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

[carlymcqueen]

It depends on the person, in my opinion. I'm vegetarian, and was exposed to a wide variety of foods as a kid. I personally love the kids menu options. When I'm eating somewhere with limited vegetarian options, a mac and cheese kids meal is my favorite. Even given the option between kid and adult I'll pick a kids' meal. It's just a matter of preference and it's nice for people who are like me to have something basic we can order.

 

[Nancyg56]

Largely, "parenting" in the US could be described accurately as both lazy and inept.

Really? I actually am pretty impressed by the parents I encounter. Personally, in an environment that pretty much needs a two income family with multiple stresses that are far more reaching than they were when I raised my kids, I think that the opposite is true.

Well I almost sent my 15 year old home during our last Disney trip.

He complained for 3 days straight and I had had enough. He was 2.5 seconds away from being sent home unassisted minor and being picked up by his father at the airport. He got his life together in that very moment.

I remember! LOL! I figured if he managed to get on your last nerve on that vacation he was actually lucky to still be breathing! LOL!

My own DD told me that her DD (the apple of my eye, BTW) pushed her so far a few years ago taht the poor child was told that all Mom needed to provide was water and cherios, and her own room was optional. SHe removed her door, gave her said cheerios and water and explained that she woudl either straighten out and fly right or she would learn to love her new menu and living conditions.

Now my DD did not raise a fool so things changed rapidly! LOL!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Really? I actually am pretty impressed by the parents I encounter. Personally, in an environment that pretty much needs a two income family with multiple stresses that are far more reaching than they were when I raised my kids, I think that the opposite is true.



I remember! LOL! I figured if he managed to get on your last nerve on that vacation he was actually lucky to still be breathing! LOL!

My own DD told me that her DD (the apple of my eye, BTW) pushed her so far a few years ago taht the poor child was told that all Mom needed to provide was water and cherios, and her own room was optional. SHe removed her door, gave her said cheerios and water and explained that she woudl either straighten out and fly right or she would learn to love her new menu and living conditions.

Now my DD did not raise a fool so things changed rapidly! LOL!

I knew a few girls growing up who had no doors on their bedroom for most of high school! Lol.

 

[Viking7641]

American kids just don't have palletes.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

American kids just don't have palletes.

Viking7641, be careful with those mass generalizations.. My son, a full fledged American boy, from a French Canadian/American set of parents ate asparagus, medium rare filet mignon, Brussels Sprouts, cabbage, and escargots from the time he could chew (before teeth, I'd pulse it, well maybe not the escargots). I'm the 1st to say, yes I introduced him to it all but he took to it, he never, ever ate a kids meal at Disney, or anywhere else for that matter. But I have friends who have/had fussy, yes fussy, picky kids who, how they survive on chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, French Fries and yogurt, I'll never know. And it's not for lack of trying and arguing on the parents part. Thankfully these kids now all 15-16 years of age, have branched out slowly and increased their culinary repertoire. There is hope...

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Well I almost sent my 15 year old home during our last Disney trip.

He complained for 3 days straight and I had had enough. He was 2.5 seconds away from being sent home unassisted minor and being picked up by his father at the airport. He got his life together in that very moment.

You know when you're walking in the parks and you see parents and kids with the, "I'm not happy" look, even though you're supposed to be having fun... My absolute favorite was a heated exchange between a father and his 8-10 year old son, "I didn't spend all of this money on tickets so you could spend it bobbing in the hotel pool, for that we could have just stayed home, now keep walking!"

 

[lolomarie]

Very interesting thread.

 

[cedricandsophie]

My adult daughter with Down Syndrome has always been willing to try almost everything without debate or making a scene. But we have also exposed her to lots of things. On a trip to France a few years ago, we were in a local restaurant. She ordered escargot and frog legs for dinner, both of which she loves, while the two American kids sitting across of us whined the whole night about the food. She also loves sushi, fish, mussels and clams, a good salad, pasta of any kind and all soups. She’s very small and we often order two appetizers for her rather than a full entree. Or she will get a salad and we will share an entree.

I know we have been lucky. My adult step daughters are still very picky, one more than the other. One won’t touch fish of any kind and pretty much lives on red meat.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Just throwing this out there

Be kind to others, there have a been a few less than kind comments here. Limit the personal attacks and sarcasm. You can also put a poster on ignore if they are too much m

Thanks everyone!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Roast beef is the big offender for my son. He just recently started liking it. But, he will only eat it the day I have it sliced at the deli.

At 56 I’m now the same way, I can’t even eat cold chicken and I once loved it. Now, I buy 1/4 lb of rare roast, makes 2 sandwiches for the 2 of us, use it all up! You’re right $$$, smaller quantities.

 

[Nancyg56]

You know when you're walking in the parks and you see parents and kids with the, "I'm not happy" look, even though you're supposed to be having fun... My absolute favorite was a heated exchange between a father and his 8-10 year old son, "I didn't spend all of this money on tickets so you could spend it bobbing in the hotel pool, for that we could have just stayed home, now keep walking!"

It's a little off topic, but years ago when my DGD was 4, we were plannign a trip as a family. It had been more years since I could count that we had gone, so this was a huge deal to me. I planned everything, oh my gosh we were going to be BUSY!!! FInally my DH asked what my back up pla was. What back up plan???? You know the one we need if Kady is scared and overwhelmed and wants no part of the parks, characters adn anything that is notthe resort pool? A coworker had just told him that he had taken his kids and all his little on wanted was the pool. She was afraid and overwhelmed. He was so stinkin mad at the wasted money he never took them again. My DH was afraid I was placing a lot of responsibility on the tiny shoulders of a 4 YO. I tossed my spreadsheet out, upgraded our stay to CL at AKL and figured if we never left the resort we would still be on vacation. WEll, Kady turned out to be a WDWD fan, and a character junkie, but I never forgot that warning from my DH, a vacation is not always what we planned, but no way should we place blame. You make the change and enjoy the adjustments.

