McDonald’s first children’s boxed-meal promotion was called the Happy Meal.
The Happy Meal was introduced nationally in the United States in 1979. It combined a child-sized meal with a toy and came in a decorated package designed specifically for children. The packaging and collectible promotions made the product an important part of McDonald’s family-oriented branding.
The Happy Meal is sometimes treated as though it began as a worldwide product at the same time. It was first introduced in the United States and then adapted for other markets. Menus and toy promotions can differ by country, but the Happy Meal name became one of McDonald’s most recognizable branded products.