Help feed my toddler

[la79al]

I have one of the pickiest toddlers ever. She will love something one day and want nothing to do with it for weeks after that. As you can imagine, this makes things difficult at home but nearly impossible at DW. On our trip in December, despite giving her plates of food, she mainly ate pickles and cheese and that was about it. I am thinking this time that it will make more sense for me to pack some more food for her. She could live on chips, cookies and junk food in general but I was hoping for some healthier ideas (remember, she is REALLY picky). We will have a fridge but will be landing at 9 and not able to check in until potentially 3. Ideas? TIA

 

[monkey30]

Well for stuff like mac and cheese I put ketchup on it in happy faces and such and make it more fun.

Good luck, I hope things get better.

 

[Mandychelle79]

Most children will not let themselves starve.

Give her something to eat and if she doesnt eat it, dont panic about it. Heck even my dd will eat noodles if shes hungry enough.

 

[squirrel]

Will she eat pasta and sauce? If so you can hide other blended vegetables in the sauce. You can also try adding other meats-sausage, chicken, hot dogs.

 

[LuLuO]

Little individual packs of Jif peanut butter and whole grain crackers
Fruit cups
Dried fruit
Applesauce
Cereal like Kix or Cheerios
Gerber Yogurt blends don't need refrigeration

 

[brymolmom]

I have a picky dd6 who was even pickier at a younger age. If it was me - I wouldn't worry about it for vacation. IMO - that is not the time to try to get her to eat healthier as it MIGHT just make vacation more difficult for all. If you KNOW she'll eat/like little individual packets of Dole fruits or granola bars or pb&j - then pack it and bring those with you. But if not and it will be an argument - just let her eat whatever for vacation and set your minds to 'fixing it' when you get back after a nice, enjoyable time.

We used to have 'fights' at mealtimes around here. But as soon as dd learned that dh and I won't cave and make her whatever her heart's desire each time (not that your dd wants this - but mine DID), it has gotten way, way better and she eats WAY more things now than I thought she would and, truthfully, more things than I ate when I was a kid (she gets her pickiness from me ).

Our general rule of thumb is - no 2 meals at our house. But, I do make sure there is at least one thing on the table the kids like (grapes, bread & butter, raw carrots or cucumbers, strawberries, applesauce). As soon as the child has a couple/few bites of what I give them - they are welcome to fill up on just the stuff they like after that. I DO make a 2nd meal on occassion though - when I am making something I am sure they won't like (like shrimp on the grill for example) or something they will eat but don't want to spend the $$ on something they would rather not have (like steak - usually let them have a burger after 2 bites of my steak). The only other time is when dh and I are having leftovers and there isn't enough for everyone - then I will make the kids mac n cheese or pasta with sauce. But 90% of the time - it is one meal and that's that.

It has gotten so much better now that I'm so happy we started that at a very young age. She still will argue or complain on occassion - usually when she's tired and cranky - but it isn't even once a week this happens - MAYBE once a month. And she's tried so many things I didn't think she would. The other night she even had a few bites of our pan seared tilapia - WITHOUT COMPLAINING! Woo-hoo!

Anyway - my advice - don't worry about it on vacation. When we're on vacation - I let picky dd order pizza at almost every cs restaurant. No way could she do that at home - but hey- it's vacation for us all!

 

[vettechick99]

DD was about that age when she started getting picky. They like what they like! Now that she is almost 3, she has very specific opinions about what she will eat. But I know what she loves, and she is not allowed to have it until she tries something new. We did that tonight with bread (a fav) and baked beans (which she actually took several extra bites of!).

Both DH and I were hugely picky eaters as a child. We have grown out of it and eat very healthy meals now. Well mostly. But we eat more than chicken fingers and mac and cheese!

 

[flafan]

PIZZA I agree with the "Don't Worry Be Happy" attitude while on vacation. Then when you get back keep trying different food choices. Their tastes change all the time. My daughter(13) has always been picky and still is today. I wish I had been more persistent early on with trying new things. One thing is for sure they will eat when they are hungry.

Good Luck

 

[blessedby3]

My 2 yr old is so picky it drives me crazy
She basically only eats out of HER 4 food groups:
Yogurt
Granola Bars/Cereal
Fresh Fruit
Gummies
I have to force "good" food down her mouth sometimes and most of the time she spits it right back out. She also has had reflux (it has gotten much better) and so I think she has had such bad eating experiences that she would rather go without. She has been in the 1-4% for weight until she hit 2. Then she went to 10%, but I dont know how because she doesnt eat much of anything. She gags on cheese and pasta so that rules out so much. She wont eat any sandwich, cold cuts, peanut butter, grilled cheese. She has texture issues bigtime.
Anyway OP, I just wanted to say I feel your pain. I dont have any suggestions since I cant even get my child to eat!! Good luck

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm assuming that you're asking about what food to pack whilst in transit as you will be able to shop and get the groceries/snacks you need when you get to WDW.

It's harder to take certain foods and liquids through airport security these days and we have further to travel than most (we come from Australia). When my son was at the 2 - 4 age, we travelled with cheese and biscuits - the prepackaged type and normally had about 4 packets of these for the plane. If it's prepackaged, we can take it on board. We also pre made sandwiches and wrapped it up in gladwrap. We didn't put anything other than butter and cream/soft cheese spread in it. No ham or anything that would make it soggy.

We also cut fruit that we knew he would like. Seedless grapes works best. If we take apple, we squeeze some lemon over it so that it doesn't go brown. Easy to carry either in a plastic container or using ziplock bags.
Fruit cups and applesauce also work well - remember to bring plastic spoons. And I can't remember if you have them in the US - pre made jelly cups; the kind that don't need refrigeration were also good for him.

