Toddler Nutrition at WDW

[Missus Toad]

Anyone else worry about their toddler eating right on vacation? I mean, I know she (my 15 month old) won't be able to have the consistent good eating routine she has at home, but what do you all do to ensure that it's not a total junk fest the whole trip? I'm just afraid she's gonna be all about mac and cheese and chicken strips by the time she gets home, and never want to look at veggies again.

 

[zakatak]

How about bringing some of the gerber graduates jars of veggies? Bring whatever she is used to and serve it with the meal. Also, she doesn't have to order junk, she can eat off of your plate. So, she eats whatever you eat, plus some gerber veggies. She is at a great age! She won't know what she is missing! She doesn't ever have to taste a chicken tender or mac & cheese if you don't want her too.

Have Fun!

 

[lovesdumbo]

My DD loves canned veggies. I plan on bringing the little ones with the flip top lids and those plastic fruit bowls.

 

[Missus Toad]

zakatak - Trouble is, she gets homemade baby food at home. I've never opened a jar in my life, and don't know how she'd react to it. I'm sure it would be fine, just strange for us. At least it's an option!

 

[mistaroo]

Like zakatak mentioned, I brought jars of baby food fruits and veggies on our trip when DS was 15 months old as I had the same concern as you. I had to use hardly any of it as there was a lot of good food offered throughout WDW, no problem. My DS got all his servings of fruits and veggies in everyday. It was nice to have the jarred food just in case though.

Have a great trip!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

The gerber graduates have a great variety of products that are much more healthy than your adverage kid meal. Buffets are a great idea too. Lots of good choices and she is free. Most any sitdown can also fix something simple even if it's not on the menu. I would plan to carry something with me and then suppliment with things off your plate, the buffet etc.


Jordans' mom

 

[mrsmom]

There was alot of fresh fruit at the parks , that's what my picky eater ate while we were there.
Kim

 

[bigbabyblues]

We're doing a sit-down/buffet each day for our kids, they wouldn't do well with chicken strips all week either.

Steph

 

[GEM]

My little guy is 16 months old and he pretty much eats what we eat now. At home, I do make sure he gets plenty of veggies and fruits, but I will admit that he eats his fair share of chicken strips, too.

When we were at Disney, we did quite a few buffets and he always had penty of good and healthy choices from those - veggies, etc. When we did table service he usually just ate off our plate - some of our chicken, fish, veggies or whatever. I also did a grocery stop and picked up fresh fruit, etc. for the room. This worked really well when we were there in May (he was 12 months) and I am planning on doing it this way again in December.

My little guy is still very tiny (was a micropreemie) and I won't bother buying him a children's meal in the restaurants. (He'll be 20 months when we go in December). It's not because the children's menu isn't healthy (although I certainly agree it isn't the best), but because he won't eat nearly that much.

My little buddy is still nursing very frequently, though, and that helps ease my mind some as far as the quality and quantity of food he eats. At least I know he is getting some good milk.

Have a great trip!! I think you will find there are plenty of good options for you. Paul was never a "baby food" baby really, either. We just waited until he was 9 months old (6 months adjusted age) and then started him on pureed real foods like fresh veggies and fruits. We never did the jarred thing.

 

[Missus Toad]

Thanks for all the info, everyone! Sounds like she'll do well eating off of my plate, supplemented by a grocery stop for fresh produce and some emergency jars (and maybe a chicken strip or two!).