Picky eaters!

[Mintycake]

We are going to DW and I am really worried about my 6 yo who is an extreme picky eater. The only other vacations we've done with her are cottages (where we bring our own food) and cruise ships (where she is guaranteed to eat cheese pizza, french fries, bread, crackers, fruit, raw carrots, raw celery, plain vanilla ice cream, plain cheese, and plain pasta with no sauce or cheese).

I'm freaking out reading the kids menus at the parks. There is no way she will eat an uncrustables sandwich or a hot dog (did I mention she's also vegetarian? No eggs either).

We are planning some character breakfasts as I feel that's an easy way to meet characters and breakfast usually has fruit and mickey waffles so she will find something to eat for sure. I'm more worried about QS in the parks.

What are your best go tos at the park for picky eaters? And is she really going to have to eat fries and pizza every day?

Thanks!

 

[Hopefully]

The menus on the DIS and allears.net are pretty accurate. You probably are looking at pizza and fries. Most places (usually TS not QS) that have pasta will serve plain pasta, no sauce for your child. You can get vanilla ice cream in each park.
I would suggest a grocery delivery from Garden Grocer. You can order fresh fruit raw carrots, raw celery, cheese, crackers etc. Then you can bring the kinds of things you know she would eat (like on the cruise) with you in place of QS if you like.

 

[Dis703]

Pizza is pretty easy to come by at the parks. Fries as well. There are also a number of stands where you can find fruit. One at HS I can think of has fresh fruit and Mickey pretzels. It made for a decent lunch for myself just a couple weeks ago. Plain cheese might be hard to come by outside of buffets that may have deli platters. You can find carrot and celery sticks in various locations. Plain pasta should be easy to come by at TS locations but probably hard to find at QS places.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Sorry but it looks as though your DD just might eat pizza & fries at QS. I agree with grocery delivery....bring an insulated bag and bring your own food into the parks. Totally allowed. Good luck!

 

[Hibiscus]

I'm confused as to what you would expect them to have available that would suit all of the "requirements" you have allowed her to set.

 

[ShelleyTaylor]

As a mom of a picky eater I empathize! I am going to get groceries delivered like a PP suggested to have some healthy staples around, and then if he's eating fries /pizza everyday I am not going to stress. I have looked at a lot of menus and looked at a lot of threads here to have ideas of where I can feed him easiest and with the most variety, and we'll attempt to eat at those places when we can.
Good luck

 

[Gracie09]

Your best bet would be the kids power pack when you can find it. Yogurt, apple slices, carrot sticks, goldfish crackers, cereal bar and water/milk

 

[ChasingLeslie]

You CAN find variety. There are several kiosks/snack carts that have fruit, veggies, and baked goods like bagels, croissants, and/or muffins. Numerous places sell "protein packs" with things like dried fruit, nuts, and cheese. Yogurt is available at most, if not all, of the resorts and some places in the parks; and many of the quick service places serve mac & cheese (you can ask for pasta without sauce wherever pasta is an option).

 

[goofyintoronto]

I'm confused as to what you would expect them to have available that would suit all of the "requirements" you have allowed her to set.

I agree. Having said that, if you cannot find a suitable meal for her at QS, as others have suggested, your DD can get a bunch of snacks instead....bagels, croissant, fruits, veggies, cheese, yogurt etc.

 

[Gracie09]

You CAN find variety. There are several kiosks/snack carts that have fruit, veggies, and baked goods like bagels, croissants, and/or muffins. Numerous places sell "protein packs" with things like dried fruit, nuts, and cheese. Yogurt is available at most, if not all, of the resorts and some places in the parks; and many of the quick service places serve mac & cheese (you can ask for pasta without sauce wherever pasta is an option).

