Kids and eating "junk" on vacation

[hddanis]

I pretty much let the kids eat what they wanted to within reason. Usually for counter service I'd get 2 meals for the 3 younger kids and one would have FF and grapes and the other would have the cookies and veggies, in the end, everything was gone and everybody was happy. At the dinner buffets, I usually managed to get a veggie on the plate (corn and carrots being favorites) and as long as they ate at least a few bites I was happy. We certainly all had our shares of funnel cakes, ice cream, pasteries, etc. though!

With all the food choices there, I can imagine it would be pretty easy to stay away from McD's. We were there for 11 days and I don't think we ate it once, there were far too many other opions for us.

 

[bubba]

Generally, I'm not as strict on vacation as I am at home about eating. DS(9) and DS(4) are pretty good eaters for the most part and when faced with a buffet make surprisingly good choices. I figure if once in a while they want a huge ice cream sundae for dinner or donuts for breakfast it's not going to hurt them. I just try to keep an eye on the snacks. DS(4) would eat those Mickey head rice krispie treats until they were coming out his ears so we limit those to one a day. He doesn't always eat it, but we keep them in the fridge in the room and usually end up bringing some back home with us.

 

[RJD]

I am someone who totally feels "it's vacation". I pretty much let them eat what they want. I do make some suggestions and encourage healthy choices, but it is vacation. For the most part, my boys (10 and 14) don't go overboard anyway. The youngest loves fruit and usually had a fresh fruit cup every morning anyway. And the 14YO--well he can pretty much eat everything in sight and then some and is still as skinny as a rail! But we maintain a pretty good diet at home so if there's a week of extras and not so healthy choices, so what? At home, they also have to make their beds, pick up after themselves, etc. Like we said, it's vacation!

 

[loriandmatt]

and besides, she was on vacation too and not worrying about feeding us was part of that.

i can't tell you how much i agree with this statement!!!!! I am the "keeper and monitor of all things" in my "normal" life. while on vacation, i only worry about/monitor the stuff/activity that will harm them or disturb others.

 

[Becky2005]

Let's see in 2005 when we went. My 3rd child basically ate Mac & Cheese at every single meal and I let him. The kids were allowed pop & the kicker was dessesrt at every meal (that never ever happens here, especially eating out!). We were on the Premium plan at the time. We did a lot of buffets though and TONS of sit-down meals. I can't say we ever ate at McDonald's unless you count Donald's breakfast since it was in the same location then that. However, if they took the plan, I would let the kids eat that if they wanted -- DH doesn't like McDonald's though so if there was a sit-down alternative, that's where we would be. He's not a big Disney fan as it is.

We let them eat whatever they wanted when we are on vacation...we only go on vacation about once every few years or so by the time we can afford it, there is no way I'm going to monitor them too much that's the fun of being on vacation (obviously the scenerio of them eating 4 ice cream cones until they throw up, I wouldn't allow but otherwise I didn't care!)

 

[planningcrazymom]

My daughter and 2 grandaughters and I will be in WDW. in 7 days for the first time and the 2 GD's can have whatever they want to. It is their vacation also. We will not be monitoring them at all. What is a vacation for? To have fun and eat eat and eat some more.

 

[ReneeA]

I stop for snack and treats when they want them...my kids have *never* overeaten (don't know why...DH and I have occasions where we pig out ). I don't really worry about them eating ice cream until they puke.

However, if I order a meal for them and it comes with a side of veggies, they have to take a bite. With DS who is 5, this is not a problem...he'll usually eat the veggies first, gladly. DD, who is now 4...she puts up a bit of fuss about it, tries them, and then usually eats all of them. She just has this inherent need to *test* me.

I like to try and keep them on their routine as much as possible, even on vacation. Cuts down on bellyaches and crabbiness and makes everyone's vacation run smoother.

 

[blanq]

My DS14 can eat whatever he wants whenever he wants when we are at WDW. A Mickey bar for breakfast? Fine. A Coke to wash it down? Okay with me. Popcorn 10 minutes later? Whatever. Once in a great while he will eat a Caesar salad, nevermind he drowns it in dressing, but at least he does manage to get some green in there somewhere.

I am much better about ensuring he gets a balanced diet the majority of the non-vacationing days of the year.

 

[jenrose66]

Let them eat junk. My son who is 1 drinks water with almost every meal at home, he gets juice for breakfast and soy bottles thru the day. On this trip he didn't want to drink water but he had to stay hydrated, it was hot! I put sprite in his sippy cup and all was well.

 

[goofygoobers]

I would not eat McDonalds b/c we can eat that at home and with all the other great food options in Disney, we avoid McDonalds. But pretty much what ever they want, in reason, they can have. DD12 and DS9

BTW they usually will pick things like steak and salmon for dinner.

 

[caroline1851]

I will make sure they eat some healthy stuff, but i won't be super, super strict about it. my kids eat super healthy at home, so they will be looking for healthy stuff.

