Vegetarian Teen

[Sparkie]

My teen daughter has decided to eat vegetarian. She still will eat eggs and milk. But no fish, beef, pork, chicken or in her words..... if you have to kill it to eat it then its off the menu.

Now the challenge...... there arent many vegetables that have crossed her plate during her lifetime.

We are headed to Disney in March.
Dinner plans for:
Artist Point, Lecellier, San Angel Inn, Captn Grille, Ohanna, Hoop Dee Doo, Mama Melrose, Tony's Town Square, Sci-Fi,


Of these .... How are to vegetarian options?

OR are there any suggestions for other resturants with good vegetarian options or an excellent vegetarian chef. I have heard that you can sometimes ask to see the chef and they can create something yummy.

I would like to think that this would be an opportunity for her to broaden her dietary horizons and an opportunity for me to learn how to cook for her.

 

[danyella522]

I've had veg meals at Le Cellier, Ohana, Hoop Dee Doo, Mama's, Tony's, and Sci Fi.
They were all very good. You'll want to call ahead for Ohana and Hoop De Doo.
Boma and Tuskerhouse are very good choices for vegetarians.

 

[danyella522]

Also Chef TJ is great with creating vegan meals. He is at 1900 Park Fare.

 

[TDC Nala]

You may have other challenges in dealing with a vegetarian who won't eat vegetables. Many of the meals chefs will make for vegetarians include vegetables. Does she eat mostly breads and pasta?

 

[cntrygal]

Check the dining page of allearsnet.com on the left hand column there is a whole section dedicated to veg dining in the world including counter service choices

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

There are great reviews of vegetarian meals here on the DIS:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2414111&highlight=vegetarian+review

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2180199&highlight=vegetarian+review

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2511232&highlight=vegetarian+review

You'll find veggie options at nearly all TS and CS locations, but you should review the menus at All Ears (http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm) to be sure you are prepared. Chefs at TS locations can be accommodating, but CS locations do not have the same flexibility.

But I agree with previous posters, it's one thing to stop eating protein from animal sources.....but she's going to have to eat vegetables.

 

[bicker]

My teen daughter has decided to eat vegetarian. She still will eat eggs and milk. But no fish, beef, pork, chicken or in her words..... if you have to kill it to eat it then its off the menu.

ITA (with your daughter).

Now the challenge...... there arent many vegetables that have crossed her plate during her lifetime.

That is a problem. To be fair, though; vegetables (specifically) aren't any more or less of an issue for a vegetarian than for someone who eats animals. Generally, a vegetarian doesn't eat vegetables instead of meat; rather a vegetarian typically tends to eat legumes, beans, and high-protein grains instead of meat. Vegetables are important (and essentially, just as important) regardless of which dietary direction you go, but the vegetarians' swap-out for meat is not vegetables, but rather animal-friendly high protein sources.

We are headed to Disney in March.
Dinner plans for:
Artist Point, Lecellier, San Angel Inn, Captn Grille, Ohanna, Hoop Dee Doo, Mama Melrose, Tony's Town Square, Sci-Fi,

Of these .... How are to vegetarian options?

Artist Point, if they don't offer something appropriate straight-out, will pull something appropriate together.

Le Cellier is okay; not great, but okay. In the past they've offered a tomato stack appetizer that we like, and I believe they've offered a mushroom risotto that works well for us.

San Angel Inn was excellent during our visit there earlier this year. They had a vegetarian combination platter that we enjoyed a lot.

We also at at Mama Melrose. We ended up having cheese pizza, but it was pretty good, though not really all that healthy by comparison to the offerings from San Angel Inn and Artist Point.

I can't speak to the others because we have not eaten at any of them since becoming vegetarian a few years ago. My instinct, from my memory of previous visits, is that 'Ohana is the only one that might present a significant problem. I'm pretty sure HDD offers something, and I know that Tony's will, at least, offer pasta and sauce (either tomato or cream) that will satisfy, although not necessarily particularly nutritious.

OR are there any suggestions for other resturants with good vegetarian options or an excellent vegetarian chef. I have heard that you can sometimes ask to see the chef and they can create something yummy.

These are the restaurants my wife and I prefer, as vegetarians: Jiko (expensive though), Tusker House, The Wave, Kouzina, Chefs de France, Cape May Cafe (I was surprised about that one), Crystal Palace. Quick service: Columbia Harbor House, Sunshine Seasons. We have learned to avoid Yak & Yeti, Sanaa, and Tutto Italia.