I think the mac and cheese at QS is prepared with the cheese sauce - like kraft. I wouldn't count on them being able to just hold the cheese

 

[soniam]

I can empathize. DS10 is picky. He won't eat the pizza at most places due to disliking sauce, and he will only eat the mac n cheese if it's like Kraft, which luckily most of WDW is. He will eat meat though. The veggie thing is harder. You should be able to find stuff by being flexible and creative. Try a Garden Grocery delivery. Look at the hotel QS for grab n go stuff too. The hotel general store will have stuff too, like cereal and snacks. The buffets are a very good option; however, they can get expensive. I don't know if you have access to Touring Plans, but they list what the carts and stands have too. WDW does not always list them on their site. Those will be good options for fruit, yogurt, pretzels, juice, and other snacks. She won't die by not eating the best for your trip. Just do the best you can. I have seen DS not eat for 2 days, because he wasn't given food that he wanted. He's still alive and growing. Remember bread is your friend. Good luck. I am in the opposite boat, because I have cut out most things except meat, seafood, eggs, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. You can't win them all. I will have to adjust some at WDW though.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

I think the mac and cheese at QS is prepared with the cheese sauce - like kraft. I wouldn't count on them being able to just hold the cheese

I wasn't clear...I meant holding the sauce for pasta dishes (i.e. marinara/alfredo), not the Mac&Cheese.

 

[bucky1023]

you can find fresh fruit (apples, bananas, grapes etc) along with carrots/celery in all of the parks at certain stands and most CS has fries.

 

[piccolopat]

Picky eaters can be tough. Thankfully my DD was not only not picky but she always looked for the strangest thing on the menu to try. That sometimes got expensive. You might try explaining to your child now that you might not always find the things she usually eats and that she might have to try some new foods. Keep mentioning that to her and you might just get an idea if she is willing or ready to try new things. How about making it a game of sorts? You can tell her she can pick out a new pin or other inexpensive Disney souvenir for every new food that she tries, even if it is something off of your plate.

 

[Jgeauxmo]

We found our baby a fruit and cheese tray at drink wallahwallah at animal kingdom. It had grapes plain yellow cheese and a baby bel with crackers for a snack credit. It was a great meal for my two year old.

 

[Mintycake]

We are trying to use the trip as an opportunity for her to try new foods but she is very stubborn. I think we'll stick to buffets, fruit carts, and pizza/fries in the park. We may try the occasional TS meal for a plain pasta. Definitely not worth getting the dining plan for us! I would love to ship but BC is a convention resort (I believe) and since we arrive late on a Friday we wouldn't be able to get the package until the next day (Saturday - I believe you can pick up at 8am?)

 

[lyssabee]

My soon-to-be 9 year old son is also an extremely picky eater, and no amount of bribery will change his mind. We're not going till December so I have lots of time, but what I did was print out a checklist of all the places to eat in the parks (I'm using this one: http://www.disboards.com/threads/di...t-updated-feb-17.3483366/page-3#post-55201433 - sorry for the ugly link, not sure how to do that yet.) Anyway I printed it out and am literally going dining location by dining location, checking the menus to see if my kid would eat there. I used the menus at WDW info.

Just by checking my list I can tell you that Prince Eric's Village Market in Fantasyland has fruit Make sure you check the snack places, because you're probably more likely to find food she'll eat there.

Good luck!

 

[ChelleB]

I think most QS places in the parks offer carrot sticks and grapes as sides in the kids meals. You should be able to purchase al carte. But other than that probably pizza fries and the kids protein pack are your best bet

 

[bucky1023]

Not sure how picky she is about her pizza, but just so you know it has a thick crust (you may want to google to make sure she will eat). Just saying because being from NY when we first went down my niece/nephews did not care for it at all (not an issue for me since they weren't picky and could choose something else on the menu)

 

[Lisa F]

We are trying to use the trip as an opportunity for her to try new foods but she is very stubborn. I think we'll stick to buffets, fruit carts, and pizza/fries in the park. We may try the occasional TS meal for a plain pasta. Definitely not worth getting the dining plan for us! I would love to ship but BC is a convention resort (I believe) and since we arrive late on a Friday we wouldn't be able to get the package until the next day (Saturday - I believe you can pick up at 8am?)

I have found that buffets are the best for my picky eater. He can try anything that even looks remotely appealing (or at least not UNAPPEALING) with no pressure. if he doesn't like it, I didn't just buy a whole meal that he won't eat. I find that he does better when there is no pressure.