McDonald's introduced the Happy Meal in the United States in 1979.
The children's meal combined a small serving of food with a toy and distinctive packaging. It was developed as a branded experience for families, helping McDonald's present the restaurant as an entertainment destination as well as a place to buy hamburgers.
The Happy Meal is sometimes confused with earlier promotional children's meals, including regional tests and campaigns that preceded the national product. The U.S. launch date is 1979. Its box, toy tie-ins, and later movie partnerships made the Happy Meal one of McDonald's most recognizable sub-brands.