Counter Service meals & toddlers

[Kuzcotopia1]

I used to know Disney inside-and-out. It was easy to plan a trip. Now? Well, now I have my first child and I'm a researcher aaaaall over again. Which rides can she do, where can we eat, fun things at all the hotels to keep her occupied outside of the parks. Whew!

We are going to be visiting WDW for the first time when my daughter is 20 months old and I'm looking at menus for healthier options. I'm fine with her eating chicken fingers, pizza or mac & cheese a few times, but I don't want those types of options all of the time.

In your opinions and from your knowledge, what are some of the best counter service options for healthier kids meals? She's kind of a foodie, like me, so I know she'll try new things.

Thanks in advance all.

 

[kaybird]

I would just let her eat off your plate. The braised pork at BOG is delicious, and comes with mashed potatoes and green beans. The Terriyaki salmon at Katsura grill comes with rice and is so good we get it a couple of times. Sunshine seasons has LOTS of healthy options, including my DH favorite pork chop.

 

[crabbygal902]

BOG has turkey meatloaf with broccoli and zucchini, mahi mahi with salad, and whole grain macaroni with marinara. They have great kid options!

Sunshine seasons has a salad with grilled chicken, salmon with green beans.

 

[kaybird]

BOG has turkey meatloaf with broccoli and zucchini, mahi mahi with salad, and whole grain macaroni with marinara. They have great kid options!

Sunshine seasons has a salad with grilled chicken, salmon with green beans.

I tell the chefs at Sunshine seasons that they prepare the best salmon on property! Yes, it's that good, even better than Artists point! (I love my salmon!)

 

[ebradley23]

Check out the Power Pack meal at ABC Commisary in HS

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/abc-commissary/menus/

Mainly I just let my son eat off my plate most of the time though.

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

I agree, sharing from your plate is the easiest option. The portions are generous enough to share. Even though they do have Mickey check meals, they look like they made for kids who are being forced to eat healthier, not kids who love food variety.
My favorite quick service places are Sunshine Seasons and Katsura grill. Almost every restaurant has a a few healthier choices.

 

[HopperFan]

- Eat off your meal
- Buffets can eat whatever you want
- Many have Mickey Check Meals, which are healthier options
- Mickey Power Packs, probably all but carrots be good
- Epcot has your most variety at counter
- but studying menus ahead is your best bet ...
- MK BOG lunch
- AK has good options at Harambe Market, Smiling Crocodile good picks for her & take to another place
- DHS more limited for child meals but I would likely look at 50's Prime and let them eat off your plate

These are a nice option for kids meals and even adults as a mid day snack -
Kids' Mickey Check Meal - Power Pack
Dannon® Danimals® Smoothie, Apple Wedges, Carrot Sticks, Goldfish Crackers, Apple-Cinnamon Snack Bar and choice of small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani® Water. Meets Disney Nutrition Guidelines for Complete Meals without substitutions

 

[scrapquitler]

I used to know Disney inside-and-out. It was easy to plan a trip. Now? Well, now I have my first child and I'm a researcher aaaaall over again. Which rides can she do, where can we eat, fun things at all the hotels to keep her occupied outside of the parks. Whew!

We are going to be visiting WDW for the first time when my daughter is 20 months old and I'm looking at menus for healthier options. I'm fine with her eating chicken fingers, pizza or mac & cheese a few times, but I don't want those types of options all of the time.

In your opinions and from your knowledge, what are some of the best counter service options for healthier kids meals? She's kind of a foodie, like me, so I know she'll try new things.

Thanks in advance all.

I suggest Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion in Epcot. The last time I ate there, I had a kids salmon meal.

You can look at all the menus online (sorry, I can't remember the link, I think it's at allears.net ) and plan ahead that way.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

I am cracking up at my own post now.

Back in October I said my kid eats anything. Silly me! Now that she's 19 months, she'll eat NOTHING. #toddlers

Back to square one on finding the best places.

 

[nco91590]

LOL I was just going to say "Man...must be nice that your kid will eat anything". I have a very picky eater, and when we were there we did a couple buffet breakfasts as that was typically easier to find healthy choices. Yogurt, oatmeal, fruit, pancakes, eggs, etc. Lunches were few and far between. Typically she would be cool with a pb&j and applesauce which is one of the standard meals at most QS's. For sit downs, I tried to have variety and always made sure there was a side of steamed broccoli for her.

I mean, I tried my best but ultimately, it's always a struggle. Whether you're in WDW or not. At that age, we basically tried for 2 servings of fruit/veg a day and hoped for the best lol. Does your daughter eat those fruit and veggie puree pouches? Like, the pear and broccoli ones?

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

LOL I was just going to say "Man...must be nice that your kid will eat anything". I have a very picky eater, and when we were there we did a couple buffet breakfasts as that was typically easier to find healthy choices. Yogurt, oatmeal, fruit, pancakes, eggs, etc. Lunches were few and far between. Typically she would be cool with a pb&j and applesauce which is one of the standard meals at most QS's. For sit downs, I tried to have variety and always made sure there was a side of steamed broccoli for her.

I mean, I tried my best but ultimately, it's always a struggle. Whether you're in WDW or not. At that age, we basically tried for 2 servings of fruit/veg a day and hoped for the best lol. Does your daughter eat those fruit and veggie puree pouches? Like, the pear and broccoli ones?

She only recently started accepting pouches and now I exclusively buy the ones packed with veggies and a fruit to sweeten it up. I told my husband that will probably be her veggie intake every day. lol. She used to eat stalks of steamed asparagus, broccoli, fish... now she just laughs at me.

 

[KrazeeK120]

She only recently started accepting pouches and now I exclusively buy the ones packed with veggies and a fruit to sweeten it up. I told my husband that will probably be her veggie intake every day. lol. She used to eat stalks of steamed asparagus, broccoli, fish... now she just laughs at me.

Oh man, don't tell me that! My 15 month old eats everything in sight. We are going to Disney in 3 months and I hope he's still a good eater! (Although I expect his appetite will slow at some point...he weighs over 29 lbs!)

 

[nco91590]

The struggle is real! My 6 year old has expanded her palate a bit, she now will eat some fish (mostly breaded) and is eating meat (mostly chicken and pork) without gagging like she used to. My 4 year old son, on the other hand, eats everything and anything in his path. So, two kids, same parents, completely different eating habits. I did everything they tell you to do: made all their baby food from scratch, introduced a wide variety of solids, no juice, So weird. Hang in there! I completely sympathize.

Do you give her a multi vitamin yet? That might ease your mind a bit too. I use the Little Critters gummy multi-vitamin for good measure especially when we're on vacation or she's on a food strike lol.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

Do you give her a multi vitamin yet? That might ease your mind a bit too. I use the Little Critters gummy multi-vitamin for good measure especially when we're on vacation or she's on a food strike lol.

My daughter will eat some things but I sneak in all sorts of hidden veggies. Spaghetti? She's getting a container of pureed peas mixed into that sauce. She also refuses to eat broccoli but will eat broccoli tots which are like 90% broccoli but in a different form. Kids these days!

Oh man, don't tell me that! My 15 month old eats everything in sight. We are going to Disney in 3 months and I hope he's still a good eater! (Although I expect his appetite will slow at some point...he weighs over 29 lbs!)

I hope it doesn't happen to you! If it does, break out the pureed baby food for hidden veggie fun.