HELP! I am going to WDW with a vegetarian who doesn't like vegetables!!!!

[discorsner]

Ok so my family are all major meat eaters. We are traveling this time with my 18 yr old nephew and his gf is coming along.. She is a vegetarian which is cool but she doesn't seem to like veggies!

I had her over for several dinners and made extra salad and veggie options and she barely ate. I joked with her what do you eat? and her and my nephew both explained she is a vegetarian for animal reasons but doesn't care for a lot of veggies. I joke all the time that her diet is chocolate and cheese!

She loves all dessert as well as pizza, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, breads and danishes, etc.

What am I going to feed this girl at WDW??????? Help!

We have the reg dining plan. Most of the restaurants we normally go to have a veg option but it is somthing that sounds like it would be interesting and creative and that means she probably wont like it!

Anyone ever been in this boat with a tricky eater? TIA!

 

[Disney_momto2]

I would suggest buffets b/c at least she could eat bread, potatos and all the desserts that she wants.

 

[christa112]

Like PP stated buffets are they way to go. Most will have full salad bars. Definately pizza and Mac and cheese are up there. There are also fruit choices up there usually melon, pineapple, oranges and apples.

 

[treehugnmama]

mac and cheese and cheese ravioli is on a few of the kids meals?? I am sure they would make an adult portion if you asked...they have done that for us with hamburgers...mmmm meat

 

[Pumbaa_]

she is an adult who has made her choice to not eat meat. Point her to the DIS menus and let her figure it out

 

[somethingblue]

she is an adult who has made her choice to not eat meat. Point her to the DIS menus and let her figure it out

Yup, I completely agree.
When you decide to be vegetarian, vegan, etc, you go in to it knowing it's going to be difficult. My boyfriend is vegetarian and he can tell you that sometimes it is HARD to find something on the menu that sounds good. But you learn to become flexible. My boyfriend used to NEVER eat onions or mushrooms. Now he's actually started to like them (in small quantities) because, as he says frequently, "There's not point in limiting my options anymore than I already have."

In other words...you know there isn't going to be a lot provided, so go out of your way to try new things and adapt your tastes to what's out there. I want to add, unless you guys are on the dining plan, it might be easier for her to make a meal out of appetizers. These seem to be less meat-centric. Show her the menus in advance and tell her, "Here's what you're going to be working with". If all else fails you can always get her a kids meal or just bring a pre-made PB&J with you to supplement with chips and a drink.

Also, this is an off topic thing, but you might want to mention to her that if she is not eating very much protein (beans, eggs, meat substitutes such as tofu and tempah, quinoa, etc) that she should REALLY be taking B12 supplements. If her diet is really as starch-and-carb based as it seems to be she could be heading down a road of B12-deficiency. Yikes!

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

It sounds as if she is like my pickiest eater (DD1)....and DD1 were a vegetarian...

She would only eat chocolate as well!

Luckily it was my less picky eater (DD2) that decided to be a vegetarian during our last visit to WDW....(BUT...she would eat seafood)

So I poured over menus to find places with good selections for her....

I did end up with Buffet's ...which PP's recommend...Great Recommendation...then she can 'choose her meal"....

We ate at H&V (DHS) and Cape May Buffet (BC)....

We also did Family Traditions like CRT and Teppan Edo...but I just hoped she would find something there....(and she did)

Here were our CS selections:

Cosmic Ray's - MK
Sunset Market - DHS
The Land - Epcot
We did not do AK that year.....

I hope that helps!

Hugs
Mary

 

[persimmondeb]

Sounds like my sister, actually, who has now become extremely lactose intolerant, in addition to her other difficulties in restaurants. I second the recommendation for buffets, and I would think that she could find SOMETHING on most menus, even if it ends up being a kids meal or just a dessert. In that case it might make more sense to pay out of pocket than use a TS credit, though.

 

[cbg1027]

Like a PP said, she's an adult. Pick where you want to make your ADR's and she can order whatever it is she will eat there. You can't plan your trip around accommodating 1 person's eating habits.

