Finicky eater question

[ZebraStripes]

My daughter lives on the microwavable Kraft macaroni and cheese. Lunch and dinner, this is what she eats. Does anyone know if the mac and cheese on the kids menu is the same type of stuff? She will only eat the straight or slightly curved noodles, no curly or shells. If it isn't the same type of stuff, if we brought packets to dinner each night, do you think the servers would make it? Would they be totally offended?

 

[peg2001]

Zebrastripes,

I can't answer your question but I wanted to sympathize! My DD5 is extremely picky as well. She won't eat mac&cheese at restaurants because it "looks different" than what she eats at home.

I've decided that she won't starve to death on a 4 day cruise so I am not bringing anything special for her to eat. She can choose from what is available or decide not to eat.

Good luck and hope someone can answer your specific questions.

Peggy

 

[Michelle]

The mac and cheese on the ship is the "regular" kind, elbow macaroni and cheese. She should have no problems with it.

I agree with Peggy, and personally would not bring any food with me.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[mcnuss]

Originally posted by peg2001

I've decided that she won't starve to death on a 4 day cruise so I am not bringing anything special for her to eat. She can choose from what is available or decide not to eat.
Peggy

BRAVO! I bet you will be amazed at what she will decide to eat. My newphews are soooo picky and my DD is the opposite. They came here for Thanksgiving last year and tortured me. "The mashed potatoes have real potatoes in them. " "The stuffing looks like bread." "This isn't the same brand {fill in the blank} as at home." My SIL spent the weekend trying to keep me from tearing out my hair, preparing special meals for them, and appeasing their whining. It was awful. (And you'll notice by my counter that I am not going to be home for T-giving this year, wonder why?? )

Anyway, I digress. These same boys then came to my house without their parents. I got a long discourse from SIL on what they would eat and not eat - the latter list being very long. When she left, I told them very nicely that I do not run a restaurant, and that I would not be preparing special meals. I would cook for the family and they would only be asked to try things. If they did not like them, they could pass, but they could not make comments or faces. I assured them they would not go hungry.

The first night was pretty tense, with DD extolling them to eat the roast beef, that it was good and that "it hadn't killed her yet" (such a ringing endorsement, huh??). By the next day, they were tasting and by the next day, eating nicely -- even the dreaded BREAD CRUSTS on their PBJs. Knowing that I would not give in nor would I make 3 meals must have done it. Their mother was amazed but of course they went right back to their old tricks once they got home.

It just goes to show what habits we get into. It's kind of like when you send your kid to a friend's house, and the parents rave about how neat or quiet or polite they are, and you wonder if they are talking about the same kid who at your house yells at the dog and whose room looks like a tornado went through.

 

[Padre Disney]

Our kids all loved the mac & cheese on the cruise as well as some of the other things they tried.

mcnuss
I have an in home day care and run into the same problems with some of the kids. I tell the parents from day one that everyone gets the same thing at lunch. We ask them to try it once but never force them to eat it anything if they don't like it. Parents are shocked to find out what foods their kids have ate. I can't tell you how many times we say well this is lunch if you don't like it don't eat it. Some of the picky eaters turn up their noses but as soon as they see all the other kids eating lunch they try it and soon have ate the whole thing. We just smile. They sometimes will say this stuff is really good. It's little things like that I enjoy the most and make me love my job even more.

 

[peagreenid]

Is Very picky.... He won't even eat a condiment with the exception of Butter and Syrup. That means, No ketchup, mustard, peanut butter, jelly, mayo, gravy, sauce, bbq sauce... nothing. He also eats very little in the vegetable dept. He was 13 when we cruised last year......this is the speech that I gave him.

You will have the opportunity to eat and try some wonderful foods. They have a childrens menu, but, I would prefer that you would order off of the adult menu, but, if you can't find something that you would like to try then by all means ask them to bring you the kids menu. If you order something and you absolutely do not like it, you may order something else. I would appreciate it, if you would try it though. Remember, there is always a plain steak and chicken on the menu.

you know what....... He ate Lobster and shrimp and tried many things and it amazed me. One day I looked down there table and he was actually eating a Ceasar salad! And it HAD dressing on it. He didn't finish it, but, I could have kissed him for being so grown up.

