Picky 12-year-old eaters

[minniesota]

How do you handle the buffets when you have 12 year-old girls who are picky and really don't eat much? Just realized we will be paying adult prices for them. There is no way they will eat $20+ worth of food and they probably would want to eat off the kids line. Do you just avoid all fixed price restaurants? How strict are the restaurants about the age break?

 

[hellokitty]

Usually the older kids can eat off the kids buffet as well. I am an adult and usually go for fries and such...

However,
We avoid places like this as we have a picky eater too and
eats like a bird. (very little)


I am not sure how strict they are about pricing, but I tend
to think it is best to be honest and not go-- if like me , you
think it is way too much to pay for "nibblers"

curious as too what other do?

 

[Belle5]

We have never, ever been given a price break with any of our kids. (6 kids and 18 vacations in the past 10 years.) WDW is extremely firm about the buffet pricing. I have yet to hear of anyone getting a price break at a buffet and I have been watching these boards for several years almost daily. Next time we go my 11 year old will likely be 12 and I will cringe paying the adult price for him or choose to avoid dining at those venues that charge by age.

 

[karylrocks]

My DS just turned 12 today! I am planning to pay adult prices for him for several character meals we have planned for next month. He doesn't eat much either, but I just consider the experience as a whole and try not to worry that I will be paying $60 rather than $50 for the three of us. I guess it really doesn't make that much difference in the grand scheme of things. We average one formal meal per day and eat counter service for the rest.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our littlest ds is now 12 so I too have budgeted for the increase of him being an adult. We only do 1 good meal/sit down a day and usually its a buffet since dh and the other 2 teen ds are big eaters and I know there is a huge variety and even picky ds can find something. His pickiness has led to 7 trips to the er and finally a camera down the stomach. He knows that will not happen again, so he has started to eat a little more salad and fruit etc. Also he has some food issues, so as to not get into a scene, I find a buffet a little less confrontational to him instead of a place where he can say, I dont like ANYTHING here (on the menu). I also let him pick out 1 restruant per trip. He always picks rainforest, so he is happy and he eats. Good luck. Maybe you can show him the menus too and let him pick something/somewhere special.