Kid's Menus (At Least For Dining Plans) SUCK!!!

[Dixiemom]

I can't believe how crappy so many of the kid's menus are. Burger and chicken nuggets! What about those parents who actually care what their children eat???? I have seen very few kid's menus that offer more than this and offer healthier choices. There is a childhood obesity problem in this country and just walking in the park all day doesn't take care of the junk on these menus. Anyone else less than thrilled about this?

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Loads of caring parents are. When we take our little guy (six now) to the parks, we carry our own food often, for this very reason.

We don't do DDP. We did once and I'll never willingly go through that horrible experience again.

When it comes to actually purchasing food from WDW, we are very careful to have him choose what he would normally eat, and that's not those nasty fast food options.

So, all that to say, yep. Not everyone is pleased with the "children's options" on the menus.

 

[La2kw]

I can't believe how crappy so many of the kid's menus are. Burger and chicken nuggets! What about those parents who actually care what their children eat???? I have seen very few kid's menus that offer more than this and offer healthier choices. There is a childhood obesity problem in this country and just walking in the park all day doesn't take care of the junk on these menus. Anyone else less than thrilled about this?

No one is forcing you to buy the kid's meals. If you want something healthier for your kids, order it. You can't expect much when you are only paying a few bucks for a kid's meal.

 

[Dixiemom]

No one is forcing you to buy the kid's meals. If you want something healthier for your kids, order it. You can't expect much when you are only paying a few bucks for a kid's meal.

Well, actually they are. On the DDP it states that kids must order from the kids menu when available. It is more than a few dollars. Not asking for the moon, would just be nice to see grilled chicken instead of breaded/deep fried.....maybe a carrot stick or two, etc.....I'm certain we will be sharing our food with our kids. Just find it odd that the Happiest Place on Earth isn't healthier for those for whom the park was created (sort of)....

 

[iloveeeyore]

I totally agree! And with the dining plan, you get not one, but TWO DESSERTS per day, per person!!!! And not all venues offer fruit or yogurt as dessert options, either. I think it's pretty ridiculous! That's why we're not choosing the DP anymore.

 

[scojos]

this is why we upgraded dd7 to the adult plan....

 

[cjsm&d]

That's why we are not do it this year. My 9 year old likes to eat the same food we do, and he got really tired of the SAME kids choices at every restaurant!

 

[Canefamily]

I'm planning on sharing a lot of my meals with my 9 year old dd. Then with her meal credit, I'm using it to get the peanut butter and jelly sandwich option. I know she will eat this for a snack or for breakfast the next morning. I have an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack which keeps it fresh until we get back to our room to the frig.

 

[laliwalden]

Meh, it does not really bother me too much. I plan a few buffets where I know DD will mostly want veggies and fruit.

I don't really think a week of eating chicken nuggets and hamburgers is going to suddenly make her obese?

 

[ohanaMAMA]

but here's how we look at it.

We go on vacation once a year. for 6 days. Is eating junk for 6 days going to make them pooh shaped? not likely. Eating things we dont usually get is part of what makes vacation special.

To combat feeling yuckie from eating to much junkfood on vacation, We pack sensible snacks to carry into the parks.Trail mix, granola bars, fruit snacks and apples. We also eat a healthy breakfast in the room. Cereal with milk, fruit, and yogurt.That way a few chicken nuggets, a hamburger or uncrustables lunch and dinner doesnt hurt.

 

[npmommie]

but here's how we look at it.

We go on vacation once a year. for 6 days. Is eating junk for 6 days going to make them pooh shaped? not likely. Eating things we dont usually get is part of what makes vacation special.

To combat feeling yuckie from eating to much junkfood on vacation, We pack sensible snacks to carry into the parks.Trail mix, granola bars, fruit snacks and apples. We also eat a healthy breakfast in the room. Cereal with milk, fruit, and yogurt.That way a few chicken nuggets, a hamburger or uncrustables lunch and dinner doesnt hurt.

