McDonald's Happy Meal Facts

How Much Do You Know About McDonald's Happy Meal?

April 30, 2010

It looks like kids in California won't be getting a treat with their burger and fries. The Santa Clara County board of supervisors voted earlier this week to ban toys from fast food meals, such as McDonald's Happy Meals, that have more than 485 calories. The board explained that it hopes the move "breaks the link between unhealthy food and prizes." Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution may have many mamas reaching for healthier options, but the Happy Meal is a rite of passage for millions of tots. Take this quiz and see just how much you know about the kiddie meal.

19 Comments

Bettye Wayne 2 years 49 weeks

It is easier to develop a soda habit than any other junk food. My cousin had to have his front teeth replaced when he was only 3-4 because he drank so much soda it rotted them all out. Too late for my little one though. I've already given her soda, but rarely, 2-3 times per month. I guess I'll just chalk that up to one more thing she's got to decide on her own when she's old enough.

danakscully64 2 years 50 weeks

LOL, that's funny. There might actually be poop in the fries, they're made with "beef flavoring." Soda can be a slippery slope for some. I was taught it was good in moderation growing up, but by the time I hit my teens, I was drinking up to 8 cans a day. Thank goodness I broke that habit. 2 of my nephews are allowed to drink soda all they want, they usually refuse any other drink. My other nieces and nephews were not given soda at a young age, they all prefer water or juice. I think it's good when parents put their foot down on that (none or very limited). Many parents believe Sprite is better and give the child it frequently, but it has just as much sugar. Soda paired with chicken nuggets and fries... *shakes head* Not a meal.

Bettye Wayne 2 years 50 weeks

Dana I never feed my girl McD's either, she and I both prefer Wendy's. Someone (I think it was her dad, he hates McD's) told her there's poop in their French fries and she tells me, "Mommy NEVER take me to McD's because there's poop in the fries," every time we drive past. And I'm not going to argue with her, but I do tell her to cut out the bathroom talk. I do give my girl soda, but she knows that-like cake and ice cream and candy-it's a sugary sweet junk food and she can only eat it occasionally. I never keep any at home; sometimes I'll let her have it when we're eating out or visiting and someone offers her some. I think the most important thing you can teach your kids at a young age is moderation.

danakscully64 2 years 50 weeks

easybreezy88 - "Dont ruin your childrens childhood over things like this" LOL Ruin their childhood because you don't feed them McDonald's? That's a little dramatic, don't you think? Considering the number of children in America who are suffering from diabetes and obesity at a young age, I think diet is very important and not something you should take lightly. Kids learn their long term habits very young.

danakscully64 2 years 50 weeks

When I have children, I'll do what Morgan Spurlock said he would do with his kids... every time we drive by a McDonald's I will punch my kid(s) in the face. That way, they will associate the place with pain. Seriously though, my kids will never ever have McDonald's. I don't care how busy I am, I will go to another fast food place instead. I ate A LOT of McDonald's growing up. As an adult, I know the dangers of eating it and honestly, haven't had it in over 6 years. They have no vegetarian food anyway. I will set an example and not eat there either. My kids won't drink soda either. Why? Because I don't keep it in the house and don't order it when I go out. Bad habits are learned young.

easybreezy88 3 years 1 week

This is obviously a touchy issue, However Mcdonalds is somewhere that my child wants to go to .. we go about twice a month and have happy meals and play in the playplace. If you askes "YOUR CHILD" where you YOUR CHILD would like to dine they might say Mcdonalds. Yes we all know it is unhealthy but so is dirt , and we encourge sports. If you only eat healthy foods you will starve to death because everyday everything is turning into unhealthy the doctors say not to give my child juice it is unhealthy gatorade is unhealthy canned veggies are unhealthy It amazes me that people twenty years ago are still alive because I have a clean bill of health and ate McDonalds once a week while i was a child. I drank lots of juice and kool-aid I ate fried chicken and I played sports . My point is Dont ruin your childrens childhood over things like this.... who is getting hurt by it ... The child and A mcdonalds happy meal never i repeat never killed anyone. SO that being said ... stop being so close minded .

Bettye Wayne 3 years 2 weeks

@ question no. 4... "The Mayo Clinic recommends that the average 4- to 8-year-old boy should take in 1,200 grams over the course of one day." Grams? Really? That must be a typo. You would die from 1200 grams a day. I give my girl fast food once every week or two... usually as a special treat for running errands all day. We focus a lot on healthy eating and I don't think a few cheeseburgers are going to send her spiraling into obesity. Though it is much cheaper and easier to pack some snacks/sandwiches! But I NEVER NEVER NEVER get her a happy-meal! Not once! I tell her, "You have plenty of toys at home. You're not getting one here." She likes to look at the toys, but she doesn't even ask anymore. Sushi I agree 100% with your comment #11.

MissSushi 3 years 2 weeks

Fast food is in no way cheaper then buying your food and making it from scratch, period. Even eating the dollar menu is more expensive. People buy too many processed frozen meals and sides at stores for conveinence after long stressful days and have a skewed outlook on actual costs.

