Children's Meals - Substitutions?

[Bell Family]

We will be in WDW for 9 days. During this time my kids (3 & 8 as of the time we will be in WDW - birthday trip) could live on macaroni & cheese. or chicken nuggets. Although I can deal with the week of somewhat unbalanced eating, I would like the kids to have more for vegetables than french fries (they are both great vegie eaters). Are there options for substituting for the fries - carrot sticks, applesauce, raisins? I will pack in some healthy snacks, but I was just wondering if there were options within the resorts. When we were last at WDW we it was bc (before children) so we did not think about these things.

Why is it that most kids meals are full of fat and fried? How about just a grilled chicken breast and carrots? At least my kids hate sodas, so milk and water will make them happy.

Any input and restaurant suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Samandmom]

Most of the fastfood restaurants offer the choice of substuting the fries for carrots. At all the four theme parks there is place to get fresh fruit.

 

[catheren]

As the above poster mentioned all theme parks have fresh produce stands.

I find the resort, sit-down restaurants offer grilled chicken, pasta, steaks and fish. Mini-adult meals.

The some counter service parks restaurants offer more healthy/gourmet type fare. Especially at Epcot's WS.

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes - most of the counter service restaurants will substitute carrot sticks or grapes for the fries. You have to ask for them up front and the only place I had trouble was American Adventure and that was just an mistaken CM.

I try and make sure my girls eat a healthy breakfast, its easier since there are usually better choices and lots of fruit available. We also use a cooler so we can keep healthy choices in the room!

We have our big meal as a late lunch and often choose a sit down restaurant. This way my girls (6&8) can choose a salad, soup or an appetizer instead of a kids meal or they split a "normal" entree if they like.

Don't rule out splitting an adult meal between kids at counter service restaurants especially in the world showcase. The salad with chicken at the Columbia Harbor house is terrific, my girls love it and one is more than enough for the two of them. Sure beats a hot dog with fries!

As someone else mentioned there are now fruit stands at all the parks and I have seen more healthy choices slowly invading the food courts.

Unfortunately though your right, for the most part the kids meals are your typical pb&j, mac & cheese, chicken strips and fries. One of the disney web sites has all the menu's so you can do a bit of planning if you like. I think its www.wdwig.com


TJ

 

[Bell Family]

Thanks for the heads up about carrots and grapes. That will help. I plan on packing in fruit (I won't pay $1.50 for a banana, when I can get a bunch of the them for that price at the market). It's the vegetables I am more concerned about, especially for the 3 year old. My 8 year old will eat soup, and salads. I already have a few PS for "late lunches" which will be our dinners. I noticed that Marrakesh does have a grilled chicken, I will ask if they can get vegies instead of fries.

We are staying at Vistana, so we will be doing all but a couple of breakfasts in the condo. I will probably buy some carrots, bell peppers and cucumbers to cut up and take with for snacking. It is just so funny how everyone keeps talking about how we need to give our kids healthy foods because they are getting so "fat" yet even at a place like WDW where families usually go for extended periods of time, the main option for kids is "chicken nuggets and fries."

Thanks for the help.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

Our DD will be turning 1 on our trip, and though she certainly won't be eating much volume-wise, I do want what table food she has to be more than french fries and mac & cheese! I don't get that either! And it's not like it's just a few -- every single restaurant has the same foods for kids' meals!

My own solution was to seek out buffets (benefits me more than it would you, as my daughter will eat free since she's under 3), where at least there are a wide choice of cooked veggies, potatoes, pastas, etc., to select from. For your kids, sounds like they would very much like the large salad bars and fruit stations. They're a little more expensive for adults (we're not huge eaters, either, but I guess you pay for the variety, too) and even the kids' 3-9 price is probably $10 or so, but at least there's variety and more health conscious choices!

Hope this helped!