Any tips for getting our 5 a day???

[FreshTressa]

I was looking over the menus that I have chosen for our stay. Most of the kids meals look really unhealthy. Any tips for keeping veggies and fruits fresh in the parks or places to obtain them??

Do the restaurants let you order a side of veggies to go with the kids plates??

 

[Nette]

This is tough. Our first trip w/ DD (at 10 months) she didn't get near enough fruits and veggies. We vowed the next trip we would be better prepared.

What we did was we packed some canned fruits & applesauce that were the individual size. We ALMOST packed some of the smaller cans of veggies too, but decided against it when we tried to pick up our luggage and move it to the car.

DD is only 14 months, so we also packed some of the gerber graduates "tv dinners" that had plenty of veggies and sweet potatos.

When we did the grocery run for some adult beverages for the cooler we also picked up some bananas (you'll pay about $1.50 each at the food court). On the first trip we actually snuck a couple of bananas out of one of the buffets because DD needed them so badly.

When we ate at Jiko the second time they had a side of peas & carrots that we ordered for DD. It was easily 2 cups of veggies (that she loves) If we had had something to put it in, we probably would have taken the leftovers with us.

*Most* of the restaurants are pretty accomadating, and most of them now have healthier choices (Carrots (raw) instead of fries, Soup options, etc.)

Try getting the kids a cup of veggie soup at the counter service places (if they are little - like mine - just drain off the liquid and let them eat the veggies).

We had to be creative, but carrying those fruit cups was a life saver. It made for a great morning snack for her and a great break for us.

 

[CEDmom]

DD really loves fruits and veggies so I do everything I can to make them available. The natural/low sugar fruit cups and apple sauce are great. I brought along some of those that come in the plastic cups along with plastic spoons. You can get really tiny baby carrots now which can be kept at room tempature along with grape or cherry tomatoes. Those gladware containers are great for putting fruit/veggies in to prevent crushing.

 

[DisneyArk]

We located the fruit stands inside the parks and gave our kids fresh fruit for snacks. The last time we went my boys were 1 and 3, so we would get a plastic knife (from the fruit stand) and cut the fruit into small pieces for them.

You're right, most of the kid's meal choices don't have vegetables with them.

 

[tjmw2727]

Its not great but IMHO its getting better and eaiser to eat healthy at WDW. Most (if not all) the counter service places will substitute carrots or grapes for the fries but you have to ask. We always schedule a sit down meal for lunch and do well ordering the kids a soup or salad instead of a "kids meal". For counter service we will order a regular meal or salad and split rather than the kids choices. In fact at home or in WDW we rarely order kids meals for our kids, they either get salad, soup, an appetizer or split with each other or one of us.

Many of the restaurants at World Showcase in Epcot have good choices as well as the food court in the land. In MK we like Columbia Harbor House and we have found lots of good counter service in AK. Unfortunately we have yet to find something at MGM, the best we have done is the fruit stand by Beauty and the Beast. All the parks have fruit stands now, MK in Toontown, AK by the safari, MGM by BnTB and Epcot by the small African pavilion. I find that if we keep hydrated and hit the fruit stands first the asking for ice cream is minimal.

HTH
TJ

 

[HappyMommy2]

Those are great tips. It is possible to eat reasonably healthy at WDW whether it's counter service, in the room, or a sit-down restaurant!

We liked to get carrots instead of fries with counter service meals. Also, in the backpack we took some little boxes of raisins (good for older kids who won't choke on them), plus a few little packs of dried fruit trail mix. Each day at the MK we'd go to the fruit stand in Toontown for a DELICIOUS (albeit a bit pricey) ice-cold watermelon bowl--quite a treat on a warm day.

Did we get our 5 a day? Well, probably more like 3, but I agree that it's getting a lot easier to eat healthy at Disney these days.

 

[FreshTressa]

Hmm, not sure a kids meal without fries would fill my DS up!! I guess well just order and extra side of something too.

I like the baby food idea. I bet my kids would still eat the sweet potatoes and fruits!

I'll take the lables off so they won't notice.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[kadaten]

We always ate at Columbia Harbor House at MK because they offered carrots and grapes in place of fries. But lots of places are doing that now so you have a few more choices.

In Epcot, try the foodcourt at the Land. It has a wide variety of things, many of them very healthy!

For dinners, the "family-style" all-you-can-eat restaurants all come with one or two vegetables. Two of my favorites are the Liberty Tree Tavern in MK and the Garden Grill in the Land at Epcot. Check out those menus...both are quite yummy! My DD and DH (pickier than DD) love them both. They're also character dinners, so they tend to be kid-pleasers for entertainment as well as food!

HTH,
Katie

 

[lindaso]

I'm hoping things have changed a little at the counter service places. When we were there in 2001, I was really ticked that they charged me extra for juice with a kid's meal (it came with soda). Now I'm just planning on keeping juice boxes and water in my bag b/c I won't pay extra just on principle...DH will drink the extra soda

For the baby, I'm planning to buy lots of fruit when we stop for our groceries and diapers. I have to, it's the only thing he eats besides french fries!!

 

[ahutton]

MGM has a great fruit stand area just off the main entrance street - over towards ToT... Many good fresh choices. Bananas travel well, and don't require a great deal of refrigeration. My kids love mandarin oranges, which come in pop-top cans or fruit bowls - they will eat a ton of those. Morocco has some great options for veggies too - jasmine salad is wonderful cucumbers and tomato which my kids love.

 

[Crazy4mandms]

We ate breakfast in the room every day...saved lots of $$ and had bananas, apples or grapes with our cereal. When we ate at the rainforest I didn't want the potato choices with dinner and they brought me out steamed broccoli.....I shared that with my kids...and at the ESPN club I asked to substitute my fries with soemthing and the waiter suggested and gladly brought me a cup of melon/cantaloupe. If I remember right I didn't get charged extra either time.

 

[ginnymac]

When we go out and the kids "need" the fries, I order one of the kids the meal with fries and the other kids meal we order with fruit or veges. The kids then share the veges and share the fries!! They are happy that they got the fries, and we're happy that they ate only half an order of fries apiece!

 

[Crazy4mandms]

ooooo ginnymac what a great idea!! My kids never end up eating all their fries anyway!!! It will save my waistline considering I don't order fries myself to save calories but can't resist eating the leftovers off their plates!!

 

[Gretchen]

Isn't there a fruit stand in Toon Town? I remember buying some banana's there, or was it at DisneyLand? Anyway.....I too purchase or bring the fruit with me esp. on the plane. Usually get the fruit quota at b.fast in the room and as a snack at night. Otherwise, we just eat what/when we want, 'cause we're on vacation!
Gretchen