A little dissapointed in Disney's dining

[Magpie]

With all due respect, there is no way to get a child to place the food in their mouth, chew and swallow without 1) their agreeing to it 2) you placing it in forceably 3) threatening them in some way or 4) using some other form of coercion. I refuse to control my child in this way, although I fully agree with you about continued exposure to new foods, etc. and I like your approach to it very much. After 7 years with my child, I have a pretty good idea how far to go. But I will never punish her for refusing to try a food and without punishment as a recourse for not trying it, I haven't got much bargaining power. My bargaining chip is to simply make it all smell great and for us to enjoy it so much that she wants it also...it's worked more than once! I think it is hard to understand until you have a child who truly will not try new foods--especially when the ones they enjoy are not unhealthy at all--just limited.

As some have posted her at the DIS boards, perhaps exposure to new foods at WDW will encourage her to try them.

Well, I don't beat her! I don't know... it's just a rule. It's always been a rule. I've never needed a punishment, unless - "Just take a bite, and then mum will stop nagging you to eat it," counts as an incentive. When I say, "Do it!" the kids generally hop to, regardless of what I'm asking them to do. They sometimes bargain and grouch and complain, but they do it (unless they can give me a really good reason for not - I can be persuaded!). And yeah, I know I'm lucky!

All our kids are different - I was just a little concerned that it sounded like you were enabling her pickiness, but it doesn't sound like you are. It sounds more like you're respecting her individuality.

I have an adult friend, you see, who was never made to eat anything she didn't like. Her parents always made separate meals for her. And now - geez - I'm afraid to try to cook anything for her! Even if we order pizza, she's got to have a plain white crust with mozzarella cheese, no sauce, no butter, no oil, nothing! Try explaining that over the phone!

 

[Magpie]

slightly OT, but just wanted to mention to you that many times a child is labeled "picky" due to an aversion to certain foods, and is later found to have an intolerance to them - they avoid the food because subconciously they know it makes them feel unwell.

I feel lucky to have a child that is not "picky", but at the same time, I would never force a child to eat something they do not want. Not eating meat isn't going to kill anyone either (and research shows may actually prolong thier life in the long run due to decreased heart disease)

Mainly it comes down to the fact that I'm not going to make multiple meals. I'm going to make one meal and it's going to be a meal that's suitable for her brother, because his hypoglycemia outweighs her pickiness. This is about more than just meat (which aside from pork, VERY few people are ever allergic to), it's also about vegetables and grains. A varied diet is healthier. The kid cannot live very well on a diet of white rice.

I'm not mean to the kid, but I'm quite determined that by the time she's an adult she's going to be able to at least tolerate a variety of vegetables, meats, cheeses, and fruits. Being able to eat different foods will make traveling and visiting and dining *much* easier for her. And if she decides to only eat plain rice when she's at home alone, that's her choice.

But she's been making such great strides lately, that I'm fairly confident she'll at least sometimes opt for grilled chicken and apples when she's an adult. And I just ignore the fact that her preferred salad dressing is actually ketchup. There's a world of difference between the kind of picky eater she was when she was four (crying hysterically at the sight of a strawberry shortcake, because she just *couldn't* eat it), and the picky eater she is now at eleven (asking the hostess to please just give her a tiny piece of cake, trying one tiny bite, and putting the rest aside).

 

[laura74]

I'm so jealous of you with the adventurous eaters! My daughter eats mostly beige. I had read that O'hana has kids items on request. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[TDC Nala]

And the Pizzafari thing is stupid, no pizza on the kid's menu? Isn't that the name of the restaurant?

I don't believe this was done to create a healthier option for kids. They only make one size of pizza and are not set up to offer a smaller reduced-price portion. Therefore, no pizza on the kids menu. If they ever did have pizza on the kids menu, adults were probably buying those.

You're only stuck if you are on the dining plan, otherwise you can order pretty much anything you want, even if sometimes you have to search it out (not all counterservice places offer hamburgers or chicken fingers).