I was a vegetarian for 7 years and went out to eat with other people many times. I never went hungry. Of course, I actually will eat vegetables.

 

[ShannonMB]

She loves all dessert as well as pizza, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, breads and danishes, etc.

What am I going to feed this girl at WDW??????? Help!

No shortage of these at the World!

 

[ancestry]

I would suggest that you make your dining plans like normal and leave it up to her to find something to eat at each restaurant. If she is this picky about food by her personal choice and not by necessity (allergies, health reasons, etc.) then it is on her to manage her choices.

 

[mrzrich]

This is your vacation. Just make your resevations to places you and most of the family would like to eat. I would not change my entire itinerary for my nephews GF who may or may not be part of the family in 5 years.

I'm sure that every restaraunt can make her some sort of meatless pasta dish, grilled cheese, or kids pizza in a pinch

 

[THEJOEL]

Like a PP said, she's an adult. Pick where you want to make your ADR's and she can order whatever it is she will eat there. You can't plan your trip around accommodating 1 person's eating habits.

I was a vegetarian for 7 years and went out to eat with other people many times. I never went hungry. Of course, I actually will eat vegetables.

I agree with this 100%. She is 18 has made her choice about her eating habits let her decide. Just let her know where the ADRs are let her look at the menus online and she can go from there. If all she likes is cocolate and cheese it seems like every menu in the place can accomodate her.
I am big time into weightlifting which requires me to eat every 2 hours and clean choices at that. I do this by choice, not because I have to, because I want to. When I do anything I think about how I can accomplish this and I plan accordingly. If we go out to eat on a non-cheat day I choose things that are appropriate for my diet and I don't expect others in my party to accomodote me because it doesn't concearn them. Yes I do on occassion even go vegan for a week or two just to get a change of pace from all the eggs and other animal proteins I eat to keep up my required intake, so I know what that is like also.
On another note, knowing what I do about nutrition, she needs to broaden her foods just for health reasons. Whether that be from supplementation or other means. I can respect her CHOICE but it sounds like her diet is EXTREMLY low in protein, healthy fats, minerals and fiber. There are TONS of vegan bodybuilders out there that meet ALL of their nutritional requirements through vegetable sources. You just have to look at food in a different way. When I am training I don't see food as a pleasure thing I see it as fuel pure and simple. When you are a vegetarian/vegan you need to pay attention to your macronutrients just as much as or even more than I do.
Granted though when I go to Disney this year I don't plan on seeing a weightroom or piece of grilled chicken the entire time. I AM AFTER ALL ON VACATION!!

 

[valeriemouse]

I know the nephew's GF is an adult and has made her choices and all of that, but I think it is extremely nice of the OP to be thinking of her and trying to be accomodating when planning ADR's. If she was going to say "hey kid, you're on your own, figure it out" she wouldn't have nicely asked for opinions and options. OP, you are awesome

I would tend to agree with what a lot of posters have said. Buffets are a really good choice. I am undoubtedly a meat eater, and places like Chef Mickeys have the best of both worlds - Great carving station, but also has pizza, pasta, mac and cheese and an ice cream bar. I know I may be in the minority to say this, but I've ALWAYS liked the food at Chef Mickeys. Maybe plan more TS breakfasts than dinners where there are MANY more vegetarian options that aren't vegetables - eggs, waffles, pancakes, french toast, fruits, etc. Kona Cafe and Boma are some of my fave breakfasts. Then, if you use CS credits for a dinner or two, she has many different places and choices.

I would stay away from very meat-centric places like Ohana. Now I LOVE Ohana. It's my fave meal on property. But for someone that is vegetarian and cares deeply about animals, seeing skewered meat being paraded around might tip her over the edge

Have a great vacation

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yep, this. If she's old enough to travel with a boyfriend and his family, she's old enough to find something to eat in a restaurant.

Have you seen all the complaints from parents about the limited choices on the kids' menus: "My children won't be happy with just chicken strips or mac & cheese for a week!"? Well, Walt Disney World allows adults to order from the kids' menu.

