I am helping my friend plan her DD15 and DD13 first trip to WDW!!! Her DD15 is a pretty picky eater and only eats grilled chicken, potatoes, plain pasta - very plain food. She and her DD13 are more adventurous eaters. They have the DDP and they want to do some character dining - I'm sure most of the buffets will have something for her DD15 to eat - I'm just wondering about some of the other TS restaurants. Are there any you would particularly recommend for plain food? I seem to recall many restaurant menus stating they can serve plain grilled chicken or salmon on request? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!
Plain food?
- Thread starter Marthasor
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NorweJenNY
Always expanding my knowledge of the World
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'Ohana - great dinner... It's not a buffet, but family style. They bring out all the meats on skewers, which are flavorful, but rather simple. They also bring out noodles and veggies. There are sauces on the table that you can pick from to add to your food, but it's not like all the food is cooked with it already on it. It's a favorite restaurant - with great variety, and I'm sure the "plain" person and more adventurous eaters will be happy!
Whispering Canyon - bottomless skillet... we've sometimes gotten it with bbq sauce on the meats, but we've also gotten it with sauce on the side. You get salad, cornbread, a variety of meats, mashed potatoes, and baked beans... I think this is another great option. Again, the skillet provides variety, but everyone doesn't need to get the skillet in the party... some can order individual meals as well.
And as you've already said, buffets should be fine. There are usually carving stations, as well as kid-friendly food (which simply means not as experimental and more simplified and familiar to young tastebuds).
Have fun helping with the plans!
Whispering Canyon - bottomless skillet... we've sometimes gotten it with bbq sauce on the meats, but we've also gotten it with sauce on the side. You get salad, cornbread, a variety of meats, mashed potatoes, and baked beans... I think this is another great option. Again, the skillet provides variety, but everyone doesn't need to get the skillet in the party... some can order individual meals as well.
And as you've already said, buffets should be fine. There are usually carving stations, as well as kid-friendly food (which simply means not as experimental and more simplified and familiar to young tastebuds).
Have fun helping with the plans!
mickeyluv'r
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- 11,471
Yes, Disney has always been great about such things. In some cases, he may be able to order 'adult' portions of kid's menu items. Most kids' menus have items like plain grilled chicken, grilled fish, or macaroni and cheese (though at some places the mac and cheese is now the Kraft kind, not the real homemade kind.) If you know he loves Mac and cheese, for example or pizza - you coudl simply phrase your request that way -ask if he can have a specific dish they already make. This is particualrly easy if you have DDP.
I also think buffets may be great because he can get plenty of plain food - AND - maybe be ALSO tempted into tasting something new. At buffets, he can take a tiny sample of anything, even put it on it's own plate. He doesn't have to commit to a full portion -and he can see the food before he serves himself - so he can control it all.
A favorite in our family has actually been Boma, because everything is so colorful. I've been there with several picky eaters and had great luck with them chooing to try a few new things. Not anyone telling them they had to do so - just on their own.With a limited eater, any new food is big victory. And the adventurous eaters will likely love it too!
Beyond that, Pepper Market would likely be a great place too (at Coronado.)That is almost like a buffet, and you get part tabel service for QS credits if you have DDP. Especially if they happen to be staying there.
Personally, I'd also let him pick at least one place. He can look online at the menu of almost any TS place, and decide what he wants to try. Sometimes that is best way to handle a picky eater. If he has control over at least one choice, then he may feel happier about the whole week. Without knowign the person; it may be that he likes only plain 'American; food,or he might like 'plain' sushi...
Really though, we've found every place has some plain dishes or things that can be made plain (skip the sauce). I've been with severa picky eaters.
If all else fails, they could always eat TS- then grab him a quick serve meal someplace nearby after. I REALLY dont't think it will come down to that at WDW, but there's no shortage of places to grab quick food.
Another trick with a picky eater is to keep something on hand that he knows he likes - such as a granola bars, fresh fruit. Ideally something filling, portable, and healthy. IF they won't have a car, there are places that deliver groceries. IF they have a car, they could do a short grocery store run. Just to have a few back ups on hand. Fifteen year olds tend to be big eaters!
If that still is not enough - try calling special needs dining services. They can happily tell you exactly what every place is able to do. I KNOW every place has vegetarian options, heart healthy options (which is basically the same as what you want)- even if they aren't on the regular menu, or on the buffet line. If they have salmon on the line with a sauce - they can get you a plain portion if you ask.
I also think buffets may be great because he can get plenty of plain food - AND - maybe be ALSO tempted into tasting something new. At buffets, he can take a tiny sample of anything, even put it on it's own plate. He doesn't have to commit to a full portion -and he can see the food before he serves himself - so he can control it all.