You know when we dine out or in, our children get no options. Because they can re-order if they don't like what they order (just as the adults can) they may be more apt to try something different.

smiles Patty

 

[Cruise]

Wow guys.... I had to have the same talk with my husband.

No kidding....

"Remember, just try stuff at dinner. If you don't like it, you can always get pizza or chicken fingers later."

Guess some kids never grow up

Julie

 

[peagreenid]

You know, we had 1 adult at the table that was even Pickier than my son. I didn't think I would ever see that happen.

smiles Patty

 

[FOJMO]

Our DD, thank goodness, tries EVERYTHING! We have brought her up to try everything she can right from the start. Sometimes it begins when they are little and we tend to only have certain things stocked in the pantry at home. I personally do not care for fish or seafood, but when we are out at a restaurant, my DH and DD order these things and I never once said what my mother would have said -- "Oh, you won't like that".

On our last Magic Cruise, my DD (teen) was disappointed that she didn't get enough peas with her meal, and the next thing you know, Zoltan (Head Server) brought her a whole bowl full! We laughed, but you know, she ate almost all of them -- her favorite veggie! She also loves the escargot.

I always said my brother was a "Column A" eater -- only ate what would be in Column A, never ventured into Column B, C, etc. God rest his soul -- passed away last month at 48 and never even was on a cruise!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wow! I just love the stories about the bowls of peas and cherries! (Isn't that the title of a book!!) I am sooooo looking forward to service like that, and for trying new foods on the cruise! Sure hope we get fantastic servers like I have been hearing about online here!

My husbands aunt and uncle are very simple and picky eaters. They went on a Princess cruise with my husbands parents. Inlaws came back talking how Aunt and Uncle wouldn't even try anything on the menu, thought they wouldn't like it and just ordered hamburger steak and potatoes!

Sounds like a cruise is the perfect opportunity to break out of the ordinary routine and try new things! After all, if you really don't like something you ordered, you can always have them bring you something else!

 

[Padre Disney]

On our last cruise we talked my 25 year old cousin into trying somethin new. He picked some kind of lamb dish. Can't remember the name. I just know that he did not like it at all. Our server continued to offer him something else each time he came to our table. Since it was our first cruise my cousin did not want to seem rude by taking a second dish so he kept telling him no thank you. After we returned home and I had read more trip reports I was surprised to find out that Disney is used to that happening and have no problems providing you with something else. They even offered my son a second kids meal after he had eaten his first one before some of the adults had finished their meals. We are still so surprised at how Disney goes over and above at meal time to make you happy. We can't wait to try new things on our 7 day.( just not the lamb)

 

[mcnuss]

Originally posted by FOJMO
I never once said what my mother would have said -- "Oh, you won't like that".

LOL! My MIL (gone now, sadly) used to say that all the time - even to her DH and her adult sons. I always thought that it was she who did not like that food, and was transferring her dislike to everyone else. She once lectured me to no end bc I let DD, then 3, eat spicy food. She told me that it was not good for children to eat spicy food, it was bad for their digestive systems, and so on. Well, DH heard this and wondered out loud about the "poor little children in India and Mexico whose parents were ruining their digestive tracts with all that spicy food...". <giggle> To this day, my DD will grab a jalapeno pepper off of a Mexican dish and just chew it right up. The spicier the better.

FOJMO, I agree that it starts when they are little. I fed DD very little baby food, she ate what we ate, just mushed up or cut really small. My attitude is that there is no such thing as "kid" food or "adult" food - just food. We all have likes and dislikes, and they should be respected. No kid should be forced to eat something s/he doesn't like, as long as s/he has actually tried it.

 

[SweetSpot]

Count your blessings if you have children who eat! Regardless of popular opinion (and I've heard it for years) picky children aren't necessarily a product of parenting. I have 3 children, 2 are horrendously picky and one will eat almost anything. They were all raised the same and all offered a variety of foods but the picky ones would rather starve than eat what they don't like. (They don't even like pizza, mac and cheese, spaghetti, or other kid foods) Somehow, a child involuntary gagging and throwing up at the table lends itself to giving in and making things they will eat. I got sick of cooking and throwing the food away and I don't believe in forcing a child to eat what is intolerable to them.

I have discussed the variety of foods available to them and they know that if they don't like something they can choose something else. It would be wonderful if they would try something and I am really hoping that with maturity and a sense of adventure the cruise may open some doors for them.