If she's hungry, she'll find SOMETHING to eat.

 

[sters]

I'd stay away from O'Hanas or any steak house! What about Coral Reef (seafood) or this http://allears.net/menu/menu_mexveg.htm

 

[danielle.st]

What places did you have in mind? Are you wondering more about TS or CS?

 

[discorsner]

OP here. Thanks so much for the many responses. I have gotten some good ideas! I am at a mix between the "let her deal with it" ideas and the "want to be nice" ideas I guess. I want to be thoughtful because we did invite her to come along and we knew about her "quirks" when we asked.

I def think that buffets are going to be the way to go and possibly breakfasts also. Here is what I was thinking about

1900 Park Fare Dinner
Coral Reef Lunch or Dinner
Mama Melroses Dinner
Crystal Palace Bfast or Dinner
Donald's Bfast
Plaza Lunch or Dinner
Supercalifragalistic bfast?

I feel as though we have over-done Chef Mickeys but now maybe we will consider it again. Right now I have made several ADRs but I need to cancel some and get things in order.

I am not a big breakfast person but I think we are considering bfasts mainly because of her also my kids do like character meals and it could be a good change of pace since we usually give up time in the middle of the day for a lunch or dinner.

I really wanted to finalize things today and then be done with it but I am still unsure. You guys have been amazing though!

One thing is for sure, I will take her into account as much as I can but once I finalize things in my mind I will present it to her as this is what you are dealing with.

Thanks again! Any other tips or comments are most welcome!!!!!

 

[blanq]

she is an adult who has made her choice to not eat meat. Point her to the DIS menus and let her figure it out

This is exactly what I would do. I mean, a vegetarian that doesn't eat vegetables?! What in the heck? She simply sounds like a picky eater and if she eats nothing but dessert and cheese on your trip, so be it. It seems like such a waste of money to pay for the DDP for her.

 

[somethingblue]

I would stay away from very meat-centric places like Ohana. Now I LOVE Ohana. It's my fave meal on property. But for someone that is vegetarian and cares deeply about animals, seeing skewered meat being paraded around might tip her over the edge

There is a chef who works at Ohana certain nights of the week called Chef TJ who makes AWESOME vegan/vegetarian meals for guests. If you can go there on a night where he is available I would recommend it; a lot of people have been thrilled with their special meals.

I would also recommend going to the Dining Reviews board and seeking out the vegetarian/vegan reviews. You can show her pictures of various options. Seeing the pictures might inspire her to try some veggies.

Here are little snippets of menus that are not buffets that might appeal to her (that I could think of haha). I've been scouring menus for my boyfriend, the veggie, so I'm pretty familiar with them!

Les Chefs De France has a delicious macaroni and cheese, french onion soup, and lots of yummy desserts
Mama Melrose has several meatless options with pastas and flatbreads
Crystal Palace is a great buffet with tons of non-meat options
Tusker House is well known for having great options for vegetarians but the food is a bit ethnic so she might end up eating off the kiddie buffet
1900 Park Fare Breakfast is one of my favourites on property and has a great custom-made-omlette station for much needed protein!

And don't forget about counter service. Columbia Harbour House has a "Lighthouse Sandwich" that is vegetarian as well as vegetarian chili. Animal Kingdom has Pizzafari with meatless pizza options as does Pizza Planet in Hollywood Studios. Epcot will have lots of options. Sunshine Seasons is a food court so tons of variety there including salad, soup, and a vegetable Cuban sandwich. Also, Tangierine Cafe has great meat-free options (if she's willing to try flavours that are not so mainstream). Pretty much every counter service place will have veggie burgers; if you don't see them on the menu just ask. You might want to warn her ahead of time that they are Gardenburger style and not Boca Burger style...so you can actually see the veggies and they taste less like meat.

If I think of others I'll add them. (I've already edited this post like six times thinking of new things!)
And personally, I wouldn't recommend the Plaza. All the reviews I've read about their veggie sandwich (and my own experience there) had been really bad.