Fussy Kids Effecting Restaurant Kid Menus? Are Parents to Blame?

[DisneyWishes14]

I don't think it's anyone's "fault", if you can even call it that. My DS had major texture sensitivities when he was younger and was a very picky eater, but not in the traditional sense. He would only eat crunchy things - raw vegetables mostly, toast, crackers. I could get him to drink milk, but only out of a specific cup. Getting him to eat any other protein was next to impossible. This wasn't my "fault". I slowly tried to introduce him to new foods and wean him off that preferred cup (and now, at age 10, he'll try just about anything), but it was a pain-staking process. We spent many WDW vacations lugging around foods I knew he would eat or going to QS before or after a TS to supplement whatever little bit he would eat at the TS. I think WDW is caught between a rock and a hard place with the kids menus. This is why we never purchased the dining plan. If there was something on the adult menu that appealed to our DS, I wanted him to have a chance to eat it (which typically meant splitting with him because the portion was so big). So, please, if you see a 3-year old digging into a bowl of mac and cheese at a TS, don't "blame" the parents. They may be doing their best to introduce new foods to their kids, but it's just not going to miraculously happen at a TS in WDW and I don't think they want to fight about or stress over food on a vacation!

 

[OneinThree]

Wow I didn’t realize I could potentially be judged for how my kids eat!! I will eat anything- literally there is not much I can say I wouldn’t try. I ate the standard “kid” foods when I was younger, I didn’t want to eat different veggies or try new things. So obviously how I was when I was younger didn’t carry over to adulthood.
My first grader won’t eat anything. Not because she’s not exposed to things bc she is. We always have fruits and vegggies in the fridge, she’s watched me eat sushi and I ask her if she wants some, I constantly try to get her to try new things but she doesn’t want to. If she wants to eat cereal for dinner it won’t kill her- I did that too when I was a kid and didn’t like what was for dinner. My toddler ate more when he was one but now that he’s two he’s on a “new food” strike and only wants the “typical” kids food like pizza, chicken fingers, pasta, fruit, yogurts, etc. We still eat out and if my first grader doesn’t want to eat then oh well. I’m certainly not lazy and I’d love to put bowls of whatever we’re eating in front of them and have them eat it but I’m also not going to come home from work every night and fight with them about not trying dinner. All these holier than thou responses about how their kids eat everything- that’s great- but my kids don’t and it’s not because I get the family McDonald’s every night (I have never brought home fast food, ever). Soooo perhaps the reason we want chicken fingers and French fries on a menu is just to make things a tiny bit easier and more convienent.

How about just a little context here. What we're actually looking at is people complaining that Disney should change their menus because certain children won't eat anything off of them. Reality check -if you can't find food for your kids among the current offerings at WDW, chances are that Disney isn't the problem.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Wow I didn’t realize I could potentially be judged for how my kids eat!! I will eat anything- literally there is not much I can say I wouldn’t try. I ate the standard “kid” foods when I was younger, I didn’t want to eat different veggies or try new things. So obviously how I was when I was younger didn’t carry over to adulthood.
My first grader won’t eat anything. Not because she’s not exposed to things bc she is. We always have fruits and vegggies in the fridge, she’s watched me eat sushi and I ask her if she wants some, I constantly try to get her to try new things but she doesn’t want to. If she wants to eat cereal for dinner it won’t kill her- I did that too when I was a kid and didn’t like what was for dinner. My toddler ate more when he was one but now that he’s two he’s on a “new food” strike and only wants the “typical” kids food like pizza, chicken fingers, pasta, fruit, yogurts, etc. We still eat out and if my first grader doesn’t want to eat then oh well. I’m certainly not lazy and I’d love to put bowls of whatever we’re eating in front of them and have them eat it but I’m also not going to come home from work every night and fight with them about not trying dinner. All these holier than thou responses about how their kids eat everything- that’s great- but my kids don’t and it’s not because I get the family McDonald’s every night (I have never brought home fast food, ever). Soooo perhaps the reason we want chicken fingers and French fries on a menu is just to make things a tiny bit easier and more convienent.

Can I get an amen?!! Yes! And, before you know it, and without fighting and stressing, one day your first grader may slowly start trying new things. At least that's what happened in my house!

 

[Disneylovingmomof2]

How about just a little context here. What we're actually looking at is people complaining that Disney should change their menus because certain children won't eat anything off of them. Reality check -if you can't find food for your kids among the current offerings at WDW, chances are that Disney isn't the problem.

I looked at the menus before I booked our ADRs in Feb. I would have liked to try Skippers but I didn’t bc of my kids. Will I complain about it? No. But would it be nice to have a kid’s pizza on the menu, yes. And I don’t think it would inconvenience Disney to do this.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I know of many kids from other countries who are just as picky as my kids.

But they are here, and so a lot of what they are seeing culturally leans in that direction. It's not dissimilar to the idea that in some countries, being able to eat at the American fast food outlets is considered "luxury."

A good friend of mine was the child of a Thai mother, American dad. His mom made Thai at home a lot. He glamorized mac and cheese and meatloaf for YEARS because it was "what everyone else ate." This is not uncommon.

