Happy Meal facts for kids
A Happy Meal is a special kids' meal usually sold at the American fast food restaurant chain McDonald's. It first came out in June 1979. Each Happy Meal comes with a small toy or a book. These are usually packed inside a red cardboard box with a yellow smiley face and the famous McDonald's logo. The box and the toy often promote a popular TV show, movie, or toy line.
Contents
What's Inside a Happy Meal?
A Happy Meal usually includes a main food item. This can be a hamburger, a cheeseburger, or a small serving of Chicken McNuggets.
For a side, you might get French fries, apple slices, or even a Go-Gurt tube in some places. The drink choices include milk, juice, or a soft drink. What's available can change from country to country. It also depends on the size of the McDonald's restaurant.
In some countries, there are even more choices. These can include a grilled cheese sandwich. You might also find healthier options like salads or pasta.
How the Happy Meal Started
In the mid-1970s, a woman named Yolanda Fernández de Cofiño helped run McDonald's restaurants in Guatemala. She came up with a special meal called the "Menú Ronald." This meal had a hamburger, small fries, and a small sundae. It was designed to help parents feed their children easily at McDonald's.
McDonald's leaders in Chicago heard about her idea. They asked Bob Bernstein to develop the product further. He then thought of the name "Happy Meal."
In 1977, McDonald's restaurant owners wanted to make dining better for families. Bernstein realized that if kids had their own packaged meal, everyone would be happier. He saw his son looking at cereal boxes and thought, "Why not do that for McDonald's?" He believed the package was the key.
He had his team create paper boxes that looked like lunch pails. They had the McDonald's Golden Arches as handles. Famous children's artists filled the boxes with colorful art, jokes, games, and comic strips. Inside the box was a burger, small fries, cookies, and a surprise gift. A small drink came with it.
The Happy Meal was first tested in Kansas City in October 1977. It was a big success! It then launched across the whole country in 1979.
Robert Bernstein was honored for his idea in 1987. He received a golden copy of the Happy Meal box. It thanked him for bringing the Happy Meal to McDonald's.
Over the years, Happy Meals often promote kids' movies or TV shows. The first such promotion was for the Star Trek: The Motion Picture in December 1979. The boxes had images and games from the film.
Sometimes, McDonald's has had to change Happy Meal toys. In 1982, they recalled some Playmobil toys that could be unsafe for very young children. In 1992, they removed Batman Returns toys. This was because parents felt the movie was not suitable for children.
In July 2011, McDonald's announced plans to make Happy Meals healthier. They started adding apples to the meals. The new meals also had a smaller portion of fries. In 2014, McDonald's introduced a mascot for Happy Meals in the United States named Happy.
Happy Meal Toys
The Happy Meal wasn't the first to give out small toys. But it made it very popular. When the Happy Meal started in 1979, the toys were simple. They included a McDoodle stencil, a McWrist wallet, or a spinning top.
In Canada, before the Happy Meal, there was a "Treat of the Week." A different toy was given out free each week. Happy Meal toys have become much more detailed recently. They started as simple items like a Frisbee or a ball. Now, many are linked to TV shows, movies, video games, or toy lines.
Happy Meal toys are usually made for kids aged 2 and up. There are also special toddler toys for children aged 3 and younger.
Toy Rules
In November 2010, the city of San Francisco passed a law. It said that children's meals with toys had to meet certain healthy food standards. This law was made because of concerns about childhood obesity. It meant meals with toys needed fewer calories and less salt. They also had to include fruits and vegetables.
McDonald's found a way around this rule by charging a small fee (10 cents) for the toys.
In Chile, a law passed in 2012 banned free toys in kids' meals. This was also done to help prevent obesity. So, Happy Meals in Chile no longer include free toys.
Happy Meals for Adults
Active Fit Happy Meal (2004)
In 2004, McDonald's released an adult version of the Happy Meal. It was called the "Active Fit" Happy Meal. This meal came in a special adult-sized box. It included a bottle of water, a salad, an exercise booklet, and a "step-o-meter."
Cactus Plant Flea Market (2022)
In 2022, McDonald's brought out another adult Happy Meal. This was a special, limited-time offer with Cactus Plant Flea Market. This meal included a Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets combo. It came with a collectible toy. These toys were of Cactus Buddy or four-eyed versions of McDonaldland characters like Grimace.
Kerwin Frost (2023)
Following the success of the 2022 adult Happy Meal, McDonald's did another one in 2023. This time, it was with Kerwin Frost. This version also had the same meal choices. It came with new designs of the McNugget Buddies figurines by Frost.
See also
- Burger King Kids Club
