The Happy Meal was the McDonald’s children’s meal that introduced a toy with each order in 1979.
McDonald’s launched the Happy Meal nationally in the United States in 1979. It combined a child-sized meal with a toy and distinctive packaging, giving the company a branding format aimed directly at families and children rather than simply offering a smaller adult meal.
The Happy Meal helped make packaging and promotional partnerships central parts of McDonald’s identity. Toys were often tied to films, television programs, or original McDonald’s characters, creating a reason for families to return even when the food itself remained familiar.
The term is sometimes used loosely for any McDonald’s children’s meal, but the branded Happy Meal is the specific product introduced in 1979. Its box and toy became as recognizable as many of the company’s advertising characters.