Look, I know it’s January, and we’re all trying to develop healthier habits. But let’s set that aside for a moment and chat about happy meals.

Not familiar with the Happy Meal? Who hurt you? I can send you the name of a great therapist. The Happy Meal is a kids meal at McDonalds. Your choice of a burger or chicken Mcnuggets, along with fries or fruit (come on, has anyone ever actually chosen fruit over the glory of McDonalds fries?), a drink, and, most importantly, the coup de gras - a toy.

As a kid these toys were pure gold. I mean, not literally. Though, I remember having a birthday party as a kid where my folks bought all of us happy meals, and the “toy” was a packet of marigold seeds and a kid-sized garden rake. So, I suppose it was kinda gold? Aaaanyway…

The Happy Meal was created by kids marketing expert Bob Bernstein in the late 70s. His ad agency handled marketing for McDonalds at the time, and he came up with the idea of handing out “promotional gifts” along with the food served to kids. He watched his own kids scour cereal boxes while eating breakfast and saw kids wanted something to do while they ate. And history was made.*

I remember getting super heroes, Transformers, Mickey Mouse race cars, and accidentally getting the Barbie “girls toy,” which, of course, was the worst possible thing to ever happen to any boy in the 90s EVER (times have definitely changed). The pure joy of getting a new toy alongside the best kid meal ever was incomparable!

So, if you’re looking to harness a little bit of childlike joy, relive the glory days and order yourself a Happy Meal. And don’t you dare choose a side of fruit.

*Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/29/business/mcdonalds-happy-meal-history-trnd/index.html