 

[Disneyof3]

I guess I should put the flame suit on too. I let my kids while on vacation eat what ever they want. But I won't let them eat a sundae for lunch only unless we are having a early supper for buffet and it is only to tie them over till dinner. My kids don't like to eat take out all the time. They actually get sick of it. So when we head to disney there breakfast is usually in the room with cereal or bagels. We try to eat somewhere during the day that serves salades or fruit. I don't go out of my way to avoid the McDonalds types though. We try not to go to McD's because we have them at home and can go anytime and my kids like to try things new at least once like me.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

I love vacation because we have the DDP. The boys pick their own meals and usually eat wht they order. They can drink soda, though no caffine after supper - I want to sleep. And we are planning to share a Kitchen Sink as a meal one day.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Interesting thread - I sure hope people don't feel the need to trash other's decisions for how they or their children eat.
Tiger

Me too - So far so good!

Pass the flame suit please.

My son is free to eat whatever he wants while on vacation.
He's had an ice cream sundae for dinner and cookies and soda for lunch.

We've had our share of McDonald's while touring the parks.

I completely agree. My son is super picky and feeding him is a daily battle. On vacation I feel like I can take 7 days off from that battle with no permanent damage being done If I can have dessert for breakfast while we're in the Happiest Place on Earth, no reason he can't have a bag of oreos and a glass of milk for lunch and chicken nuggets for dinner. I have a feeling I'll be hitting that McD's near Canada pretty regularly on our way to/from our ADR's in the World Showcase.
Go ahead, call child welfare on me.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I have a feeling I'll be hitting that McD's near Canada pretty regularly on our way to/from our ADR's in the World Showcase.

That happens to be one of my son's favorite spots.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I always figured vacation was for the whole family--and that includes a vacation from Mom bugging you about your food intake! Vacation for both Mom and kid!

My kids have much more latitude on vacation--chocolate milk at both lunch and dinner (we rarely have this at home), order what you want, no big deal. I don't allow ice cream or soda at breakfast, but they've never asked. DS10 does want to go back to Chef Mickey's because they had dessert at breakfast (his words). He thought that was the coolest ever!

We wouldn't do McD's at WDW, just because my kids aren't big fans, we rarely go there, and it's just not "special"--they'd rather try a new place. But if someone went daily on vacation, it wouldn't faze me at all--I think there's better food to be had, but hey, it's YOUR vacation, do what you want!

And to people who are a little more watchful, I'm cool with that, especially if there are health/allergy concerns. A trip to the ER or night up with an ill child are NOT fun vacation activities.

My biggest issues are with people (like the WDW Company) trying to tell me how my kids should eat when I'm down there. Fine, expand the choices, but don't limit my kid's options. Heck, my DD12 takes 7 dance classes and runs cross country--if she wants fries for dinner, where's the harm?

 

[akalittleeva]

It's kind of hard for me to make them eat healthy on vacation when I enjoy a coke slushie and doughnuts for breakfast! We eat healthy at home and I teach them "everything in moderation". We take a family trip on average only once every 2 years so it is nice for me to get a break from being the "nutrition police" (I love junk food, but try to avoid it as much as I can and set a good example). My kids were 10 & 8 on our last trip and I was actually really pleased with how well they balanced their meals, coke slushies, ice cream Mickeys and all.

 

[DCDisney]

I also let my kids eat pretty much what they choose but typically they drink milk so I feel like they get some tiny amount of healthy stuff. My older one hates fries so he gets a pretty good amount of fruit. But he's also like a labrador retriever that he'll pretty much eat until he gets sick We do tend to cut desserts in half when they arrive telling him that half is really a better sized portion which he is happy with (we normally read packages to figure out portion sizes as a reasonable way for him to judge what he should eat). My younger one is a sweets fiend so I do insist that she eat something of her meal before dessert. Other than that they can eat nuggets, pizza, mickey waffles, etc to their heart's content.

Yvonne

 

[bigbabyblues]

I don't minitor it too closely. I do make sure they have some fruit/veggies each day, but the c/s meals have done that for me--they love carrots, grapes, and applesauce.

We did have a Kitchen Sink from Beaches and Cream for dinner one night, but had a good breakfast and lunch. Didn't hurt anything, but I did say NO when DS4 asked for more ice cream an hour later. YUCK!

Neither of them drink soda, so that's not an issue. They always ask for milk, juice, or water.

 

[Camster0307]

My daughter is a great eater at home, so on vacation, I give her some freedom: don't insist on milk with every meal; water for walking around the parks, a "fun" drink for dinner (I'm going to have my "fun" drink for dinner - why not her?) While veggies/fruit are a priority at home, we get them where we can on vacation - I don't obsess about. I know if it's offered, she'll eat it. I feel, since she doesn't give me a hard time on a regular basis, going without a veggie for a few days won't hurt her!