Which McDonald’s promotional meal introduced in 1979 included a toy?

The Happy Meal was the McDonald’s promotional children’s meal introduced nationally in 1979 that included a toy.

The meal combined a child-sized serving of food with a small toy or other collectible. Its packaging and rotating promotions made the purchase an experience aimed specifically at children and families.

McDonald’s tested the concept in several markets before rolling it out across the United States. The Happy Meal became one of the company’s most recognizable pieces of family-oriented branding and later appeared in many countries with locally adapted food options.

The Happy Meal is sometimes dated to an earlier regional test, but 1979 is the commonly cited year for its national introduction in the United States. Its branding importance extends beyond the food itself because the box became a recurring advertising surface.