Kids meal toys becoming passé?

I haven't been a kid for quite some time but if I were still a kid you can bet I would still order a McDonald's Happy Meal or whatever they call them at Burger King or Wendys.

I don't know if it is the recession or whether kids meals just aren't as popular anymore, but sales of kids meals are down 9 percent over last year. Orders from the dollar menu, on the other hand, are up 13 percent.

There were 1.3 billion kids meals sold last year which is a staggering number, but believe it or not, sale sof kids meals have been falling for the last three or four years.

But according to industry experts, it's not the food that is the problem. It's the toys.

In todays ever increasing high tech world where kids are more interested in video games and yes, even cell phones or other electronic gadgets, the latest movie tie-in toy just isn't as exciting to youngsters as it used to be.

The first McDonald's Happy Meal toy was launched in 1979 in Kansas City. The first toys included a McDoodler stencil, puzzle book, ID bracelet and a McDonaldland eraser or wrist wallet. Doesn't sound like much but boy when they first came out the idea of getting a toy with you food was pretty cool to this six year old.

The first movie tie-in toy was the Star Trek meal. The first Disney themed Happy Meal appeared in 1987.

Over the years Happy Meals have featured everything from Hello Kitty! To Shrek to Wizard of Oz to Polly Pocket, Barbie and even Beanie Babies. The first Happy Meal toy that I remember getting was a Playmobil sheriff figure and I just thought it was the greatest thing ever.

Other restaurants offered cool collectible glasses which today can fetch a pretty good price on eBay and roadside antique stores. I'm sure a lot of you have some of those tucked away somewhere.

Today though, kids seem to want more techno toys.

Fewer kids are eating out too. Restaurant visits by families is down 5 percent from December 2008 through February 2009. And those families that are eating out at fast food restaurants are ordering things from the dollar menu which is less pricey than a kids meal.

And of course, parents seem to be more health conscious as well. Salads and grilled chicken, after all, are a whole lot better for you than a burger and fries. In fact, Burger King just rolled out three more kids meals varieties that feature two mini burgers, fresh apple fries and apple juice.

But if you ask me, I still like to see what the toy inside is.