Eat this, not that- kiddie edition- ideas please!

[mster425]

I posted on another board that my three year old is a nightmare with too much sugar, and someone responded that it IS possible to make healthy food choices with picky kids AND make them happy.

I'll start with their example and would love some more ideas, as specific as possible re: locations please!

Eat the chocolate covered bananas, not the Mickey bars

Eat the fruit salad at Skipper's Canteen shaped like a Mickey head, not the regular fruit cup

 

[HopperFan]

Might some good ideas here:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/02/04/eating-healthy-in-walt-disney-world/

-----------------------

Look at QS locations for this. It's great for anyone to grab and go and have snacks during day.

Power Pack $5.49
Dannon® Danimals® Yogurt, Apple Wedges, Carrot Sticks, Goldfish Crackers, Apple-Cinnamon Snack Bar and a choice of small lowfat Milk or small Dasani® Water. Meets Disney Nutrition Guidelines for Complete Meals without substitutions.

 

[mster425]

Might some good ideas here:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/02/04/eating-healthy-in-walt-disney-world/

-----------------------

Look at QS locations for this. It's great for anyone to grab and go and have snacks during day.

Power Pack $5.49
Dannon® Danimals® Yogurt, Apple Wedges, Carrot Sticks, Goldfish Crackers, Apple-Cinnamon Snack Bar and a choice of small lowfat Milk or small Dasani® Water. Meets Disney Nutrition Guidelines for Complete Meals without substitutions.

Thanks! somehow that blogger stole my thread idea 7 years ago

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks! somehow that blogger stole my thread idea 7 years ago

They just had a premonition that you were going to start this.

Still great idea for thread:
- Many don't read blogs
- It is 7 years old so we'll get current info
- Am sure many will share unknown great ideas

 

[Thing 1]

Disney food is just FUN! Reality is ,if cutting back on sugar is the number one goal, neither of these suggestions will really help much. Remember that simple carbs break down into sugar and an overload of things like pasta and fries and white bread are going to be issues as well. Maybe look at trying to keep blood sugar as level as possible by choosing foods that have complex carbs and protein and then don't worry about a few treats. Maybe share sweets to keep the sugar a bit more reasonable. Maybe choose a Mickey Shape pretzel instead of a sweeter choice. Check gift shops for Mickey shapped crackers, pretzels etc. remember that you will be walking a ton and that uses energy as well. Drink only water or maybe milk at meals. Last, know that study after study has shown that sugar its self has very little effect on hyperactivity. It's the environment in which sugar is often consumed ( think Birthday Parties) that creates the hyper child! WDW is over stimulation in over drive so there might not be much help. Channel the energy and hang on for the ride and have fun!!!

 

[mster425]

Disney food is just FUN! Reality is ,if cutting back on sugar is the number one goal, neither of these suggestions will really help much. Remember that simple carbs break down into sugar and an overload of things like pasta and fries and white bread are going to be issues as well. Maybe look at trying to keep blood sugar as level as possible by choosing foods that have complex carbs and protein and then don't worry about a few treats. Maybe share sweets to keep the sugar a bit more reasonable. Maybe choose a Mickey Shape pretzel instead of a sweeter choice. Check gift shops for Mickey shapped crackers, pretzels etc. remember that you will be walking a ton and that uses energy as well. Drink only water or maybe milk at meals. Last, know that study after study has shown that sugar its self has very little effect on hyperactivity. It's the environment in which sugar is often consumed ( think Birthday Parties) that creates the hyper child! WDW is over stimulation in over drive so there might not be much help. Channel the energy and hang on for the ride and have fun!!!

I agree with you! Please don't misunderstand, I'm not planning on force feeding him kale-quinoa smoothies, but just enough protein/ stuff that has come from the ground so that he doesn't end up on the WDW ban list from going into toddler terrorist mode

 

[Anniefrances]

These are the snacks that my kids and I tend to eat:
Caramel apples - shops will cut them into slices for easier eating and sharing. Fresh pineapple spears. Fresh watermelon chunks. Veggies sticks with hummus. Edamame (I've only seen this in AK). Frozen fruit bars (instead of the Mickey ice cream)

 

[pixie08]

We usually do a grocery run or have a grocery delivery order with fruit, o cereal etc that he can snack on instead of all of the snacks. I do let him (he will be 2 1/2 next trip) have dessert at dinner especially at the buffets because they have fun things like mini cupcakes and ice cream bars. So it is a an after dinner treat not an all day thing.

