McDonald’s is making a big change to Happy Meals for important reasons

For the first time in its history, McDonald’s has decided to remove the iconic smile from its Happy Meal boxes.

The move is part of a campaign to let kids know it’s okay not to be happy all the time. The initiative is timed to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from May 13-19.

The decision comes after a study commissioned by McDonald’s found that almost half of UK children feel pressured to always appear happy, even when they are not. The limited edition Happy Meal boxes are designed to encourage parents to talk about emotions with their children, reports Wales Online.

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In addition to the redesigned meal boxes, McDonald’s will also offer sticker sheets featuring various emotions. These stickers allow children to express their feelings directly on the boxes.

The special edition boxes and stickers will be available at all McDonald’s stores nationwide, with the stickers being offered at select locations from Monday 13 May to Sunday 19 May. McDonald’s has joined forces with BBC Children in Need, launching a resource center to support families in discussing emotional wellbeing with children.

This initiative aligns with the charity’s Mental Health Awareness Week campaign, which aims to shine a light on the mental burden faced by young people in the UK. The resources can be accessed via a QR code on Happy Meal boxes, as well as on McDonald’s website and social media platforms.

The campaign also highlights a trend among parents to protect their children from sadness, with 74% of parents saying it is essential to prevent their children from feeling sad.

Louise Page, head of communications and consumer partnerships at McDonald’s, said: “We’ve proudly supported BBC Children in Need for four years and know how important it is to help stimulate open conversations about mental health in families. switch to our flagship Happy Meal box, we hope many more families are encouraged to start positive conversations about children’s emotions and well-being.”

Fozia Irfan OBE, Head of Impact and Influence at BBC Children in Need, added: “Ensuring children are happy is at the top of every parent’s priorities, but allowing children to express themselves and giving them the space they need to articulate when they are” Mental Health Awareness Week is as important as feeling your best is the perfect opportunity to shine a light on the vital impact we can have on the mental wellbeing of children and young people and we are delighted to partner with McDonald’s to provide the necessary support. Parents and families may need to start the conversations with their children.”

For more details on available resources, visit the McDonald’s Family Hub.

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