I would like to think that this would be an opportunity for her to broaden her dietary horizons and an opportunity for me to learn how to cook for her.

The only place I would consider a true learning experience, with regard to the vast array of really yummy and nutritious vegetarian options, would be Tusker House.

 

[pigby]

My teen daughter has decided to eat vegetarian. She still will eat eggs and milk. But no fish, beef, pork, chicken or in her words..... if you have to kill it to eat it then its off the menu.

Now the challenge...... there arent many vegetables that have crossed her plate during her lifetime.

We are headed to Disney in March.
Dinner plans for:
Artist Point, Lecellier, San Angel Inn, Captn Grille, Ohanna, Hoop Dee Doo, Mama Melrose, Tony's Town Square, Sci-Fi,


Of these .... How are to vegetarian options?

OR are there any suggestions for other resturants with good vegetarian options or an excellent vegetarian chef. I have heard that you can sometimes ask to see the chef and they can create something yummy.

I would like to think that this would be an opportunity for her to broaden her dietary horizons and an opportunity for me to learn how to cook for her.

Your DD is exactly like mine - she 'turned' veggie 3 years ago when she was 13 and Disney meals have been a bit of a struggle since - she she is also vegetable- phobic.


I look at the menus on AllEars to make sure there is something she will eat before going. We usually do DDP (whether free or not) and we have become a little more chilled as time has gone on in that we let her use a CS credit for a veggie burger or something if she hasnt enjoyed her main meal.

We have a leaning towards Italian restaurants but we do tend to go for the same ones - maybe try a new one or two each trip.

The ones we have tried on your list (since has been a vegetarian) are Hoop de Doo - pasta with mariana sauce was offered as an option - no need to preorder. Le Cellier - DD had kids pizza here - nothing on adult menu that she could eat - we paid OOP (even though she was well over official 'kids' age).

Sci Fi - there is a tofu and vegetable meal here but again she had kid's meal - going here again - maybe this time she'll have the tofu.

Tony's and Mama's she is Ok with - Italian so cheese pizza and pasta here.

We would love her to try the veggie option at San Angel because we would love to go here - but spicy Mexican, vegetables and DD don't mix.

The others we have been when she was younger and a meat eater.

New ones we are trying this time are - Olivias (staying at OKW), Shutters - both have pasta with mariana sauce on the menu, Planet Hollywood - a few choices here and we loved it in Paris, CRT for dinner, Rose and Crown - she will probably go for the vegetarian cottage pie, - maybe Sanaa - slight chance with the mild vegetable curry (but Boma's she wouldnt eat anything).

Hoping this will help a bit.

 

[TDC Nala]

Sanaa has a full vegan menu so I am curious as to why Bicker avoids it.

 

[bicker]

Ah... I should have clarified that one... sorry. The vegan items were terribly dry. (Same story at Tangierine Cafe.)

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm not a vegan but I go to Sanaa with a friend who is, and she loves the place. I ate a lot of what she had and none of it was "dry." I don't think, though, that the OP's daughter is likely to eat anything they had.

 

[bicker]

We were there for lunch (and only the one visit), so it could just be a case of the second-string chef not being as good as the chef de cuisine. (By contrast, we tried Tangierine Cafe twice, once for lunch and once for dinner, with the same disappointing result.)

 

[Sparkie]

Thanks for all the replies. They all were very helpful.

My daughter started with a "no pork" a few years ago. She has never eaten fish. So her diet meat wise consisted of beef and chicken. Both of which are now also off the menu.

She does eat cheese, milk, eggs, pasta, bread, salad, blackeye peas, black beans. She has tried some of the frozen items such as Boca Burgers and the Morning Star "chicken".

I know this can be a very healthy style of eating and am actually looking forward to learning to cook some new things for my family and have declared one night a week "no meat" at our house. It will be a slow process for the rest of us carnivores.

With her being a teen, I am concerned that she not fill up on junk. I want her to learn to try new foods that are delicious and nutritious. And I thought what a better way to try something new than with the Magical talents of the Disney Chef's.

Again, Thank you so much for all of the advice and helpful links.