A favorite in our family has actually been Boma, because everything is so colorful. I've been there with several picky eaters and had great luck with them chooing to try a few new things. Not anyone telling them they had to do so - just on their own.With a limited eater, any new food is big victory. And the adventurous eaters will likely love it too!
Beyond that, Pepper Market would likely be a great place too (at Coronado.)That is almost like a buffet, and you get part tabel service for QS credits if you have DDP. Especially if they happen to be staying there.
Personally, I'd also let him pick at least one place. He can look online at the menu of almost any TS place, and decide what he wants to try. Sometimes that is best way to handle a picky eater. If he has control over at least one choice, then he may feel happier about the whole week. Without knowign the person; it may be that he likes only plain 'American; food,or he might like 'plain' sushi...
Really though, we've found every place has some plain dishes or things that can be made plain (skip the sauce). I've been with severa picky eaters.
If all else fails, they could always eat TS- then grab him a quick serve meal someplace nearby after. I REALLY dont't think it will come down to that at WDW, but there's no shortage of places to grab quick food.
Another trick with a picky eater is to keep something on hand that he knows he likes - such as a granola bars, fresh fruit. Ideally something filling, portable, and healthy. IF they won't have a car, there are places that deliver groceries. IF they have a car, they could do a short grocery store run. Just to have a few back ups on hand. Fifteen year olds tend to be big eaters!
If that still is not enough - try calling special needs dining services. They can happily tell you exactly what every place is able to do. I KNOW every place has vegetarian options, heart healthy options (which is basically the same as what you want)- even if they aren't on the regular menu, or on the buffet line. If they have salmon on the line with a sauce - they can get you a plain portion if you ask.
Took a trip with some friends who's DD is on a gluten free diet and they, the CM, went out of their way to accommodate her dietary needs. Our friend and his wife said it was the best vacation they have ever taken. That it's always hard to get good meals for their daughter. That was their first trip and since then they have been 3 more times and that was 3 years ago and they are hook on WDW. I think they will also meet the needs of a picky eater. I hope that helps.
Have fun.
Have fun.
Thanks everyone! Great suggestions! I started looking over some of the menus last night and I think most of the restaurants will be fine for her DD15! I noticed the kids' menus had a lot of grilled chicken, so that suggestion of getting an adult portion is fantastic! Thanks!
mickeyluv'r
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2005
- Messages
- 11,471
One place that I thought of after I posted is Teppan Edo. It's sort of like a Benihana, if you are familiar with that type of restaurant. It might be just the kind of perfect balance that would make everyone in this group happy.
You basically pick what kind of meat you like, and the chef grills it right in front of you in a rather theatrical way. On the one hand, patrons pick what kind of meat they like, and the chef will put as much or as little seasoning on it as you prefer. All entrees come with several dipping suaces. Typically they also prepare fried rice, but you can request plain rice. You also get grilled shrimp, and some veggies grilled to order. The food is very good, and lots of healthy picks (which is always a win in my mind!)
They also have a number of different choices available as side dishes: soups, sushi, etc. So the adventurous eaters can pick a side dish - perhaps to share - and the boy who likes his food plain can get his food as plain as he prefers.
And it is fun for everyone!
You basically pick what kind of meat you like, and the chef grills it right in front of you in a rather theatrical way. On the one hand, patrons pick what kind of meat they like, and the chef will put as much or as little seasoning on it as you prefer. All entrees come with several dipping suaces. Typically they also prepare fried rice, but you can request plain rice. You also get grilled shrimp, and some veggies grilled to order. The food is very good, and lots of healthy picks (which is always a win in my mind!)
They also have a number of different choices available as side dishes: soups, sushi, etc. So the adventurous eaters can pick a side dish - perhaps to share - and the boy who likes his food plain can get his food as plain as he prefers.
And it is fun for everyone!
One place that I thought of after I posted is Teppan Edo. It's sort of like a Benihana, if you are familiar with that type of restaurant. It might be just the kind of perfect balance that would make everyone in this group happy.
You basically pick what kind of meat you like, and the chef grills it right in front of you in a rather theatrical way. On the one hand, patrons pick what kind of meat they like, and the chef will put as much or as little seasoning on it as you prefer. All entrees come with several dipping suaces. Typically they also prepare fried rice, but you can request plain rice. You also get grilled shrimp, and some veggies grilled to order. The food is very good, and lots of healthy picks (which is always a win in my mind!)
They also have a number of different choices available as side dishes: soups, sushi, etc. So the adventurous eaters can pick a side dish - perhaps to share - and the boy who likes his food plain can get his food as plain as he prefers.
And it is fun for everyone!
Just wanted to point out that I have never seen fried rice on the menu of Teppan Edo, and I have seen a few threads here complaining that they didn't have it.
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