 

[TDC Nala]

We ate at the backlot cafe in MGM and my son was forced to eat cold grilled chicken off the kids menu. He has food allergies and the cashier would not work with us at all. He ended up eating my meal and I suffered with the cold chicken dish. It was pretty gross for an adult let alone a child. I don't know why it was cold either?

The kids' chicken dish was no longer on the Backlot menu as of last weekend (I wanted one for a snack). One choice was a sloppy joe and I don't remember what the other was. Yes, there were only two choices.

 

[deelam]

I'm so jealous of you with the adventurous eaters! My daughter eats mostly beige. I had read that O'hana has kids items on request. Anyone have any experience with this?

We were at Ohana's last week. The kids choices very very limited. There was Mac & cheese, Hamburger with fries or PB&J with fries.

 

[hipchickie]

Mainly it comes down to the fact that I'm not going to make multiple meals. I'm going to make one meal and it's going to be a meal that's suitable for her brother, because his hypoglycemia outweighs her pickiness. This is about more than just meat (which aside from pork, VERY few people are ever allergic to), it's also about vegetables and grains. A varied diet is healthier. The kid cannot live very well on a diet of white rice.

actually, while not rampant, beef allergy is well documented, especially in children with milk allergies. Also, people with other allergies (such as corn or penicillin) sometimes can not eat meat that was feed corn or antibiotics. I am not saying this to "pick" on you, but I doubt you can provide a link to back this up. While true "allergies" in general are fairly rare, there are a great more many people with food intolerances - not life threatening, but still something that would make someone avoid a food if it made them feel as bad as it does.

Research has often shown the fact that children have more tastebuds than adults. Ergo, children can taste things much better than adults, and often will not eat things because this heightened sensitivity to bitterness.

Also, if you are concerned about health and diet, feed your children whole grains. As a parent of a child with blood sugar issues, I am suprised you feed white rice, or anything refined like that.

 

[Magpie]

actually, while not rampant, beef allergy is well documented, especially in children with milk allergies. Also, people with other allergies (such as corn or penicillin) sometimes can not eat meat that was feed corn or antibiotics. I am not saying this to "pick" on you, but I doubt you can provide a link to back this up. While true "allergies" in general are fairly rare, there are a great more many people with food intolerances - not life threatening, but still something that would make someone avoid a food if it made them feel as bad as it does.

Research has often shown the fact that children have more tastebuds than adults. Ergo, children can taste things much better than adults, and often will not eat things because this heightened sensitivity to bitterness.

Also, if you are concerned about health and diet, feed your children whole grains. As a parent of a child with blood sugar issues, I am suprised you feed white rice, or anything refined like that.

I said white rice, but I actually mean basmati rice. Which looks and tastes like white, but is rather higher in the glycemic index. We eat it *very* rarely, in small portions, and it's her favorite food. It's what she'd eat every night, if she could. I know all about whole grains - we don't even keep traditional bread in the house.

I also know a fair bit about allergies. That's why I said beef allergies are rare - the big culprits are milk and eggs and wheat (though I don't know if there's been new research out in the last few years - I haven't kept up). I had a *lot* of allergies as a kid, had an extremely restricted diet and as a result chose to breastfeed for over a year, delaying the introduction of solid foods to my children. Both my kids have been tested for allergies. My son has a food intolerance to tree nuts (but not an allergy). They make him barf, every time.

My daughter's big issue, as far as we can tell, is texture more than taste. She doesn't like squishy foods, or slimy foods. A food she likes, she'll turn down if it's overcooked.

I've actually put a lot of thought and research into diet in our house. But I do appreciate your concern, on my daughter's behalf!

And as far as Disney goes? I'd totally get behind half-portions of the regular adult meals. I'd like to buy them myself!

 

[TDC Nala]

And as far as Disney goes? I'd totally get behind half-portions of the regular adult meals. I'd like to buy them myself!

Which is the main reason Disney will probably never offer such a thing.