codeigniter multiple ckeckbox

I'm trying to get multiple checkbox values I get the last value always not all of it I tried to check if it array but it's single value

<?php echo form_open('user/favorit_cats');?>
    <h1>please select the food cateogry you want to see it the most</h1>

 <?php 
    for($i=0;$i<sizeof($cats_names);$i++){
        echo'<input type="checkbox" name="meal_cat" value='.$cats_id[$i].'>';
        echo '<label for="'.$cats_id[$i].'">'.$cats_names[$i].'</label><br>';

    }
    ?>
    <?php echo form_submit('submit','set as favorit'); ?>
    </form>

and my controller

 if($this->input->post('subm it')){
               if(is_array($this->input->post['meal_cat'])){
                   echo'array';
               }
            }

I want to get all the values that checked