Picky eater solution - allowed?

[ebtbmom]

If he eats peanut butter (thick,creamy) and an apple (hard, crisp) in all probability is not a sensory disorder. But there are other feeding issues out there be it phobia, eating disorders etc. I would suggest consulting his pediatrician and often times based upon age the school may offer services. Does he have an issues at school? Behavioral, learning etc, speech issues? I ask because children who are the spectrum (and they can be very high functioning you would never know) often time have extreme food aversions.

The thing about bringing food in to the restaurant that many people do not realize is that it is a health code violation to bring outside food into a restaurant, as well as a liability issue. Now being that everything there is Disney owned for the most part the liability issue may not be a concern for them.

He did receive speech when he was young, he's in 6th grade now, so that's no longer an issue, he is also dyslexic. Maybe it is some sort of phobia because he has a panic attack type response when confronted with eating something unfamiliar.

He's consistent in this even in regards to junk food. He won't eat any cookie or chip he isn't familiar with only about 2 types, very little cake or ice cream, and only hard, sour type of candies. How many kids are picky about junk food?

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

He did receive speech when he was young, he's in 6th grade now, so that's no longer an issue, he is also dyslexic. Maybe it is some sort of phobia because he has a panic attack type response when confronted with eating something unfamiliar.

He's consistent in this even in regards to junk food. He won't eat any cookie or chip he isn't familiar with only about 2 types, very little cake or ice cream, and only hard, sour type of candies. How many kids are picky about junk food?

I would consult a child psychologist - dyslexia is usually comorbid with something else. Because of the speech theraphy there could be something else. But not sensory - the textures he dislikes are all different. Please be aware that young boys can have eating disorders too. How does he act when he is confronted with anything he does not want to do? Sounds like he has anxiety attackes. Is he oppositional at all? Obcessive? Just some things to think about. Good for you for being aware and asking questions!

 

[TDC Nala]

We had a post once from an adult (not a child) who was not interested in eating anything on the menu at Garden Grill, but the rest of the family wanted to eat there, so they wanted to purchase a CS meal at Sunshine Seasons and take it in with them. Garden Grill would not permit this. (Note that Garden Grill is a family style all you can eat restaurant and taking in outside food is probably like taking it into a buffet - at a restaurant like this, everyone is charged for the full meal served whether they eat it or not. Your mileage may vary at a la carte places, especially if the outside food is for a small child, but I wouldn't try it at buffets or family style all you can eats.)

If there is a medical condition, that's a different thing - register with special diets and work from there. Disney's special diets program, if I'm not mistaken, is meant to deal with these issues beyond food preferences.

There's also the option of not doing the dining plan if the restriction to children's menus is a problem, or there's also the option of upgrading the child to the adult plan (plus an adult ticket if you have a package with tickets)

 

[HANDYMOM]

If he has a medical, psychological or feeding issue then why not? I am confused now. You said you were working with his pediatrician and struggling with his weight etc. Did you not?

IMO ...... Something does not add up.

also borrowered from another thread where the OP asked the same question.... all offer for chicken nuggest for anyone else looking ...............


I wouldn't consider it because Disney is jumping through hoops for kids with major disabilities and allergies. Yes he has a psychological issue that I'm working with his Dr. and a referred psychologist, but that doesn't mean that I can't get him fed without special accomodation. We can just as easily change our TS meals to buffets or the restaurants that do have chicken of some sort. This entire thread just grew out of my (somewhat selfish) desire to eat at a couple of places that have been on my and DH's wish list.

I consider myself very blessed that with this one issue we are resolving, my son gets good grades, is physically able to play several sports and is very well behaved. I personally think that Disney does a great job accomodating and considering all the diabetics, celiacs disease sufferers and other MAJOR issues, making a small adjustment to our plan frees Disney to offer another more limited family the time of their lives.

What food we eat or the lack of something we might be interested in eating will not make or break our vacation. DH and I will do what the Dr. and Psychologist recommend. A lot of posters have offered some great ideas for keeping the calorie count up.

 

[Ctsplaysinrain]

all. Our pediatrician and children's hospital also reminded me that a child has the inability to starve (Unless they have been diagnosed as "failure to thrive" in which case they would be hospitalized), a

I must state that YES, sometimes children WILL starve. My 12 yr old son has made great progress in the last year or so but around 10 1/2- he was STARVING himself on purpose.. He was just about diagnosed anorexic.. he told us plus his psychiatrist and psychologist that he was not eating on purpose because he thought he was FAT. At that point, he was a 10 yr old boy that could fit into a size 4 around the waist.

 

[HANDYMOM]

We had a post once from an adult (not a child) who was not interested in eating anything on the menu at Garden Grill, but the rest of the family wanted to eat there, so they wanted to purchase a CS meal at Sunshine Seasons and take it in with them. Garden Grill would not permit this. (Note that Garden Grill is a family style all you can eat restaurant and taking in outside food is probably like taking it into a buffet - at a restaurant like this, everyone is charged for the full meal served whether they eat it or not. Your mileage may vary at a la carte places, especially if the outside food is for a small child, but I wouldn't try it at buffets or family style all you can eats.)

If there is a medical condition, that's a different thing - register with special diets and work from there. Disney's special diets program, if I'm not mistaken, is meant to deal with these issues beyond food preferences.

There's also the option of not doing the dining plan if the restriction to children's menus is a problem, or there's also the option of upgrading the child to the adult plan (plus an adult ticket if you have a package with tickets)

Thanks - that is exactly the info I needed and was what I both suspected and was looking for guidance on.

 

[DbleTheFun]

all. Our pediatrician and children's hospital also reminded me that a child has the inability to starve (Unless they have been diagnosed as "failure to thrive" in which case they would be hospitalized), a

I must state that YES, sometimes children WILL starve. My 12 yr old son has made great progress in the last year or so but around 10 1/2- he was STARVING himself on purpose.. He was just about diagnosed anorexic.. he told us plus his psychiatrist and psychologist that he was not eating on purpose because he thought he was FAT. At that point, he was a 10 yr old boy that could fit into a size 4 around the waist.

Sorry, I should have qualified, that "physically" a child has the inability to starve... but psychologically that is a completely different issue. The mind can most certainly play tricks on the body and convince oneself they are fat... and despite the body's craving food... the mind overpowers that and chooses to starve in cases of Anorexia. When talking about a child's inability to starve (Outside failure to thrive diagnosis) I was talking about a child who was emotionally healthy, but who had low weight issues/food aversions. I am lucky enough to be only working with a team of doctors to treat physical ailments right now with my boys... so the psychological aspect was not what I was reffering to (Although I have my degree in child psychology. Go figure!)

 

[pumba]

Having this question answered already, I am going to close this thread as it is becoming a bigger issue then the OP asked...