LilaBo 3 years 2 weeks

i'm proud to say that my kids (3.5 and 5) have never eaten mcdonalds, nor have they ever had soda to drink. they have no desire to eat there, either. i can understand food being given as a 'treat'... like an ice cream cone on a summer day, or some homemade brownies, or a dinner out at a (real) restaurant... but why would you want to offer your child a box full of saturated fat with a cheap little toy (thats probably got an unsafe amount of lead in it) as a treat? i drive by fast food restaurants in disbelief that they're always busy. with all we know, why do people still eat this crap?? slap some honey mustard, cheese and a couple slices of turkey on some bread and you're good to go! it's probably quicker than waiting in line at the drive thru!!

3 years 2 weeks

This is stupid. Just another attempt by the silly californians to hide their problems. People wouldn't eat happy meals if they had more money! Banning a toy won't help things. What about the mom who is so poor that she has to buy chef boyardee??? Give these people REAL help!!!

LaurenG22 3 years 2 weeks

McDonalds in America is disgusting and if people stopped accepting the crappy standards by not eating it, they might just improve it's quality. That's my biggest beef with the whole thing. Food standards are too low and children are suffering, imo bc parents don't realize it.

rockrchck8 3 years 2 weeks

I think LaurenG22 needs to calm down, who cares if you never serve it for your kids? It doesn't make Amandachalyn any less of a mother then you. Everyone's lives get hectic and yes sometimes we all need a break. Seriously when will moms realize they need to stick together instead of nitpicking over who has better food. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what food your child gets as long as they get something and they know they're loved.

LaurenG22 3 years 3 weeks

I agree with Miss Sushi completely. My family is also very food-oriented and passionate about high quality, locally grown, home cooked meals. We treat real food as something to be savored and enjoyed in loving company. I think of McDonalds as being barely passable as nutrition so why would I ever serve that to my child as a "treat." It teaches them that putting crap into your body is acceptable and it's not. Living in Europe I have seen that high quality fast food DOES exist and you do not need the crap that is in McDonalds. If I want to give my child a food treat we can make Ice Cream or homebaked cookies or sweet potato french fries. If kids learn to appreciate good food they won't even want McDonalds. McDonalds should never be a treat bc it is then put on a pedestal.

MissSushi 3 years 3 weeks

She doesn't come anywhere near to eating everything I serve, but it's all she gets. Within reason, if she doesn't eat what I serve, she doesn't eat until the next meal/snack. Obviously, if something was very strong tasting or spicy, etc etc, I just make sure she tries it if possible, and I put a little more of the other items on her plate. She's 2 right now, and a medium to light picky eater. Yes, she will start rejecting more food as she gets older, but I won't be changing how I do things. I don't think food as a treat is bad at all, and we often have rich or sweet snacks, both natural and created, as well as other things that you shouldn't eat on a regular basis, like when we go ape and add WAY too much cheese to something and jack its fat content up 15 grams, or bake a batch or two of homemade cookies. I just think mcdonalds is really a bad idea in the long run for a treat because of whats in it, the sodium, and the fat. I'm definitely not a food nazi or overly strict, i just don't happen to like whats in the cheapest of the cheap fast food places. It doesn't mean we never ever eat them, i just try to avoid it. I think the better idea here would be higher food standards that would cause fast food chains to have better quality meats and less sodium/fat/byproducts/etc, though. Companies will be as cheap as possible as often as possible, period. It's the way it goes. The toys in the meals are fun. Mcdonalds has much higher quality foods in countries that don't have such horrifcally low standards as we do.

amandachalynn 3 years 3 weeks

Food is a treat, and that is the way my entire family works. None of us are overweight or obese because food means so much to us. We certainly believe food is a treat. The first tomato out of our garden, the crazy rich chocolate cake we have at birthdays, etc. To me, being interactive is just part of life, and games are part of weekly family time, not something special. We have a large extended family, and when everyone gathers together we are in the kitchen. In my family food is treated with reverence and we are grateful to have so much wonderful food. In my opinion, if food is a treat a child respects it more, and that is what I've seen with my own eyes.

LaurenG22 3 years 3 weeks

"They are a very special treat"--- a special treat to me is NOT a happy meal, it's a new toy, or game or something interactive. FOOD should not be treated as such, especially in young children.

amandachalynn 3 years 3 weeks

I think this is ridiculous. My son has had them. They are a very special treat. Not everyone takes their kid to McDonalds every day for regular meals. It's punishing the people who treat fast food the way it should be treated, as a very occasional treat. Miss Sushi how do you get your kids to eat what you serve them? My son is 4 and he certainly does not eat everything that's served, even if he loved it two weeks ago.

snowysakurasky 3 years 3 weeks

i never had these growing up, nor did i want them... neither will my kids.

MissSushi 3 years 3 weeks

I know they absolutely disgusting, processed, and full of chemicals and laden with fat. I also know my kid has had one or two before, lol. I wouldn't buy them or make it any sort of habit though. They really are disgusting and totally unhealthy. They will eat what you serve them, and its sad to set them up for a lifetime of horrid eating choices. I am definitely one for letting loose and having fun sometimes, and i think its a BAD idea to limit everything, but mcdonalds has to be on the lowest rung of things to indulge in.

Link Love

19 Comments

You Might Also Like