's in Wandsworth, and that was because she really wanted to have McDonald's. So that was the last time we had McDonald's.'

Before that, Wicks admitted, he was a regular customer. 'I haven't had McDonald's, and I used to love like a sausage and egg McMuffin in the mornings. It was my thing. So I would go 7am before my boot camp, and I'd have a sausage egg McMuffin with a hash brown.'

Why does Joe Wicks avoid fast food for his family?

Wicks attributes his aversion to fast food to his own childhood, which he has previously described as full of 'ultra-processed food'. Speaking to RTE, he said: 'I had a very unhealthy diet as a child. Any money that came through the door was not going on healthy protein sources and vegetables - it just wasn't. So I lived off ultra-processed food and frozen dinners.'

He also pointed to his mother's circumstances as a factor. 'My mum was 15 when she was kicked out of school and left home; she didn't have the skills and knowledge to cook - it was not in her vocabulary.'

Wicks now finds it difficult to consume such foods 'in moderation', which is why his new cookbook aims to provide families with 'nourishing, easy and enjoyable' recipes that work for everyone.

What is Joe Wicks's advice on children's snacking?

Beyond fast food, Wicks also shared his views on snacking between meals. He expressed reservations about offering children 'lots of snacks', arguing that constant grazing is unnecessary. 'I think we live in an environment where we're taught to sort of give snacks and this sort of in between meals all the time, so constantly grazing and little children have quite small tummies. So try and avoid snacking, try to just wait,' he advised.

He suggested that parents need not worry when children refuse meals, noting that food can simply be reheated when they are hungry.

Why does this matter for public health and civic values?

Wicks's stance raises broader questions about the food environment in the United Kingdom. While individual choices matter, the prevalence of ultra-processed foods in British diets is a public health concern that demands structural attention. The Body Coach's approach, rooted in his own difficult childhood, highlights how personal circumstances shape dietary habits. Yet it also underscores the need for policies that make healthy food accessible and affordable for all families, not just those with the resources and knowledge to prioritise nutrition.

In a society where fast food is ubiquitous and often cheaper than fresh produce, Wicks's example is commendable but not universally replicable. The liberal case for public health intervention rests on ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to grow up with a diet that supports their development. This is not about paternalism but about expanding real choice through education, regulation, and economic support.

Frequently asked questions about Joe Wicks and McDonald's

Has Joe Wicks ever eaten McDonald's?

Yes, Joe Wicks used to eat at McDonald's regularly, particularly a sausage and egg McMuffin before his morning boot camps. His last visit was in 2015, on the night he met his wife Rosie, when they stopped at a 24-hour branch in Wandsworth.

How many children does Joe Wicks have?

Joe Wicks has four children with his wife Rosie: Indigo (8), Marley (7), Leni (3), and Dusty (2).

What is Joe Wicks's new cookbook about?

His new cookbook, Healthy Start, focuses on healthy meals for the whole family, offering 'nourishing, easy and enjoyable' recipes. It is designed to help parents provide nutritious food for their children.

Why does Joe Wicks avoid ultra-processed food?

Wicks grew up on a diet of ultra-processed food and frozen dinners, which he attributes to his mother's lack of cooking skills and limited resources. He now finds it difficult to consume such foods in moderation and prefers to avoid them entirely.