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Original poster

What age to switch from a Happy Meal?

279 replies

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 13:41

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??

OP posts:
Spanielsaremad · 16/02/2025 13:58

DS stopped the Happy Meals at about 5.

Yellowbananasarebetterthangreen · 16/02/2025 13:58

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 13:52

Well, no. If they wanted one at 3, would you buy it??

Show quote history

Why not?

I always did when my two were little - any they didnt eat.............. was mine!

pearbottomjeans · 16/02/2025 13:59

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 13:41

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??

Are you judging? For all you know the kid left half of it??

My older kids are 7&10 and would generally have main menu. Theres not much choice in a happy meal. Plus much less waste (yeah you can get a book and the toys are now non-plastic too but it’s all just waste ultimately). A frigging minion shaped tin per happy meal - what are we meant to do with 2 of those??

DS2 has never finished any meal in his entire life, DS1 stops when he’s full, so I have no need to worry about overeating.

Original poster
RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 13:59

Yellowbananasarebetterthangreen · 16/02/2025 13:58

Why not?

I always did when my two were little - any they didnt eat.............. was mine!

Show quote history

Ha ha

I wouldn't have because it's too much food for them.

OP posts:
Frankinator · 16/02/2025 14:00

I'd also have happily bought a medium meal for a three year old in preference to all the plasticy tat that comes with a happy meal. Im not quite sure what the issue is here?

Original poster
RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 14:00

pearbottomjeans · 16/02/2025 13:59

Are you judging? For all you know the kid left half of it??

My older kids are 7&10 and would generally have main menu. Theres not much choice in a happy meal. Plus much less waste (yeah you can get a book and the toys are now non-plastic too but it’s all just waste ultimately). A frigging minion shaped tin per happy meal - what are we meant to do with 2 of those??

DS2 has never finished any meal in his entire life, DS1 stops when he’s full, so I have no need to worry about overeating.

Edited
Show quote history

Well. I know he didn't because we were there... Confused

I'm just wondering if I should consider adult meals for DS.

OP posts:
Iamallowedtodisagreewithyou · 16/02/2025 14:01

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 14:00

Well. I know he didn't because we were there... Confused

I'm just wondering if I should consider adult meals for DS.

Show quote history

Don't you ask him what he would like?

FrogsLoveRain · 16/02/2025 14:02

I'm tiny. I sometimes buy a Happy Meal.

Original poster
RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 14:03

Frankinator · 16/02/2025 14:00

I'd also have happily bought a medium meal for a three year old in preference to all the plasticy tat that comes with a happy meal. Im not quite sure what the issue is here?

The amount of food. That's the issue. I was under the impression that kids meals were kids meals. Not toddler.

OP posts:
NoseyFarkers · 16/02/2025 14:03

Ds3 is 7 and can easily eat more than a HM now and has for a while. I reckon we have a McD's once a month on average and he's back and forth. If he's starving (like last weekend after a 5 hour rugby tournament) then the thought of more food wins and he'll have a normal meal. If not, the thought of a toy and a box wins and he'll choose a HM.

Original poster
RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 14:04

Iamallowedtodisagreewithyou · 16/02/2025 14:01

Don't you ask him what he would like?

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I suppose so, but I don't think I want him having that larger portion of chips and stuff.

OP posts:
pearbottomjeans · 16/02/2025 14:05

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 14:00

Well. I know he didn't because we were there... Confused

I'm just wondering if I should consider adult meals for DS.

Show quote history

‘😵‍💫’ to you too, your OP mentioned nothing about you being there.

I see you are very much an overthinker. You just swap to main menu if your kid wants something that is unavailable as a happy meal. It’s not an irreversible decision - he can have a happy meal again in the future even if he’s had main menu in the past!

Simonjt · 16/02/2025 14:05

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 14:03

The amount of food. That's the issue. I was under the impression that kids meals were kids meals. Not toddler.

Show quote history

A toddler is a kid, as is a 17 year old! Happy meals are for very young children, thats why the portion is tiny and the books are aimed at a very low reading age. I do however get myself a happy meal when they have the pokemon ones.

Iamallowedtodisagreewithyou · 16/02/2025 14:06

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 14:04

I suppose so, but I don't think I want him having that larger portion of chips and stuff.

Show quote history

Well you've got two choices. Either ask him what he wants or give him what you want him to have.

When I went to McDonalds with my kids, I just gave them what they wanted. If I was worried they'd had too much junk food in recent days I simply wouldn't have gone, I'd have cooked something nutritious at home instead.

Stresshead84x · 16/02/2025 14:07

My youngest wasn't full after a happy meal about 4- he used to finish then he'd be looking for extras from everyone else and probably started asking for a bigger meal about 5- he's very good at regulating his appetite and he's a healthy weight so I dont worry. My middle child is 9 and gets an adult meal because he chooses a big mac but he would probably be happy with a happy meal in terms of how much food- I think it just depends on the child.

Simplelifenodrama · 16/02/2025 14:08

What a dilemma.

Ph3 · 16/02/2025 14:08

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 14:04

I suppose so, but I don't think I want him having that larger portion of chips and stuff.

Show quote history

I think you know your kids best - do they stop when they are full or struggle to regulate and eat everything? If it’s the latter then I can see the dilemma if it’s the former ask them what they want - if they want an adult meal try it, if they leave most of it then next time order a happy meal: rinse and repeat until they eat all of it. My 12 year old hates food so he likes to keep my expectations low 🤣 so will always ask for a happy meal. My 10 and 9 love all food so order an adult meal, sometimes they eat it all other times they leave some of it - it’s also not a big deal really if sometimes they leave some. They were full and stopped eating. I’m the same.

TickingAlongNicely · 16/02/2025 14:08

My eldest last had one at 12! She had her first adult one on her 13th birthday as she felt quite hungry...
Her sister preferred just a box of nuggets from about 9ish.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 16/02/2025 14:09

We swapped at about 7 iirc. Partly to stop getting the rubbish toys and pointless extra packaging.

Nessastats · 16/02/2025 14:09

I'm wondering why you're even bothering to go to McDonald's if you're so uptight over "all that food" when the difference is literally a few chips.

A 3 year old will eat less than a 7 year old who will eat less than a 14 year old. Isn't it logical that as they get older, they'll need more than a happy meal?

mitogoshigg · 16/02/2025 14:14

Appetite dependent, my DD's ate them until 10 or so

Aug12 · 16/02/2025 14:15

My 7 yr old still has a cheeseburger happy meal but I order a box of nuggets for him as well, as he is still hungry after his happy meal. I buy him it because his little siblings get one and he likes the wee box and rubbish toy 🙈 otherwise I would just get him an adult meal instead

ClairDeLaLune · 16/02/2025 14:15

Hmm should I feed my kid a small amount of shit food or a large amount of shit food, I really can’t decide….

HaddyAbrams · 16/02/2025 14:17

My DC were 9/10ish IIRC. Although they would have a happy meal and a mcflurry/ice cream from about 8.

camperjam · 16/02/2025 14:18

I think mine were about 6 or 7 ehen6a happy meal was too small