The ability to be fussy is definitely a luxury. What kids are fussy about can be highly culturally and geographically variable. Even a wealthy fussy kid in Mumbai is probably not getting dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets and pudding with sprinkles that turns it red, KWIM?

 

[elle21]

Being a fussy/ picky eater is different than having preferences. All people have preferences.
There are some kids who are definitely more sensitive to tastes and textures, and a parent cannot control that. However, a parent can help their child overcome it as much as possible and most parents just give in to it. Which is a shame.
I think that the typical kids' menus are sad...they are usually following the standard American diet, which is terrible for kids and adults alike. In my experience kids tend to like what they are exposed to. If they are exposed to sugar and processed foods, they will tend to like those better. (Sugar is addicting). But if they are never given those foods, they don't know to like those better.

 

[DLgal]

Every single thread on the Dis about kids food brings out the "holier than thou" people who judge those of us with kids who will simply NOT just eat whatever is put in front of them. Every. Single. One.

It's tiresome, to be honest. No one cares that your kid likes steak and lobster and vegetables or sushi or curry or kale. You don't "win" at parenting because your child doesn't eat chicken nuggets.

My child literally STOPPED EATING at age 2 after spending a year indiscriminately eating whatever came near his mouth (including playground sand). We thought he would be our easy to feed child. How foolish of us. He almost had to be hospitalized for IV nutrition. You know what he finally ate after literally 10 days of refusing everything? Dinosaur chicken nuggets and Eggo Nutri-Grain waffles. So that is what we fed him. Sensory issues came on strong and he could literally not eat much else without vomiting violently from either the smell or texture.

 

[Disneylovingmomof2]

Great. Let's gather a comprehensive list of things then and petition Disney to ensure that every restaurant carries all of them. Not unreasonable at all. I'm pretty sure you can find plenty of places in WDW offering pizza.

Exactly. Which I why I said I wouldn’t complain and just decided to go elsewhere.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I agree with the pp who suggested there be a standard kids menu PLUS a child size portion of an adult menu. Or better yet, a HALF portion of the adult menu! That way adults who dont have big appetites can order a small portion of something. This would be the perfect solution I think! And how hard is that to do? Think about it. Half portion of pasta....half portion of a salad entree....half portion of chicken/starch/veg. Know what i mean? It doesnt have to be the whole menu...just a few items at least.

 

[strike4]

I have a child on the dining plan on our upcoming trip. Do some restaurants allow any other food if a child doesn't want chicken nuggets or mac and cheese every meal?

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I have a child on the dining plan on our upcoming trip. Do some restaurants allow any other food if a child doesn't want chicken nuggets or mac and cheese every meal?

At QS the credits are not split by child/adult, so kids can order off the adult menu. But at TS, kids have to order off the kids menu. Unless you want to pay OOP and order an adult meal (or use an adult credit).

 

[Disneylovingmomof2]

I have a child on the dining plan on our upcoming trip. Do some restaurants allow any other food if a child doesn't want chicken nuggets or mac and cheese every meal?

They all have different kids menus. It’s not just all Mac n cheese. You can see them all on the app.

 

[strike4]

Thank you ENJDisneyFan and Disneylovingmom. I just looked up some menus and surprisingly BOG had a nice lunch menu.
I don't think I'll need to worry. I also have 2 buffets booked so that will help.

 

[DLgal]

I have a child on the dining plan on our upcoming trip. Do some restaurants allow any other food if a child doesn't want chicken nuggets or mac and cheese every meal?

It's actually NOT mostly chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. It's more often pasta with marinara, grilled chicken or fish with rice or potatoes, a hamburger, or cheese pizza. In our experience, mac and cheese and nuggets are actually fairly hard to find at TS restaurants.

 

[Dis703]

There definitely are options beyond burgers, chicken nuggets, and pizza. We actually have to search them out because allergies prevent my 3 boys from eating any of those popular kids meals. I believe at Skipper Canteen though my oldest had their mac and cheese with a side of veggies and it was homemade mac and cheese not Kraft. My twins had grilled chicken, roasted potatoes and a veggie. Be Our Guest lunch they normally do the slow cooked pork with mashed sweet potato (or roasted) and a veggie. We can rarely find a safe quick service meal because most of them are your standard "kids" menu. Table service offers a lot more.

My oldest is a bit of a picky eater, but we still make him try new things and at dinner at home he has to eat what we are having. Cooking for allergies is hard enough, I'm not willing to be a short order cook as well. It causes some fits now and then and once in a while he goes to bed hungry, but I watched my siblings with kids cave and only feed their kids chicken nuggets for almost every single meal (or only offer fast food because they wouldn't cook) and did not want to go down that path. Mind you at Disney I'm not nearly as pushy about keeping them on the perfect diet either. I wouldn't go with mac and cheese at every meal, but I'd let my son have it a few times as long as he has some healthier meals as well. It's vacation after all.