 

[mcnuss]

SweetSpot -- I count those blessings every day! Just like with most aspects of child-rearing, there are things that are just absolute mysteries! My DH was a gagger, too, but if it gives you any hope, he now eats most everything except peas, squash & pickles (and he still gets a little green around the gills when I take then out of the fridge). Since his mom would not make things he would eat, he had an encyclopedia of ways to hide food. When his mom died and we had to clear out her house, he was quite sure that we would find 40 yo peas that he had hidden behind the dining room furniture!!!

 

[PiperG]

Hi all,

I wanted to weigh in on the original question about food that works for finicky kids. Our DS5 eats a very limited variety of things, so I feel Zebrastripes pain.

That being said, I have never ever seen DS eat son much mac and cheese. With the exception of the sailaway buffet in Topsiders/Beach Blanket, Mac and Cheese was readily available. He likes to dunk his mac and cheese in ketchup, and our server poured the condiment onto a little plate each night in the shape of Mickey Mouse (i.e. a big head and two ears). That was icing to the cake.

He didn't go to crazy over the pizza at Pinoccios, but got enough. Next time I will try the room service menu, as I think the chicken fingers will go over pretty well.

Good luck to all with finicky eaters

 

[mmouse37]

You can also get chicken fingers up on deck!!! They are delicious!!!

MJ

 

[peg2001]

I agree with Sweetspot. Parenting is not necessarily the cause of a picky eater. I have one very picky DD5 and one DD2 that will try anything and eat most things. We haven't done anything different with them.

DD5 will NOT try things and I am wondering about all the folks that say "They don't have to eat it as long as they try it." That's a great policy if your child is willing but what if they won't try it? Short of holding her down, prying open her teeth with a fork, and shoving it in, I am out of luck. She is very stubborn, she will go to bed without eating anything if I say that she has to try something or go hungry.

My DD2, will say, "yuck, icky, icky, icky" if I put something new on her plate but when I reassure her "You don't have to eat it if you don't want to," she almost always ends up eating it.

Peggy

 

[mcnuss]

That's a great policy if your child is willing but what if they won't try it? Short of holding her down, prying open her teeth with a fork, and shoving it in, I am out of luck.

My brother was like that, and I suspect my DH and his brother were too.

My mother used to send my brother to bed with no supper. Her BIL the pediatrician used to tell her that he had never seen a case of malnutrition in a middle class kid so she shouldn't worry about it, so she didn't. They are both unbelievably stubborn people. I think I may have eaten everything on my plate just to avoid the battles, while my brother, I suspect, reveled in them.

Kids are who they are. We influence them but they come with their own personalities. I do believe, however, and this is not just related to food, that most children know how to push their parents buttons and love to see how far they can get with us. I had this with DD and going to sleep: she just refused to. When I finally gave up the fight, so did she. It was quite amazing. I've never cared what she ate or did not eat, and told her I could not care less if she ate. (Back to my uncle's statement, I guess...) We've never had a food argument. Lots of others, but not that one.

Raising kids is the hardest thing any of us will ever do. We should all support each other's efforts and realize that until you've walked a mile in another's shoes...well, I can't remember the whole saying, but you know what I mean.

 

[ZebraStripes]

Thanks for everyone's opinions and food info. Thanks also to those who made me realize I'm not the only one in the world who has a child that is finicky. (The gagging at the table, I know just what you are talking about!!) My mother constantly is after me about how little DD7 eats and how limited her meno is, however, the pedi says she is one of the heathiest kids around. My DD started out life with the deck stacked against her, so, I'll admit, I pick and choose which rules I make. Eating the same things I do isn't a rule I have. She's coming along. Recently added pizza to the limited list. On a cruise, I want to relax and know that at least some of the things she will eat are there. To all those who have kids who eat without a fuss, I envy you!

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

I guess I grew up in a "poor" house hold. there was never snacking, junk food or any of that. WE were Da**glad to get the food we had. I kinda raised my kids the same way. But being in the country, we grow alot of wour own food. All that "sweat equity" make the food taste better.
My MIL always told me to never let the kids know that I don't like something, for then they will dislike the same thing. Not my two. They think it's funny to eat something I hate, like liver or cottage chees (really! DS 12's favorites!) by taking really big bites right under my nose.
Rotten kids.
DD 14 is really looking forward to trying escargo on the cruise. Ug.