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
I don't eat any meat and I had a delicious cheese enchilada at San Angel. I didn't really want to try either of the two choices they had on the veggie menu, so they will make a cheese enchilada without the chicken. If you don't see something on the menu, just ask. Sometimes they will come up with something good. I have asked for a special order even at counter service restaurants, like Pizzafari. I got the Italian sandwich, minus the ham. I did have to wait for it, but it was pretty good. Have a great trip!!

 

[snykymom]

I had the veggie burger at Cosmic Ray's and found it surprisingly good, especially with toppings. And I'm not vegetarian.

 

[s&k'smom]

Does your daughter eat any fruit, nutrition wise it would be a good idea to try and get some veggies in her this being said smoothies can be a nice way to sneak in some veggie's, she may want to think about a good multi vitamin and at a store like Whole Food's or I'm sure any vitamin store will have a good vegetarian multi vitamin.

I had no trouble at Disney being a vegetarian, at 50's they do have a veggie burger, I had to ask as it wasn't on the menu but it was very good. Boma OMG good, Columbia Harbor House has veggie options.

 

[pigby]

Hi
I don't eat any meat and I had a delicious cheese enchilada at San Angel. I didn't really want to try either of the two choices they had on the veggie menu, so they will make a cheese enchilada without the chicken. If you don't see something on the menu, just ask. Sometimes they will come up with something good. I have asked for a special order even at counter service restaurants, like Pizzafari. I got the Italian sandwich, minus the ham. I did have to wait for it, but it was pretty good. Have a great trip!!

These are REALLY good ideas - thanks

 

[Sparkie]

Does your daughter eat any fruit, nutrition wise it would be a good idea to try and get some veggies in her this being said smoothies can be a nice way to sneak in some veggie's, she may want to think about a good multi vitamin and at a store like Whole Food's or I'm sure any vitamin store will have a good vegetarian multi vitamin.

I had no trouble at Disney being a vegetarian, at 50's they do have a veggie burger, I had to ask as it wasn't on the menu but it was very good. Boma OMG good, Columbia Harbor House has veggie options.

Yes, she does eat fruit. Almost any fruit except for melon. She doesnt like watermelon, cantelope or honeydew. I already got her a multivitamin. The smoothie idea is a great one. I cant remember if I put it in my last post but she also eats carrots and potatoes ( i know potatoes are a starch and not technically a vegetable - she also only eats white potatoes - the not so good for you kind. I've tried sweet potatoes a few times but maybe if they were mixed in with something and she didnt know she would give them a try)

I really appreciate all the ideas. This doesnt seem to be as hard as I was making it out to be.

 

[CarrieR]

I'm "veg," but tend to refer to myself as a "non-meat eater" as a joke. I stopped eating meat at ten, and have acquired a taste for lots of vegetables and such since then, although if I don't keep an eye on it I definitely trend toward bread, pasta and other junk. I love tofu and spinach now, never would have touched them as a kid, but it's been a lonnnng process. If your daughter's anything like me, she may end up trying new things out of desperation and hunger, in circumstances where she has less control over her food.

Anyways, I wanted to share a tip I've learned -- when I go to a restaurant I tend to glance over the menu to see if there are any designated veg items, and then look it over again to see if there's anything that can be modified to veg. Things like pepperoni pizza that can be made cheese, the aforementioned chicken enchiladas that can be made without chicken, even something like nachos, made without beef. A turkey sandwich that includes lots of toppings, minus the turkey. It's very normal to me to even go to McD's or the like and order a "burger without the burger," then add extra toppings to round out the sandwich.

So if you end up somewhere where you feel stuck, or your daughter doesn't like the "designated" vegetarian item, don't be afraid to ask your server if you can modify another entree. Most are very helpful and will let you know about hidden items, as well -- soups and sauces tend to be major culprits. They may also have ideas for you. You may run into items here and there that are preassembled and can't be modified, but more often than not, they will do what they can to help you. This applies not only at Disney World, but also in the real world.

(BTW - Morningstar Farms original Grillers are my favorite meat substitute ever. Worth a shot next time your family has burger night!)

 

[MSSANDRA]

At WDW, ask the server for what you need even if it's not on the menu. Often they will work with you and come up with something. Ask if they have any fresh fruit they could work up a salad, if they can create a pasta dish that's on the menu with out the meat, if they have any black beans they can so something with? Often they are willing and able to meet your needs!!