The one thing I'd love to see is more vegetable offerings for kids. Yes, my kids can and will eat carrots and broccoli, but they can't eat green beans or peas and it seems these are the only options for kids. My twins will eat just about every other vegetable out there and only once did a chef offer them an alternative. At Captain's Grille they had brussel sprouts and offered to make them for my 6 year old and he was over the moon excited just to have something different. The chef and server were in shock both at his excitement and how fast he ate them, but I guess that just means we are in the minority and not likely to see these kind of additions to the kids menu.

 

[unrequited23]

We check menus beforehand, and if there isn't anything I think my DD will even try on the menu, we go elsewhere.

We do this too while we are on vacation. We consider the food preferences of the entire family and chose accordingly. I would feel like a hypocrite skipping Flame Tree because I despise BBQ while taking my 3 & 6 yr olds a place that didn't have at least one thing I knew they would eat.

 

[Anthony1971]

My son will not eat burgers and chicken nuggets at Disney... he will eat this at home sometimes... I hated going to MK when he was younger as we would get him a burger and he would not eat it. We simply started ordering off the adult menu for him as long as he eats it I am fine... A few years ago he on cruise he ordered fish every night as well as had Frog legs, snails (escargot the nice way) and finished everything...from shrimp to lobster to barrel fish to steak to a salad he loves it.....it stared at a young age.. when he was 3 he would order shrimp eat all the shrimp leave the fries and ask for more shrimp. when we go out to eat local if they have salmon on the adult menu he is ordering it even though outside of Disney it is 12 and under and some have larger kids meals.. I am fine with paying so long as he eats it. The only other issue I have had at Disney was last year where one place only had salmon on the kids menu but not on adults so he ordered it and it was not enough for him being he is now 11. He did however on occasion years ago like the Disney mac and cheese... we got strange looks at olive garden when he would order pasta and broccoli as a side.....can a fault Disney for not having shrimp and salmon on the menus at every place of course not I just go out of the way to find the places that do....I had no issues after seeking out the places that have what he likes or simply pay for an adult meal if the adult has to eat at a place because it is what they want... Kids are people too.. as an adult would not be very happy of your spouse told you can not order that because it was to expensive..

 

[crazylady]

In my case, I do feel like I am to blame for some of my kids pickiness. Kid #1 is very picky. I forced the issue of you need to eat or try this and you must eat your veggies and I think he is more picky because of it.

With kid #2, I've been more relaxed about the food thing and he eats a well balanced diet of pretty much anything. I'm sure it is a mix of personal references of the kifs and parenting style.

I do think kid's meals are "dumbed down" to kid's pallets and always wanted to see more variety in them when my kids were younger. I think it is kind of a vicious circle for restaurants though.

I learned between kid #1 and #2 to skip most kids menus and instead order sides for the kid or have him eat off of our plates.

 

[quandrea]

Wow I didn’t realize I could potentially be judged for how my kids eat!! I will eat anything- literally there is not much I can say I wouldn’t try. I ate the standard “kid” foods when I was younger, I didn’t want to eat different veggies or try new things. So obviously how I was when I was younger didn’t carry over to adulthood.
My first grader won’t eat anything. Not because she’s not exposed to things bc she is. We always have fruits and vegggies in the fridge, she’s watched me eat sushi and I ask her if she wants some, I constantly try to get her to try new things but she doesn’t want to. If she wants to eat cereal for dinner it won’t kill her- I did that too when I was a kid and didn’t like what was for dinner. My toddler ate more when he was one but now that he’s two he’s on a “new food” strike and only wants the “typical” kids food like pizza, chicken fingers, pasta, fruit, yogurts, etc. We still eat out and if my first grader doesn’t want to eat then oh well. I’m certainly not lazy and I’d love to put bowls of whatever we’re eating in front of them and have them eat it but I’m also not going to come home from work every night and fight with them about not trying dinner. All these holier than thou responses about how their kids eat everything- that’s great- but my kids don’t and it’s not because I get the family McDonald’s every night (I have never brought home fast food, ever). Soooo perhaps the reason we want chicken fingers and French fries on a menu is just to make things a tiny bit easier and more convienent.

This is so true. You can’t paint everyone with the same brush. My parents used to criticise my aunt and uncle’s parenting regarding food. Now I’ve got kids who won’t eat everything. I was a kid that would eat anything. My parents had it easy!

I think you have to consider palette preferences. My son likes hot, pickles, spicy. He will eat kimchi, jalapeños, any kind of pickle, but gags at the sight of grapes, bananas, berries. His palette is unique. I try to make foods he enjoys available. Id hardly call a kid who eats kimchi, seaweed and muffletta a picky eater, just unique.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

How many children don't get to enjoy a Disney vacation? If any of my 5 complained about the food, they may never see another such trip.

Great for you. You've never complained once in your life about any food you've ever had at any restaurant ever? That is simply incredible!! Because you know, some people can't afford to eat out at all, so if you don't like something sometime somewhere, I sure hope you remember that and never go out to eat again! You must be incredibly lucky to have never had food you've disliked for any reason.

At one CS restaurant a couple of years ago we were eating lunch near 2 adults and their little girl. Maybe 5 or 6 years old. They got her the Mac and cheese and she didn't like it. They were forcing her to eat it while she was sitting there crying, and finally she vomited. It was terrible. So sorry, that's not my style.