Help! Major dining problem

[PrincessJasmine]

Hi. I can relate to the picky eater syndrome, been there, done that, thank God it's over now

I thought the idea of the tuna packets was a good idea. Also, you may be able to buy tuna sandwiches in the food court wherever you are staying. You didn't mention breakfast or snacks. If she's like most preteens, she is probably boycotting breakfast but if she likes ice cream, I'd take her to the best ice cream places in the World and let her eat it at her leisure. As for eating at the restaurants, you mentioned she only eats MCDonalds chicken nuggets so maybe you should stick to the FFs (and a shake if you can get her to eat it).

Have no fear, she will not starve to death! They never do.

Brenda

Thanks so much! You're right, I didn't mention breakfast or snacks...for breakfast, she will eat waffles w/ butter and syrup, toast, pancakes and bagels. So breakfast is much easier. You're right though, she does boycott breakfast if we have to eat too early...she says it makes her stomach hurt!

Getting her to drink a shake or eat ice cream will be no problem at all.

 

[skiwee1]

I too have a picky eater. It can be difficult while at WDW but we get by. My DD is even pickier then your sister. For lunch and dinner she only eats grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and bagels and cream cheese. She will eat a hot dog if that is the only thing on the menu but really doesn't care for them. I WISH she would eat a chicken nugget!! Anyway she would just as soon starve to death then be made to eat something she doesn't like. She will throw up at the smells of other foods. We have found most places at WDW have something on the menu she likes or we ask the CM. We have always been accomodated even if a grilled cheese is not on the menu. If there is nothing she likes then I get her a milkshake and then get her something after dinner someplace else.

 

[pamlet]

Yes, it's just us - but I doubt she'll see it that way. She's been raised in a very adult household and she is pretty grown for her age. She's 12 going on 25. I just wish she would eat that way.

I understand about picky eaters - my sister was one at about that age!

Couple words of advice ...

Don't bug her to eat... she'll eat when she's hungary. Otherwise they (kids in general) get the idea that "food" is their control - over herself and over YOU

Have you included her in the plans where to eat? Let her look at the menus on allears. If she get's obnoxious about it.. (as ONLY 12 year old girls can.. ) Tell her that part of the planning for a Disney trip is deciding where to eat! No matter what make sure YOU get to eat where YOU want to as well.

By the way - the chicken strips at Columbia Harbor House in the Magic Kingdom are GREAT!! laugh...

 

[Jennasis]

As a former super-picky-eater (and currently a mildly-picky-eater!!) I can empathize with you. Luckily so can WDW. They will be very accomodating, especially if you tell teh CM who makes your ADR that you have a special needs eater.

When you sit down, ask for a kids AND adult menu. Let your sis check them both out. Don't make a big deal over it (I always HATED when people fussed over my eating habits). Decide what YOU want and let her try to find something she can live with. Remind her that she can order ANYTHING at all (even if it's dessert at dinner time!! Afterall..it is a vacation!). If she can't find anything she'll be happy with, then ask the server to discuss options with her. Let you sister tell the server what she will eat and see what the server can get the chef to make for her.

 

[seashoreCM]

Order nothing for her and have other family members (if willing) feed her tidbits off of their plates so nothing goes to waste.

The late Ann Landers (who had a column similar to Dear Abby) published one letter from a parent who served the same leftover food to a child as the only meal day after day until he ate it. I would not serve food cold and unappetizing, though.

Some caution should be observed. A child might be allergic to something, including to brussels sprouts or radishes or onions.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Lewisc]

At the risk of saying the obvious, your trip is one of the few times in which paying for the dining plan would probably be a mistake.

Decide if you're willing to pay for a place like Boma if she is only going to be eating a few items off the child's part of the buffet.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I don't see the two places you mentioned (SciFi and 50's Primetime diner) being a problem.

SciFi serves fries as a side of most of their meals - so just ask for a side of fries and let your sister order a milkshake to go along with it - I'm sure that would fill her up.

50's Primetime diner has great mashed potatoes - not sure about the corn (?) but ask - they may be able to accomadate that. They also serve a huge ice cream sundae for dessert.