We also do fruit or steamed broccoli instead of fries if he orders a QS meal, although he likes fries of course so one of us will get it and let him have some too. At some CS they looked at me with two heads when I asked for a veggie substitute but eventually they all accommodated. Also they have the big Mickey head pretzels and he got a kick out of those. We were usually able to split it 3 ways it was so large.

 

[mster425]

We usually do a grocery run or have a grocery delivery order with fruit, o cereal etc that he can snack on instead of all of the snacks. I do let him (he will be 2 1/2 next trip) have dessert at dinner especially at the buffets because they have fun things like mini cupcakes and ice cream bars. So it is a an after dinner treat not an all day thing.

We also do fruit or steamed broccoli instead of fries if he orders a QS meal, although he likes fries of course so one of us will get it and let him have some too. At some CS they looked at me with two heads when I asked for a veggie substitute but eventually they all accommodated. Also they have the big Mickey head pretzels and he got a kick out of those. We were usually able to split it 3 ways it was so large.

I'm totally doing the veggies instead of fries thing, thanks. And I will tell my children that's how the quick service meals always come. Muahahaha

 

[ShellieMimi]

I'm totally doing the veggies instead of fries thing, thanks. And I will tell my children that's how the quick service meals always come. Muahahaha

They won't look at you like you have two heads, either. It's an extremely common request. Maybe the other poster was, in fact, growing a second head that day.

 

[CinderDuffy]

They won't look at you like you have two heads, either. It's an extremely common request. Maybe the other poster was, in fact, growing a second head that day.

I agree. In fact, they won't "look at you" at all, they'll be too busy punching the request into the computer to take the time to look at you strangely.

Ah, the things you "see" when you want the message to be "all of those other parents feed their kids so much crap that when I, a responsible parent, request a healthy alternative, I am treated as strange - the horror!" The cousin of the humblebrag.

 

[mster425]

I agree. In fact, they won't "look at you" at all, they'll be too busy punching the request into the computer to take the time to look at you strangely.

Ah, the things you "see" when you want the message to be "all of those other parents feed their kids so much crap that when I, a responsible parent, request a healthy alternative, I am treated as strange - the horror!" The cousin of the humblebrag.

I hope the point of my post doesn't come across like that- he's my second child in two years so he basically lives off crumbs from the floor . I think I'm trying to stave off anxiety that he is going to be embarrassing by pretending I have control over it. I'm also considering drugging them with melatonin to make sure they sleep at night

 

[pixie08]

They won't look at you like you have two heads, either. It's an extremely common request. Maybe the other poster was, in fact, growing a second head that day.

It's possible! It just depends which CS you are at and who is at the register. On different trips, at different locations we have been told only fruit. We persisted and asked and they accommodated. It's just lack of training or knowledge on the cm part.

I don't think anyone who is trying to feed their kid better food is trying to make anyone else feel bad. Just trying to inform themselves of better options.Some kids react differently to sugar. My toddler son is hyper enough without loads of sugar or anything like that. In order to enjoy my vacation and actually get him to sit down for five minutes monitoring his diet is necessary. Why would someone even make a comment like that? Too each their own

 

[unrequited23]

My boys do better with a combo of fat & sugar versus just sugar alone. I learned this one Halloween that Smarties will have a much greater effect than a Hershey bar. Popcorn would probably make a good snack-fiber and fat. My friend was in MK last month and they let her buy a bag of goldfish and a danimals smoothie for $1 total at Pinocchio Village Haus.

 

[IrishNYC]

They won't look at you like you have two heads, either. It's an extremely common request. Maybe the other poster was, in fact, growing a second head that day.

I always quietly hope that if enough parents order sides other than fries it will send a message to the powers that be that there need to be healthier, and more interesting (please!!!) kids choices at WDW.

 

[pixie08]

I always quietly hope that if enough parents order sides other than fries it will send a message to the powers that be that there need to be healthier, and more interesting (please!!!) kids choices at WDW.

Agreed!