Since my girls started eating kids meals, I have kept them away from associating their meals with getting toys. I don’t want them to prefer the fast food options because they get a toy over healthier options but that doesn’t mean we avoid fast food altogether. We occasionally get a not-so-healthy hamburger-french-fry lunch or dinner but I always get the healthiest side item like fruit instead of the fries and I also don’t give them the toy.
I’m sneaky, when I get the meal, I slyly grad the toy out of the bag/box and slip it in my purse. Honeybun has figured out that most kids meals at fast-food places are supposed to come with toys but she doesn’t usually fight me about not having it. My mom used to keep the toy until we finished our meal, but I don’t give my kids the toy even after their done because I have ulterior motives.
I hoard the toys somewhere they can’t get them and keep them for when we go on the airplane. I slip one or two in each girl’s backpack the night before we leave and wait for them to be surprised when we get to the airport or on the airplane. It makes traveling easier by providing a little excitement and new entertainment and keeps them from wanting to go to specific restaurants just for the toys. (I don’t think they’ve figured out yet that their surprise toys are actually the ones I’ve been sneaking from their kids meals!)