Disney can accomadate just about any request you make. To compromise with your sister, on the day (or two) you are at MGM-Disney studios, have Pizza Planet for lunch (so she can have her pizza) and one of your restaurants for dinner (so you can enjoy a really nice "fun" meal). This would work at any park.

I agree with you about not pushing your sister - I mean hey it's your vacation as well, no need to take on the job of food police. Pick the restaurants you want and let her have fries or mashed potatoes for dinner - maybe when she sees how good your food looks (and tastes) she might be tempted to try something else.

Otherwise, one week of fries and ice cream won't kill her.

 

[PrincessJasmine]

At the risk of saying the obvious, your trip is one of the few times in which paying for the dining plan would probably be a mistake.

Decide if you're willing to pay for a place like Boma if she is only going to be eating a few items off the child's part of the buffet.

I don't have expensive taste myself - give me chicken strips over steak anyday! I'm nowhere near as picky an eater as she is but I don't really care to go anywhere expensive. We'll do counter service in the theme parks a few times, go to Sci-Fi, 50's Primetime, maybe Beaches n' Cream, the UK pub at Epcot, and venture out to Planet Hollywood.

 

[PrincessJasmine]

I don't see the two places you mentioned (SciFi and 50's Primetime diner) being a problem.

SciFi serves fries as a side of most of their meals - so just ask for a side of fries and let your sister order a milkshake to go along with it - I'm sure that would fill her up.

50's Primetime diner has great mashed potatoes - not sure about the corn (?) but ask - they may be able to accomadate that. They also serve a huge ice cream sundae for dessert.

Disney can accomadate just about any request you make. To compromise with your sister, on the day (or two) you are at MGM-Disney studios, have Pizza Planet for lunch (so she can have her pizza) and one of your restaurants for dinner (so you can enjoy a really nice "fun" meal). This would work at any park.

I agree with you about not pushing your sister - I mean hey it's your vacation as well, no need to take on the job of food police. Pick the restaurants you want and let her have fries or mashed potatoes for dinner - maybe when she sees how good your food looks (and tastes) she might be tempted to try something else.

Otherwise, one week of fries and ice cream won't kill her.

Thank you so much, that sounds perfect. We're going to Super Soap Weekend so we'll be at MGM all weekend and we're very interested in going to Pizza Planet anyway.

 

[PrincessJasmine]

Order nothing for her and have other family members (if willing) feed her tidbits off of their plates so nothing goes to waste.

We're going alone. And she is a human, not a dog.

 

[bigbabyblues]

50's PTC has corn.....I got it instead of the green beans wtih no problem.

 

[skiwee1]

50's PTC has corn.....I got it instead of the green beans wtih no problem.

I found this out a few years ago. Now we always get the corn because we can't stand the crunchy green beans!

 

[TDC Nala]

don't they sell Mc Donalds chicken nuggets in some of the parks? I think Restaurantosaurus might have them, and that Mc Donalds stand near Canada at Epcot.

If MGM had them, I'd say buy her some and let her carry them in.

 

[cdrn1]

I posted asking for advice on dining, not for people to tell me how my sister needs to be raised. No one here has any clue what type of household she has been raised in or what our family is like. I'm not saying it's right for her to eat only the things she eats, but that's how it is. I'm not willing to get into a fight about food on what should be the happiest trip we've ever taken. She's eaten this way her whole life, and I don't see her changing anytime soon. When you think of a typical 12 year old, that is not my sister. She is very opinionated and argumentive and basically knows what she likes. True, it isn't much, but I can't change her mind.

This is a special occasion (sisters sharing a special trip) so I don't think it should be a battlefield! You're right, it's not your place to "make" her try new things! She will when she is good and ready. I think you should just go wherever YOU would like to go, and let her adapt and order her own food. She won't starve and the restaurants at WDW are very accommodating. Enjoy the time you are spending with your sis and I think it's great that you are going together. I have been trying to get my little sis (I am 48 and she's 42) to go with me for years!

