The Happy Meal was McDonald's child-focused meal-box brand introduced in 1979.
McDonald's introduced the Happy Meal in the United States in June 1979. A typical meal combined a small hamburger or cheeseburger, fries, a drink, and a toy, with the contents designed for children. The box itself became part of the branding: packaging turned the meal into a recognizable product rather than simply a smaller adult order.
The concept was influenced by children's meal promotions developed in several McDonald's markets, and the U.S. launch followed testing and regional experimentation. The first national toy promotion featured circus-themed items. McDonald's later varied the food, packaging, and toys by country, but the basic promise remained a child-sized meal with an accompanying surprise.
The Happy Meal is sometimes dated to 1977 because regional versions appeared before the national U.S. launch. For branding-history questions, 1979 is the standard date for its introduction as a nationwide American McDonald's product.