What age to switch from a Happy Meal?

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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??

I can't remember but as mine only had McDonalds about every 6 weeks and it was never their main meal, I think it's irrelevant.

The difference is just a few chips.

My 4 year old has an adult meal because she likes sesame seeds on her bun!! I do share her chips though, but she demolished an adult burger!

Have they got smaller then? I used to get them for lunch when I was in uni, because I wanted the beanie babies or Mr men. Is it still burger/ nuggets and chips?

This tickled me , as at lunch with my friend recently ,I was unable to eat (literally!) the quite enormous double cheeseburger (Not McDonalds) and was offered the chance to have a Childs meal instead .The next visit.I think little boys esp have large appetites ,and there is quite a difference between a picky 3 year old who wants to play with the toy and a sporty 7 /8 year old who is always on the go.

Surely it also depends on the purpose of the meal? Something to keep you going after swimming until dinnertime - happy meal probably fine.
The only thing you are having to eat is your dinner, possibly need a bit more.

My 8yo can’t manage an adult meal. 11yo has the 6 nugget meals in

God no my child is 11 and she's been having a normal meal for years and years! Because happy meal wasn't enough.

She's always had a good appetite though.

No wonder there’s an obesity crisis in this country.

I don’t know, I would have guessed 7-10 years?
My Ds is nearly 5, he mainly drinks the small strawberry milkshake, and eats about 2 nuggets. But he’s a terrible eater generally so I wouldn’t go on his appetite.

But from what I can see, I would say most young children there ie who look about 10 or under seem to have a happy meal. They have a large playground at ours and often all the kids are inside there comparing toys.

My dc ate them until they were about 11

I am 55 and often eat children’s portions in restaurants and Mac D

in our house it’s when they ask for something off the adult menu for us it was a friend ( who has huge appetite) asking for a particular meal and our son asking for the same ( 10 years)

Who on earth is feeding a toddler a McDonald's? School age child sure but no-one is giving a 1 or 2yo that.

The girlfriend of my son who is 21 still order a happy meal!!!

I'm 52 and still get a happy meal if I ever go to Macdonalds. No plastic tat these days.
If your DS is happy with one, no need to overthink, just keep ordering them until he asks for more. It'll be different for each child.

A regualt burger or cheeseburger from McDonalds is not a bit item, it's not a Big Mac or something. The medium meals are not much bigger than a Happy Meal and swimming makes kids ravenous.

All of the food is crap so I really don't think it makes much difference. Once you've decided you're having McDonald's then they need to leave not hungry.

'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?'

🤔

DD, 10 will have a cheeseburger meal now. DS, 6 is still on a cheeseburger happy meal.

If the toy is good they will both get a happy meal and either nugs to share or a mcflurry after because DD will still be hungry and DS gets major FOMO if she has something he doesn't.

Both eat healthily 95% of the time so the odd McDonald's meal is not something I can work myself up over.

Me.

I fed my toddler McDonalds.

Ring Social Services if you like.

My 7 yo yesterday ordered a happy meal with apples and a an extra hash brown.

We don’t really do McDonalds however I would especially if it was their evening meal, yes. There’s a lot of calories but surprisingly little food in a regular meal and a three year old needs more than four chicken nuggets (or three fish fingers) and some fruit to keep them going.

I would much rather have left overs than a hungry DC half an hour later.

It depends on what they're having doesn't it? I know the veggie dippers happy meal is significantly less calories than the adult equivalent as I've switched to the happy meal myself. Let's me have the guilty pleasure of a McDonald's without being quite as fattening (and it's been an occasional part of my diet this past year where I've successfully lost 90lbs in weight).
Not sure how different the calorie values are for things like cheeseburgers but I personally only bought the adult meals for my kids once they were around 10/11 years old. Before that they were fine with happy meals and a mini McFlurry.
Bottom line- do what works for you and your own children.

My 8 year old still eats them but she has a small appetite. My son would have been full meal by then.

DD is 15 and still has a happy meal more often than not. She will have a McFlurry with it. She’s always eaten v little though. Occasionally she’ll ask for 6 chicken nuggets instead of 4 though (the last few toys we’ve had made excellent cat toys!)