McDonald’s first nationally marketed children’s meal was called the Happy Meal.
McDonald’s introduced the Happy Meal nationally in 1979, building a branded offering around a child-sized portion, a drink, a side item, and a toy or other promotional feature. The format made the meal itself a major part of the company’s family-oriented identity.
The concept had been tested in selected markets before the national launch. Its packaging and toy promotions gave McDonald’s a recurring way to connect food with characters, films, television properties, and collectible themes.
The Happy Meal is sometimes confused with generic “kids’ meals,” a term used by many restaurants. Happy Meal is McDonald’s trademarked product name and has remained one of the chain’s most recognizable branded offerings. Its contents and packaging have changed across markets and decades.