master-cooks | The Confusing History Behind McDonald's Happy Meal

The Happy Meal, a staple of McDonald's offerings, has a history as colorful and varied as the toys it contains. Originating in the late 1970s, the idea was sparked by Yolanda Fernández de Cofiño, a McDonald's franchisee in Guatemala. She created a meal tailored for children, which included a hamburger, small fries, and a small sundae, naming it the "Menu Ronald." This concept caught the attention of McDonald's executives in the United States, who saw its potential for broader appeal. In 1979, the Happy Meal was officially introduced in the United States, featuring a colorful box with games and a toy. Over the years, the Happy Meal has undergone numerous changes in response to shifting consumer preferences, nutritional guidelines, and cultural trends. These changes included offering healthier options like apple slices and milk instead of fries and soda. The toys, often tied to popular movies or television shows, have become collectibles and a significant marketing tool. Despite controversies over nutritional content and marketing to children, the Happy Meal remains a beloved icon of fast food culture, continually adapting to maintain its relevance for new generations of young diners.

Toys were vital to the Happy Meal's success

In 1973, Burger Chef, another fast food chain, introduced a children's meal that included a toy. In 1977, Dick Brams, an advertising manager for McDonald's in St. Louis, proposed a similar concept to Bob Bernstein, an advertising executive from a Kansas City firm, coinciding with Cofiño's presentation of her version that same year. Bernstein claims he originally conceived the idea in 1975 after observing his young son examining the back of a cereal box one morning.

Following Brams' passing in 1988, McDonald's referred to him as "the father of the Happy Meal," a designation that Bernstein contested. "Dick contributed a lot, but the Happy Meal was already in existence," Bernstein stated in a 2019 interview with the Chicago Tribune. Regardless of who the actual creator of the Happy Meal is—perhaps all three individuals deserve recognition—it was the inclusion of toys, facilitated by partnerships with companies like Mattel and various film franchises, that truly defined the meal. According to 2017 data from Sense360 (via Forbes), the fast food giant sells approximately 3.2 million Happy Meals each day. This children's meal also propelled McDonald's to become the largest toy distributor globally.

The Confusing History Behind McDonald's Happy Meal

Toys were vital to the Happy Meal's success

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