Ordering a Happy Meal from McDonald’s used to be a nostalgic treat for kids or a fun choice for parents. But now, it’s signaling something troubling: adults are turning to kids’ menus because they can’t afford regular meals. A recent Lightspeed survey found that 44% of adults are ordering from the kids’ menu, with nearly one-third citing lower prices as the reason. This trend, dubbed the “Happy Meal Indicator,” points to deeper economic struggles.
Rising Food Costs: A Growing Problem
Food prices are climbing, making it harder for people to eat out or even cook at home. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the cost of eating out has gone up by 3.9% in the past year. Full-service restaurant meals and snacks have risen by 4.6%, while fast food and other limited-service options are up by 3.2%. Even groceries aren’t a safe bet, with food prices at home increasing by 2.7%. The biggest hit? Animal proteins like meat, fish, and eggs, which have spiked by 5.6%.
Why Is Everything So Expensive?
A combination of economic factors is driving these price hikes. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in food costs that never fully went away. Rising fuel prices have slowed down food deliveries, forcing stores to charge more to cover losses. Weather events, international conflicts, and agricultural issues have only made things worse. While inflation has cooled from its 2022 peak of 8% year-over-year, the CPI is still 26.7% higher than in 2019, before the pandemic hit. This persistent inflation is squeezing budgets and forcing tough choices.
The Bigger Impact on Budgets
It’s not just food—other essentials are getting pricier too. Shelter costs have risen by 3.6%, medical care by 4.2%, and transportation by 3.5%. For lower-income households, these increases are especially tough. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that the poorest 20% of households spend about 33% of their income on food, compared to 14% for middle-income households.
As costs rise, food security—having reliable access to nutritious food—is becoming harder to maintain. In 2023, 18 million U.S. households, or 13.5% of the population, faced low or very low food security, up from 12.8% in 2022. This means many are eating lower-quality food or struggling to keep food on the table consistently.
What’s Being Done to Help?
Government programs are stepping in to ease the burden. In 2021, the USDA adjusted benefits to account for inflation, boosting purchasing power by 21% for eligible households. These updates happen every five years, so another increase could come in 2026. For now, some adults are stretching their budgets by ordering kids’ meals, a small but telling way to cope with rising costs.
A Sobering Trend
The “Happy Meal Indicator” is more than a quirky trend—it’s a warning sign of economic strain. As food and other necessities become less affordable, people are making tough choices to get by. While government aid offers some relief, the growing reliance on kids’ meals shows just how far some are going to make ends meet.