 

[reginaastralis]

Tehe ... as a very picky eater myself, I feel your sisters pain. I'm 21 and have people hound me ALL THE TIME. Before I had my daughter, I was pretty much a vegetarian. I would eat chicken and turkey very rarely. When I got pregnant, my biggest cravings where for bacon double cheeseburgers and cuban sammiches. MMMmmm. I eat more now b/c of my daughter, thanks Julie.

When I go to Disney, I honestly feel guilty b/c I don't try new things. We went to Rainforest Cafe during our last trip, I ordered the Turkey Cesar wrap thing. I thought the sauce to dip it in was too spicy. I barely finished half of it, felt like such a waste. I want to take my sister to Norway for dinner with the princesses, she'll survive off the kid's menu, but I don't eat fish, or lamb, or beef really ... I'm afraid of ruining her expierence *she'll be 8*

I think the best advice is just to let her eat what she wants. Believe me, I know what I want ... it aggravates the heck out of me when someone says "Amanda, you really should eat some beef." Blagh. I could live off of the McD french fries stands in Disney, but I would rather gain the extra weight eating ice cream.

When I was thirteen my family and I went to the Netherlands, my brother and his soccer team were playing over there. I literally lived off of banana and strawberry ice cream and french fries. Mmm. Just thinking about those fries makes my mouth water. Sure, I could have expierenced lots of new things in a foreign country, but I enjoyed those three things and hold nothing back.

Amanda

 

[EmmaAndQuinnsMommy]

Well, we have a whole family of us that are pretty much JUST like your sister. We don't eat any meat at all and I had to sit with the menus to find grilled cheese, pizza, etc. for us. When we go to restaurants normally, we have to order a couple of appetizers as our dinner because often times, there is nothing for us to choose as an entree. I laugh because we eat like children sometimes too! We tend to eat many many types of pasta at home as well as veggie-only dinners, but even those we can't eat in public so we are on a quest for grilled cheeses too!

I HATE it when people comment on our 'picky' eating habits. The fact of the matter is - we are very simple to feed as long as there is some kind of cheese or bread or pasta we are set!

My parents were AWFUL about making me eat everything when I was little. They saved dinners and served them again for breakfast (cold liver and onions, anyone?), made me sit at the table until I finished (or threw up) and just basically tortured me about it. I can't help but think that that is what caused some of this, so I warn anyone out there to not do that to your kids, Yes, they have to have a balanced diet and it is more difficult for some of us (incorporating refried beans or rememberring to add yogurt isn't always easy!) than others, but if you act like a lunatic about your kids you may just end up with someone like ME!

 

[jana]

She is not my child, so I don't think it's my place to do that. My mother has tried to put her foot down, but my sister eats what she likes, and she unfortunately just doesn't like to eat much. She won't compromise. If I don't give in, she won't eat.

To a degree I agree with you, on the other hand you don't have to make the issue into a control issue between you and her (which IMHO is 90% of what "picky eating" issues are about). At the moment she is in control of this issue because she has got you running around worrying about what to get her to eat.
As you've been told most places will try and do something to accommodate her. If she's hungry enough she'll eat something that any restarant will offer.

While it's not your "place" to break her habits, as an older sister you could perhaps try to help her set up a different dynamic than the one she has at home. For her future life it's going to help her greatly to start being able to function socially without having everyone running around worrying about her being able to order something. You're current handling of the issue is exactly what she may have been using to get "kids" attention in an otherwise overly adult upbringing.

I agree with the advice involve her in the choice of some of the restaurants, let her choose what she eats and don't try to cadjole or scold her if decides not to eat. It might be frustrating for you not to "mother" her, but as you've pointed out , you're not her mother. This trip could set the tone of your adult relationships with your sister so treat her as someone that's able to make her own choices. If she's hungry enough, she'll eat, if she doesn't want anything that's available, she's not hungry enough. Book some places for her, some for both of you and most importantly some for you. She needs to understand that she has to make compromises to other people, particularly when those people are going out of their way to give her a wonderful experience. If you let her make all the ground rules for this trip and let her "run the show" she's going to be having you run around for her for the rest of your lives.