 

[quandrea]

I don't eat a lot of sandwich meat- can't stand cold cut ham (though I am not a super fan of cooked hot ham either), cold cut turkey I will eat only if I am somewhere and it is a choice between it or ham (I do like a hot cooked turkey though). But even the sandwich meats I will eat (roast beef, chicken, etc) I am the same way about I will eat it the day the package is open...after that it does not taste the same to me.

I truly believe “supertasters” exist. I don’t doubt that you or the pp’s son can taste that the meat is a day old. My son is the same. He can take a bite of food and tell me every ingredient that is in the recipe. His fine palate is what makes him hate fruit, I think. Fruit’s sweetness and tartness doesn’t appeal. He’d rather have sour, hot, spicy. To call him picky is unfair. He just has a unique palate.

 

[goofyintoronto]

You know when you're walking in the parks and you see parents and kids with the, "I'm not happy" look, even though you're supposed to be having fun... My absolute favorite was a heated exchange between a father and his 8-10 year old son, "I didn't spend all of this money on tickets so you could spend it bobbing in the hotel pool, for that we could have just stayed home, now keep walking!"

That made me laugh. I think every parent can relate to this. I went through this with my son. Too funny!

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

On our two MK days we are opting for the Plaza so he can have grilled cheese.

Just an FYI they have grilled cheese over at the Wave at the Contemporary. It's easy walking distance from MK and has a wonderful menu for adults. I have a picky eater as well so I pretty much know where to find all the grilled cheese sandwiches. We stay off property, it's not the only reason but it is easier to have a kitchen with a picky eater. He just eats before or after the parks.

 

[smiths02]

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.

This is an interesting article: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/...ibition_and_emmett_holt_gave_rise_to_kid.html
I don't think it is all about picky eaters. I also think it is about cost.

And as far as the comment about how kids in the 20s or 60s were better...eating what is put in front of you as an American middle class child in the 1960s does not equal an adventurous eater. My father-in-law was born in the 1940s to a poor rural family and you better believe he ate everything his mom put in front of him. When he went in the USMC, he also ate what he could. You could actually argue that he is less fussy than some people on dining threads who won't eat pizza outside of NY or won't eat at an Olive Garden or McDs because it's not good enough for them. However, he is one of the least adventurous eaters I know. He found something to eat at Boma, for instance, but was not a big fan.

Also, the parenting thing, as others have said, I have 3 children and they are all different. Even my twins who have been exposed to the EXACT same food have different tastes. My son is much more picky than my daughter. We went to a party that had chicken from a Caribbean restaurant and rice and beans but also pizza and chips. My daughter ate the Caribbean food, my son wouldn't even eat the pizza because he has decided he doesn't like sauce on pizza because it is too spicy.

I know that Americans have a generally unhealthy diet, but I'm not sure that means that kids from other countries have no "fussy" eating. My kids might turn their noses up at curry, but an Indian kid might not want to eat sushi. My kids wouldn't eat escargot, but they eat venison regularly.

 

[brockash]

First, I don't think kids who tend to like a limited number of things are "fussy".

Every kid is different. My kids have all been exposed to the same foods, yet one of them is more limited in what they like. I didn't expose them to different rules or choices. Just different kids.

Honestly, if someone eats at a restaurant without checking the menu ahead of time, they get what they get. That goes for those who don't find the "safe" choices they want as well as for those who think the choices are too limited.

I have 3 kiddos, one is more "adventurous" and expensive in terms of eating than the other 2. I'm not sure calling the kids who are satisfied with eating the typical kids meal as fussy is accurate as in reality I would tend to think if any are fussy, it's the ones not satisfied with the typical kids meal, but really it's just ppl. having a preference on what they eat.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I have found that my kids, especially when they were younger (and sometimes now), will say "I don't like that" when they really mean "I'm not in the mood for that right now."

So many times I would make a meal I just made the week before and all of a sudden they don't like it. After talking to them and being dumbfounded it all came together. Especially when they would eat the same meal a week or two after claiming not to like it.

After correcting them multiple times about the difference of not liking something and not being in the mood for it they've finally gotten it. It was really becoming a pet peeve of mine.

I only cook one meal and if the kids don't like it their options are going to buy something to eat with their own money, a sandwich or cereal.

 

[cadien]

You know when you're walking in the parks and you see parents and kids with the, "I'm not happy" look, even though you're supposed to be having fun... My absolute favorite was a heated exchange between a father and his 8-10 year old son, "I didn't spend all of this money on tickets so you could spend it bobbing in the hotel pool, for that we could have just stayed home, now keep walking!"

One of my favorite things about the Legoland hotel is that you'd never even know there was a pool if you didn't go looking for it. Because my son would be the same way.

 

[jsmla]

American kids just don't have palletes.

But that’s how kids are, they do stuff like that. Both of mine were picky as little ones but as adults have pretty broad palates. My pickiest one was beyond ridiculous with food at three but she also believed in Santa Claus and wanted to be a "ballerina movie star" when she grew up. They're kids, chances are pretty high that they'll grow out of whatever it is. In our case peer pressure was a good thing for once.

 

[KenHutch]

I have resigned myself to the fact that I am going to have to buy an adults meal for the 8 year old. When I plan vacations I give everyone a list of where I am planning on eating to let them add places and everyone gets one veto. Well the only person who takes this seriously is the 8 year old. She looked over all the kids menu's and asked me when she would be an adult. By most standards here she would be classed as an adventurous eater. She vetoed my favorite HS place the Sci-Fi and likes the 50's menu (for adults). I do really wish they had kids versions of the adult meals.