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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:
graceinspace999 · 16/02/2025 15:21

I didn’t realise how ‘normal’ it has become to eat shite.

If the child loses interest in the tat then that might be an opportunity to go somewhere that serves real food.

LeavingUp · 16/02/2025 15:21

When they tell you what they want🤷🏻‍♀️

ImDoneOnceAndForAll · 16/02/2025 15:21

Depends on appetite

Is the child still hungry after or shortly after?
If so, then time to move up

Nephew stopped happy Meals at about 3
(Not overweight, tall for age)

Niece still has one at 12 (Small for age)

I dont think its age dependant

PassMeTheCookies · 16/02/2025 15:22

Well, this thread has made me realise that my 5 year old must be a little hungry horse 😂 He has the £5 meal deal, which is a burger, 4 nuggets, fries and a drink. So it's basically a nugget happy meal with a burger on top, and he eats the lot. He's not a chunky boy by any stretch of the imagination, but he must save his appetite up for when he gets to go to McDonalds!

NotsosunnyShropshire · 16/02/2025 15:23

3luckystars · 16/02/2025 13:46

I still have them

So does my M-i-L and she’s mid 80’s.

ImDoneOnceAndForAll · 16/02/2025 15:23

graceinspace999 · 16/02/2025 15:21

I didn’t realise how ‘normal’ it has become to eat shite.

If the child loses interest in the tat then that might be an opportunity to go somewhere that serves real food.

Chill

No-one is saying they have it every day

Spudalot · 16/02/2025 15:24

ImDoneOnceAndForAll · 16/02/2025 15:23

Chill

No-one is saying they have it every day

Show quote history

Exactly. And why bother coming on a thread about happy meals and be surprised when people comment about eating happy meals.😆 Likewise if there was a thread about children who have never had one there would be plenty of people commenting that theirs haven’t…just don’t bother opening the thread if you don’t want to discuss it.

ChipsnGraveee · 16/02/2025 15:25

DD stopped having them around 9-10 (when she lost interest in the toys).
DS is 8 and still has them as he likes the toys but occasionally does ask for something else now.

LeavingUp · 16/02/2025 15:25

ImDoneOnceAndForAll · 16/02/2025 15:23

Chill

No-one is saying they have it every day

Show quote history

Yep! God forbid I treat my children to a McDonald’s every now and then

Alittlegreenwhale · 16/02/2025 15:25

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, surely he would just stop eating when he was full?

Original poster
RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 15:26

graceinspace999 · 16/02/2025 15:21

I didn’t realise how ‘normal’ it has become to eat shite.

If the child loses interest in the tat then that might be an opportunity to go somewhere that serves real food.

I'm sure you weave organic lentils into a delicious meal every day and you kids never have eaten cake, crisps, chips, sweets, chocolate... 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 15:27

Alittlegreenwhale · 16/02/2025 15:25

Well, surely he would just stop eating when he was full?

Show quote history

He would. But he wouldn't eat more than the kids meal anyway. So it would be a waste of food and money.

OP posts:
Sprogonthetyne · 16/02/2025 15:27

My 8yo is still hungry after one. Annoyingly he still likes the tat and would get jealous if his younger sibling go a toy and he didn't, so I usually end up getting a bigger meal for myself and giving him some of mine.

Original poster
RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 15:29

Maybe it is appetite. But this little friend is overweight, so maybe that's why I was bit "hmmmm?" So wondered what she was "normal".

Any way apparently as young as 3 is acceptable to give adult meals 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Never mind, DS will continue with the kids meal.

OP posts:
LoveMySushi · 16/02/2025 15:30

My DS is almost 11 and still gets a happy meal most of the time. Sometimes just a hamburger.
We never go to mc donalds for a meal though, its more of a treat or a “snack” to tide them over.

WorkCleanRepeat · 16/02/2025 15:30

Both of mine were wanting extras on top of the Happy Meal at about 5.

They were definitely both ordering adult meals before 7.

LeavingUp · 16/02/2025 15:34

My 8yo would manage an adults meal as he’s always hungry at the moment but would get my asd 4yo a happy meal as he’ll only eat the actual chicken off the chicken nuggets (I have to peel the batter off) and dips the chips in ketchup and licks the ketchup off them!

Alittlegreenwhale · 16/02/2025 15:35

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 15:27

He would. But he wouldn't eat more than the kids meal anyway. So it would be a waste of food and money.

Show quote history

So keep buying him the kids' meal then! 🙄

Why did you say you were wondering whether to buy him a main meal if you know he won't eat it?

BreezyScroller · 16/02/2025 15:37

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 15:29

Maybe it is appetite. But this little friend is overweight, so maybe that's why I was bit "hmmmm?" So wondered what she was "normal".

Any way apparently as young as 3 is acceptable to give adult meals 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Never mind, DS will continue with the kids meal.

Edited

Why are you being so rude and superior?

You are talking about a McD for your kid, we all do it, but there's nothing to brag about 🙄

Surely you can see if your child wants more food or not? Sometimes they are hungry, sometimes they're not. It's such a non-issue, how do you manage with meals at home?

loropianalover · 16/02/2025 15:38

RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 15:29

Maybe it is appetite. But this little friend is overweight, so maybe that's why I was bit "hmmmm?" So wondered what she was "normal".

Any way apparently as young as 3 is acceptable to give adult meals 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Never mind, DS will continue with the kids meal.

Edited

Ahhh, there it is.

AutumnLeeeeves · 16/02/2025 15:38

My 4 year old has a medium wrap meal. She doesn't eat it all. She wouldn't eat a full happy meal either. But on the rare occasion we have a Maccies, she's allowed to choose what she wants. I don't understand the obsession of having to finish a meal..

WrylyAmused · 16/02/2025 15:40

For all the people saying it's appetite not age.... Yes, but also depends on frequency.... A one off junk food binge isn't an issue, but regularly it is.

McDonald's are tons of shit empty calories, so FWIW, I'd prefer to stay with a Happy Meal as long as possible and then give them something with more nutritional value later if they were hungry, rather than giving more junk at the time.

Also.... With the massive rise in overweight, even in primary age kids, might be a good time to remind yourself of the calorie/ portion size recommendations for children.
No-one seems to believe it these days, but for kids under ~11, they're a healthy weight when you can see their ribs. Check the NHS for latest advice.

Original poster
RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 15:41

loropianalover · 16/02/2025 15:38

Ahhh, there it is.

Show quote history

What? I asked a question, got told I was wrong... Accepted it and have decided to keep in doing what I'm doing until his appetite changes...?

OP posts:
Original poster
RhubarbThumb · 16/02/2025 15:42

BreezyScroller · 16/02/2025 15:37

Why are you being so rude and superior?

You are talking about a McD for your kid, we all do it, but there's nothing to brag about 🙄

Surely you can see if your child wants more food or not? Sometimes they are hungry, sometimes they're not. It's such a non-issue, how do you manage with meals at home?

Show quote history

I'm not being rude.

OP posts:
Alittlegreenwhale · 16/02/2025 15:42

By the way, a medium cheeseburger and fries is about 630kcal, and a seven-year-old boy needs around 1600kcal a day, so as a meal, it's hardly excessive.