There are plenty of options for her at any WDW restaurant, this will only be an issue if she wants to make it a "control issue" and even then only if you allow her to make it so. She won't starve if you ignore her playing up for a week as you've already stated she'll load up on breakfast if you time it correctly. Try making this a non issue between you, and see if you can break the vicious and potentially damaging cycle that she's in. She will not die if she doesn't eat 3 (or even two) meals a day, this is an opportunity for you to try a different tactic on her and to see if it's successful. I have a feeling you may be suprised how it works. It will also be interesting for you to see if she reverts to type once she gets home. If that is the case it's important that you don't try to use it as a weapon against her (or your parents) by telling your mom how successful you were. You're relationship with her will be much stronger if it remains a "secret" between you.
It may take a couple of days of patience and biting you're lip, it may not change her at all, but you've got nothing to lose and she has everything to gain if you can help her out of her eating issues. Because everything you'rve written leads me to believe her actions are about control and attention not about what she likes to eat.

PAMLET said

Don't bug her to eat... she'll eat when she's hungary. Otherwise they (kids in general) get the idea that "food" is their control - over herself and over YOU

Exactly

 

[Nancyg56]

I posted asking for advice on dining, not for people to tell me how my sister needs to be raised. No one here has any clue what type of household she has been raised in or what our family is like. I'm not saying it's right for her to eat only the things she eats, but that's how it is. I'm not willing to get into a fight about food on what should be the happiest trip we've ever taken. She's eaten this way her whole life, and I don't see her changing anytime soon. When you think of a typical 12 year old, that is not my sister. She is very opinionated and argumentive and basically knows what she likes. True, it isn't much, but I can't change her mind.

You're right. Sounds to me like there are plenty of options for her to find something that she wants. My DD was choosy about her food, and I am reminded on a daily basis how she got around my demands. (DD is 28 now). I remember when we sent her on a trip to Europe for 3 weeks with people to people. She was offered beef on the plane, and finally told the Stewardess that she would forego dinner when she was told that there was no chicken or veg left for her. She had preordered to avoid issues. In Paris the first meal was escargot. She spent most of the time eating bread and drinking nothing but water after that meal. She survived. She got around the whole problem when she told anybody who questioned her eating habits that she was a vegetarian. She was 17 at the time.

I think if your DS is given the opportunity to choose her meals, and can discuss her choices with the wait staff, she will find food she wants and I have found that most restaurants will try to accommodate a guest. I agree that a vacation is not the time to change 12 years, even if you could, so go and have fun.

 

[can'twait]

I feel your pain.

My little guy only likes milk, milkshakes, bananas, PB&J, pasta & pizza. He's even given up chicken nuggets. Now that he's 5, I've stopped making separate dinners for him. I'm not a short order cook! It's not like he's going to starve or suffer brain damage if he doesn't eat a meal. He eats what we eat or he has milk and a piece of fruit for dinner and eats a LOT of cereal the next morning.

It's not worth it to push kids to eat. If you genuinely don't like something, would you want to be pushed into doing it or eating it or whatever it was? My son throws up if we put green veggies on his plate. Hold the drama, please. I give him vitamins to make up the difference. He is average height and weight so I'm not too concerned about his health. I'm hoping that eventually he will want to taste what everybody else thinks is so good, and will be more willing to try things. If not, then more for the rest of us!

As far as the control/attention issue goes, if you drop the issue and let your sister make her own choices, she will be more likely to be less defensive and might be more open to try things. Also, if you stop playing the "game", then there will be no reason for her to play either. If she's hungry, she'll find something to eat. I bet any restaurant can come up with some toast and milk. Certainly don't stress over it and let it ruin your time together, at WDW or at home. Life is too short. It's only food.

 

[JodyTG]

McDonald's Chicken McNuggets are served at Restaurantosaurus at the Animal Kingdom and also in Epcot between World Showcase and Canada...so that's at least TWO meals she can eat...lol.

Don't stress too much about what you can find your sister to eat. If there's a restaurant you REALLY want to eat at and you don't think you'll find anything for your sister to eat, just bring something with you that she will. (I've never seen anyone kicked out of a restaurant for this.) Besides...you can pretty much get french fries everywhere.

Have a great time with your little sis and take lots of pictures. You never know what you can blackmail her with later. j/k