The 1979 McDonald’s children’s meal was called the Happy Meal.
McDonald’s introduced the Happy Meal in 1979 as a packaged children’s offering that combined a small meal with a toy. Its colorful box, child-focused graphics, and changing tie-in promotions made the product an important part of the company’s family-oriented branding.
The Happy Meal was more than a menu bundle. The packaging created a compact advertising surface, while toys and entertainment partnerships encouraged repeat visits and connected McDonald’s with children’s popular culture. The exact food choices and toy promotions have varied by market and period.
People sometimes use “Happy Meal” to mean any children’s meal at a fast-food restaurant, but it is a specific McDonald’s trademarked product name. Its introduction also predates many later film and character promotions associated with the brand.