I agree with this. and we ate at many different QS spots, we did the QSDP and just about every one of them offered fruitcup, grapes, carrot sticks, unsweetened applesauce, yogurt and small salads.
there were ways to add healthy stuff to the chicken nuggets

 

[brockash]

I read a lot of these types of threads, and while I agree it'd be great to see a larger variety of healthy foods, it's not true that there really aren't any I mean almost every counter service place has grapes/carrot sticks/apple sauce as the side option and you can almost always get milk as the beverage. Many of the counter service places have the chicken salad as an option for the kiddos. I understand that the super healthy kiddo isn't going to want to eat the same chicken salad every day, but they also offer pb&j (not great, but not the worst thing in the world,) and there are good options at Epcot (sunshine seasons has a good variety of healthier foods) and the different countries as well. I don't know, it'd be great if they decided to have a greater variety of healthier food, but honestly I think there's a much better variety at Disney than a regular fast food menu outside of Disney. We always do a couple buffets where there's a good amount of vegatables/fruit, and most of the table service places have decent kids menus as well.

 

[Disneylvr]

Am I wrong but don't most of the kid's menus, both quick service and sit down, offer carrot sticks, celery sticks, grapes and applesauce as choices? I know serveral sit down restaurants offer grilled chicken strips with one of them being the Kona Cafe because DD age 5 ordered them.

 

[Googilycub]

I think that there are a ton of good choices for children. The offer healthy choices at most of the table service restaurants. My dd4 has had every thing from shrimp, steak, grilled fish, and meatloaf to grilled chicken meaty macaroni and ravioli. Yes, there are chicken strips and pizza on the menus, but there is also healthy options available too.

 

[daisyduck123]

If you dine at the buffets (Crystal Palace, 1900 P.F, etc) then kids can have whatever the adults are having. There are GREAT options....tons of fruits, vegetables, salads, etc.

 

[antkim]

Am I wrong but don't most of the kid's menus, both quick service and sit down, offer carrot sticks, celery sticks, grapes and applesauce as choices? I know serveral sit down restaurants offer grilled chicken strips with one of them being the Kona Cafe because DD age 5 ordered them.

Just got back last night and yes they do offer "healthy" side option. My kids got celery/carrots and grapes for most of their sides. They also had a choice of apple sauce, sliced apples and veggies and fruit salad. Some places offer grilled chicken, small steaks, fish of the day as well...for instance Grand Floridian Cafe:

Entrees

Grilled Chicken Breast

Grilled Salmon

Grilled Steak - add $2.00

And for dessert a fruit cup is usally an option. Pizza, pasta, ravioli and grilled cheese (sometimes grilled cheese was not on the menu but was always available for us to order) are not unhealty choices in my opinion (and weight watchers as well! LOL) so I am OK with the choices. As others have mentioned the vacation is for a week and my kids will not become obese because they had more ice cream or chicken nuggets while enjoying the "Happiest Place on Earth". It is all how you look at it I guess.

 

[antkim]

Here's another example:

50's Prime Time:

Kids' Complete Meals

Grilled Fish of the Day - served with whole-grain pilaf, veggies, and yogurt parfait $7.59

Grilled Chicken Strips - with macaroni topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella, served with veggies and fruit salad $7.59

Don't see anything wrong with this??? Whole grain pilaf, veggies, yogurt, fruit salad.........

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Oh well my kids are always the ones who WANT the chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, burgers etc! DD (12) has the adult plan but lots of times we pay OOP so she CAN get the nuggets!

I feel like when we're on vacation I'm not worrying what they eat. If they eat good, nutritious meals 50 weeks a year I don't think the two weeks we're on vacation are going to turn them into obese kids!

Besides the sides at most of the restaurants are grapes, carrots, etc. so there are some healthy choices. You should try the Plaza they have kids meals with grilled chicken, turkey sandwiches etc.

 

[jojomoore]

I completely agree. My DD and DDBFF were both nine years old on our WDW trip at Thanksgiving.I have to say both girls were dissapointed that they were made to eat off the kids menu and i constantly heard " is that all they have to eat" -definately an issue during our trip. The disney plan absolutely does not take into consideration kids between the ages of 7 and 9. Luckily, my daughter is ten now, but if i had it to do over again, i would not have used the dining plan on my last trip - Word to the wise "If you take a child that is not yours to WDW, you are not familiar with this child's eating habits, you are not used to disciplining this child, and this child is over the age of 6, do not use the dining plan, unless you enjoy griping, complaining, sulking, pouting, or plan to eat buffets every meal. Most buffets have a good selection for all ages. :

l

 

[itchin2go]

No one is forcing you to buy the kid's meals. If you want something healthier for your kids, order it.

Well, actually they are. On the DDP it states that kids must order from the kids menu when available.

Yes, but you don't have to do the DDP. We prefer not doing it. If it does not work for your family, don't purchase it.