A restaurant eating experience has a high potential for boredom because you have to wait and behave yourself and sit still. Food presentations and packaging that aim to solve that problem have a good chance of being successful, both for the kids and their parents. Since McDonald's first Happy Meal two decades ago, the world's largest fast-food chain and competitors such as Burger King, Wendy's and Taco Bell have stretched their imaginations to develop packaging that not only carries a toy, but is fun, interactive and, sometimes, educational. Call it art for kids. In Burger King's latest major promotion, the blockbuster Pok mon movie tie-in, the bags, cups, fry cartons, even the wrappings feature the popular characters and messages on how to collect the trading cards.
Drinks come in collectible cups, either glass or plastic.
Outback Steakhouse, Rainforest Cafe and Hard Rock Cafe have cups and mugs that depict everything from monkeys to the world globe. Anything that tells a child, 'This is for you.