Rice crackers are also a healthier option than most snack biscuits.
We also take a small container of grated carrot. You can add this to the premade sandwich or use it to garnish the cheese and biscuits/crackers.

We take wet towelettes with us.

Good luck with your trip and happy eating!

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

A few things that have worked for me and my increasingly control seeking toddler (and that travel well) lately are:

Freeze dried fruit (Mango, pear, apple, etc.--Found at health food stores, Trader joes, Fresh Market. Wal-mart even carries Disney brand with Mickey on them! They're crunchy--we call them fruit crackers.)

Freeze dried peas and corn (www.justtomatoes.com--Really! Try these! They are crunchy and crispy and yummy with nothing added. I know kids who eat no other veggies who will sometimes eat these.)

Pouches of baby food fruit/veggies/fruit&veggie/applesauce combos (http://www.plumorganics.com is one company--these are GREAT for on the go or stirring into plain yogurt. My son devours these. Just pop the top off and slurp.)

Earth's Best brown rice bars--like rice krispie treats, but made with yogurt--less sugar, more protein, whole grain (and Elmo!)

Yogurt covered Raisins (At our house, often mixed with whole grain goldfish, cheerios and pretzels)

Packets of oatmeal (hot water can be gotten at any place you get hot tea)

Carnation Instant Breakfast (or a healthier, lower sugar protein powder)

Kefir (fruit flavored drinkable yogurt--needs to be kept cold, but is a great nutrition packed food)

Really, you'll never know what will work this week until you try. And yes, what works today won't work tomorrow---and none of it may work on vacation. She won't starve herself, but it's always hard to remember that in the moments when she's screaming and clearly hungry, but won't eat any of the things you offer. Just be patient and make sure she's drinking water or milk. Try to make the things she does eat count.

One thing I can suggest that may be counter intuitive is to cut down on snacks. Poor thing skips breakfast, so she's hungry. But if she has the option of munching little bits all day long, it's unlikely she'll eat anything other than the little crunchies she wants to eat. One tactic I use is to offer something on his approved but not preferred list when he's hungry after skipping a meal (he eats a paltry breakfast, so I'll offer broccoli or peas as a midmorning snack. He'll eat it if he's hungry, but he won't love it like he'd love a bowl of chips. If he eats it, he gets something like cheese which he eats more readily, but is still nutrition packed.)

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[tjmw2727]

You have older kids so you have been through this before - but...

In general I include 1 thing each of my kids likes at each meal. Then they have to try a bite of everything and can fill up on what they choose, its all healthy so they get control. Remember that raw vegies have as much to give as cooked and I find my kids will eat just about any vegie raw especially if they can dip it. Yogurt and low fat dressings are a big hit. Lots of the wdw menus have a vegie @ dip it choice as well as grapes or apples!

Cut things up small and let your toddler use toothpicks - that's fun even with macaroni and fruit and its easy to bring along a container of toothpicks.

Offer a variety and remember their stomachs are tiny. Watch that they aren't filling on milk, water and juice. Make sure that drinks (other than water) are offered after meals and not on demand or before meals. We all drink water with meals and after about 15 months the kids did as well.

At 22 mos and during a vacation I would probably bring along some healthy cereals and fruit for snacking and make sure they drink lots of water. At meals just stick with the favorites, soups and pasta always worked well for us and if they are hungry enough you don't have to have pizza at every meal. If nothing else a glass of milk can do wonders for a toddler.

Most places will serve a child a plain peice of chicken, lightly cooked carrots or some mashed potato even if it isn't on the menu so be sure and ask especially at a table service meal if you don't see what your child likes on the menu.

Cut it small offer a variety but not too much food and then leave it to them. -
*
eta - I re-read your post and something I remembered from the todder days was 'prime the pump" and dont' over do it. So make sure her plate is small and offers little but include the pickle and cheese as well as a few other bites of items she likes. Offer a small amount and then re fill as needed and remember how small their tummy's are. Hold off on the chips and junk or offer one chip or say 1/2 a cookie with the plate and then no more "junk" If you don't offer it she won't eat it and like a pp said they won't starve but they can hold out until you offer the "goods"

 

[ktlm]

My DD is really picky too. We do Gardengrocer.com. We order fruit, fruit cups, goldfish, yogurt, milk, orange juice, water, raisins, cereal and other snack items that we knew she would eat and had it delivered to the resort. It was great. We've done it for all three trips with her. Before she was potty trained it was great to get diapers and wipes from them and not worry about where to pack them on the plane too.

 

[gr8leg8]

If we take apple, we squeeze some lemon over it so that it doesn't go brown.

orange juice will do the same with a sweet taste instead of the sharp taste of lemon.

 

[WantToGoNow]

When my ds8 was about that age, he stopped eating completely. I mentioned it to his pediatrician and he said a child will not starve if he's offered food to eat. He also advised against doing what you're doing - making/taking special foods for him to eat. He said to offer him what everyone else was eating - he either ate it or not but if he chose not, there was nothing until the next meal. When he got hungry enough, he ate. He'll be 9 in May and he's still here - all 4'7" and 81 lbs. of him.

 

[Minniemama350]

My kids have eating/sensory disorders. I am not suggestingtat yours does, so please don't think I'm handing ot a diagnosis or even suggesting one. I AM NOT. I say that so you know that I feel your pain!

Anyway, I totally agree with so many things that have been said. Particularly:1)It's vacation and while you of course want your child to be healthy, it is not the end of the world if they don't eat great;2)I wouldn't give in and bring what they want UNLESS there is reason to believe that this is a disorder and not regular kid won't eat issues. If you give in your setting those boundaries wide and letting them make the rules 3)Whatever is going to make this a fun vacation for you all, including ignoring my advice, is what you should do. Let yourself relax and enjoy your child at Disney!