Dining Plan for Kids...

[clanwilson]

I hope that someone can answer this because I've searched here and at Tripadvisor without success. My seven year-old is a very picky eater, and we will be on the dining plan, FREE, in October. Does anyone know if I can substitute french fries and a banana for a meal? Could I ask for two slices of bread and some peanut butter to make a sandwich? No "Uncrustables." The only thing off a buffet that she will eat is mashed potatoes or potato wedges. She won't eat grapes, carrots, etc., the normal sides with the kids' meals. If I can't substitute, then I'll just pay for them as sides to get her through, and pack granola bars from home. Thanks for any help.

 

[Tricia1972]

Does anyone know if I can substitute french fries and a banana for a meal?
I don't know about substituting bananas, but I know for sure that you can get french fries with your CS kids meals. Just substitute out the grapes/carrots, etc that they offer as the side

Could I ask for two slices of bread and some peanut butter to make a sandwich? No "Uncrustables."
From everything that I've read this is a no-go. Uncrustables seems to be all that they have. Perhaps due to allergies? I've heard that you can make your own with using a snack credit for bread and using the peanut butter and jelly from resort CS locations (though I think they are charging for PB from the resort CS's now)

 

[clanwilson]

I've seen the "Uncrustables" mentioned a lot, but she won't eat peanut butter and jelly, only peanut butter. I might have to pack that in a small container from home. A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do...

 

[brymolmom]

I would definitely pack a bag of bread and some PB (the brand she likes) and make a sandwich or two in the morning and throw them in the backpack to have just in case.

For her - you might be using snack credits instead of meals - some places have bananas (the food courts do - not sure how often you'll find it in the parks). You can get FF's as snack credit often.

Don't forget, too, that buffets are great places to try just one bite of something - and when it is MICKEY shaped, sometimes a picky eater (like my own dd5) will try something that she wouldn't at home! You poor thing - to think about her surviving on bananas and fries for a week must be driving you crazy!

Will she eat any other breakfast food? My kids (especially the picky one) will eat way more off a breakfast buffet (mickey waffles, yogurt, sausage, fruit) then they will off a lunch or dinner buffet - so we schedule lots of late breakfasts and make that our 'big meal' for the day. A 10:30 or 11:00am buffet is great - I know they'll get a full meal and we get a break from the heat.

Good luck.

 

[TDC Nala]

A couple of the buffets (Tusker House lunch was one) had make your own peanut butter sandwiches on the buffet. No idea if they still have them. Considering the prevalence of allergies they may not have that option anymore.

 

[clanwilson]

Thanks for the advice. The only fruit that she will eat is a banana. The doctor says not to force her to eat new foods, just to suggest them, and one day she'll get tired of eating the same stuff over and over again. From his mouth to God's ears...

 

[goofy4mykids]

I have 2 picky eaters, every time we go to WDW they end up trying something new My DD now loves Ham all thanks to minnie (we told her it is her fav)

 

[brymolmom]

Thanks for the advice. The only fruit that she will eat is a banana. The doctor says not to force her to eat new foods, just to suggest them, and one day she'll get tired of eating the same stuff over and over again. From his mouth to God's ears...

So strange how different PED's approaches are. Our PED agrees not to force her but also says to only offer our current family meal (ie: no making a separate meal for dd) and some healthy sides. She says that if she's hungry enough - she'll eat. Oh and we don't do desserts at all at home most days because she would DEFINITELY eat that (she loves sweets) and I don't want her thinking she can fill up on that junk every night. So we don't do the PB&J for her for meals (except for lunches when we're having sandwiches).

Does it work? Sometimes - I mean - I don't really expect her to have shrimp on the grill or anything - I only truly expect and have her at least try things that are more reasonable: a bite of watermelon, a bite of green beans, a piece of steak or pork (with ketchup on it of course).

I'd be interested to know if your PED's approach works as well or better in the long run...

 

[Kallista]

I've seen the "Uncrustables" mentioned a lot, but she won't eat peanut butter and jelly, only peanut butter. I might have to pack that in a small container from home. A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do...

If she will eat Jif, I've seen small, single packs of Jif. It's just a single serving in a small plastic container. It might make packing for the park easier.

 

[clanwilson]

I will definitely be on the look out for the singles of Jif; I've never seen them at Kroger.

The potato is our friend. This year she has progressed from only eating french fries to eating mashed potatoes and baked potato wedges. Cause for celebration!! By the way, our doctor said that his son ate only peanut butter sandwiches until he was six. Now he's in college and over six feet tall. I guess that's why he recommends a relaxed attitude.

Thanks, everyone, for the tips.