What age to switch from a Happy Meal?

[RhubarbThumb]

My DS is 6 (7 in March) and went with a school friend swimming, and went for McDonald's after and the other boy (was 7 in October) was bought an adults medium meal.

Is 7ish the age? I was thinking maybe 11/12??

Yeah absolutely

For the past couple of years my 9 year old has had a happy meal with something extra (fries or hamburger). She would eat an adult meal but still likes the novelty of a happy meal

My older two were both about six/seven. It's expensive now!

My13 yo niece still has a happy meal and an ice cream after. Her brother was having a quarter pounder large meal 3 chicken selects and an apple pie ages about 6, he’s now 12 and competes nationally in a sport that requires being mega strong, has size 10 feet and wears men m-l clothes lol. My sister spends the same as a smallish mortgage on feeding him

Appetite dependant, and also tat related.

My eldest had one until about 9, his friend moved on to adult meals about 6 (he has a good appetite)! DH and I order the same as a happy meal as we want to lose weight!

Mine switched last year so at age 9. Her friends had switched before though.

Mine moved over to double cheeseburger meals (which they now do intermittently, unfortunately). Usually medium fries, medium drink and a double cheeseburger. It's quite a bit but Happy Meals can feel a bit miserable once you hit KS2.

My almost 10 year old is still happy with a happy meal although the little soft toy usually ends up with the dog to play with.
My 11 year old has been eating an adult meal more recently, probably around the time he turned 11 but his appetite overall grew around that time.

My 8 year old would still be hungry with just a happy meal now..

This thread prompted me to have a happy meal for dinner today. I'm mid 40s. It was decent and plenty food for me but everyone's different

Mine are 5 and 7 and have moved into a medium meal but would prob still be happy with a happy meal

I had one too watching Love Island final 🤣 chicken nuggets with chips and coke, was lovely. Got a sonic toy, missing the Jurassic World dinosaurs 🤣🤣🤣

My boy is 7 and asks for an adult meal now. Happy meal doesn't fill him up

A happy meal has the correct number of calories for a 7 year old’s lunch, if it’s not filling him up I would be concerned.

You'd be concerned? Why?

To add - if the child is otherwise healthy and not overweight, why would it worry you that for one meal the kid is seemingly hungrier than what their recommended calorie intake allows for? Do you police all other meals like this?

11/12 is secondary school age. I think they'd probably get laughed at if they were still on happy meals at that age.
I was always of the view that they were for infant school aged children and below.
My two have just turned 8, and although my DD still has one sometimes (she's never been a big eater), my DS probably hasn't had one for a year or more. He'd probably also say that the toy is "for babies", and would begrudgingly pick the book. My DD still likes the toy, depending what it is.

Is your calorie intake always perfectly evenly spread? You're never ever a bit more or less hungry?

I think happy meals are for toddlers my DD is almost 8 and still has one but with a mayo chicken as an extra (just the burger before anyone comments 🙄) she wouldn't be filled up with 4 nuggets and a tiny bag of fries

I think my DS must have been about 10 when his appetite got so big for an adult one. I usually just get myself a cheeseburger and small fries as that fills me, never thought to get a happy meal as I want an espresso with it 😂 My DD is 11 and still only eats about the same as I do

I found when I got the app, and I could get free small fries, I would eat that and still feel full. I always just got medium meals and ate it all because it was there

My ten year has a large quarter pounder with cheese meal .

He’s not overweight, he eats well otherwise and has a balanced diet.

I had one yesterday. Mid fifties. I gave the toy back though, as it was a bit of tat that would forever live in my car otherwise (a tin with a few playing cards in, something to do with the joker). My 18 year old son had one, too.

DS was having HMs until 9 or 10 and I actually thought he was a bit old but he liked the novelty. I would say he has a large appetite, but for something like that he'd just accept it for what it was and just eat a bigger dinner later.

He isn't keen on anything other than nuggets anyway though so it's just two extra nuggets and a few more chips. He has a bottle of water with it.

Happy meals until 11 or 12 is very unrealistic. Medium meals for age 6 or 7 is on the cusp/possibly on the young side. I think my view on it would be that it's OK, but only if there is an awareness that medium meals are adult portions and this is a one off...I'd be concerned if a parent thought that a child should eat that amount all the time. A large would be a big no from me.

I am not talking about healthy food obviously as we are discussing McDonalds lol.

730kcal is more than 1/3 recommended kcal intake for average woman.
No wonder so many people are obese in UK.

I totally agree and I posted here that it’s shite but it’s taken as being judgemental and I’m accused of being equivalent to a lentil munching anti- ultra processed food fanatic.

I had no intention of being judgemental but do I feel strongly about kids being fed this stuff after watching several documentaries about how it’s made and what the ingredients are.

It only takes a minute to find this info and it’s kinda sad that fast food has become normalised as a ‘treat.’