What are easy foods to carry for a 2yo?

[disneyfan551]

Hi all! We are thinking of foregoing lunch for our unexpected trip next month with my Mom. She doesn't usually eat lunch, so I thought it may be best to just pack things for my 2-1/2yo dd to eat, and then we would have our sit-down dinners. (My dd doesn't even usually eat kids meals, even when I order them for her!)

She pretty much lives on pasta, especially tomato based products. I've thought about basic things like chips, fruit cups, etc... But, nothing that sounds very nutrional! I don't think I could even take a cheese sandwich in, because I don't want to lug around a cooler!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[alloyd1170]

My 2 yo son usually snacks all day long. He loves the Ritz pb crakers, fruit chews, bob the builder cookies, cereal bars, etc. I buy them in the snack aisle in the multiple packs and toss a few bags in his fanny pack and in mine. Just watch that they dont get smashed (fruit chews not a problem). Also, I may throw a banana in the stroller for a later snack too. Another idea-my son loves Cheerios so you could buy the little packs of cereal, or toss some in a ziploc to bring along.

alison

 

[HappyMommy2]

Does she eat PB&J? Our 2-year-old, who is a pretty picky eater, would live on PB&J if he could! We found it very easy to make a couple of PB&Js for him each morning, wrap them well, and throw them in the backpack--sometimes they got a little squished, but he didn't seem to mind, and by using whole grain bread I felt that DS was at least getting some nutrition! Of course we also packed other snacks--cheese crackers, granola bars, etc. The fresh fruit cups that are sold at some of the food stands in the parks are a little expensive but they really tasted good to us and were very convenient so we got those a few times.

I'm not sure how long your trip is, but I have to admit that for our 6-day trip last summer I didn't worry too much about nutrition--I just tried to feed the kids really nutritiously before and after our trip, and made sure they didn't eat TOO much junk during the vacation (we didn't want any tummyaches!).

Have fun!

 

[dlstc]

I will be having this same problem, as my 2 1/2 year old won't eat peanut butter, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken nuggets or macaroni and cheese. After searching every menu for each park, here's what I've found:

I plan on taking her to Tony's Town Square for lunch (spaghetti for $4.99 w/beverage). The Plaza restaurant has grilled cheese sandwiches ($4.99 w/fries and beverage). The Toontown Farmer's market has fresh fruit.

In AK, Dinoland has a fruit and yogurt parfait ($1.99). Harambe Fruit Market has fresh fruit (.99 to $1.89). Tamu Tamu refreshments in Africa has fruit smoothies ($3.29).

At MGM, '50's Prime Time has macaroni with tomato sauce (w/bev. $4.99). Anaheim Produce has fresh fruit (.99-$1.49). The Brown Derby has a kid's salad ($1.99). KRNR has fruit smoothies ($4.00). Mama Melroe's has pasta with tomato sauce (w/bev $4.99). Pizza Planet has a salad ($2.19).

In Epcot, Coral Reef has pasta with red sauce ($4.99). L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante has spaghetti with red sauce ($4.99). Refreshment Outpost has frozen banans ($2.34). At Restaurant Akerhaus you can get a grilled cheese candwich served with grapes and Goldfish crackers or pasta with tomato sauce for $4.99 (inc. bev). Restaurant Marrakesh has moroccan pasta with tomato sauce for $4.95. The Rose and Crown Pub has a fruit and cheese plate for $5.99. The Sunshine Season Food Fair (the Land) has mick-e-roni with marinara sauce (w/breadstick and bev. $3.49). The Tangerine Cafe in Morocco has cous cous, hummus and tabouleh for $6.95.

If none of the above appeals to you, you could always slip a microwave ready lunch size spaghetti-O's in your purse and ask a CM to microwave it for you. I'm sure they are asked by guests all the time to do this for baby food. Gerbers also sells toddler meals and bite size fruit in jars that you might consider more nutritious.

For snacks, I will be carrying items in my fanny pack. Sam's Club sells an assortment of dried fruit in bite sized pieces in small boxes (raisin box size) including apricots, cranberries (added sugar), white grapes and raisins. Each box contains one kind of fruit. I will also have wheat crackers. Just for fun, I will also have some Disney animal crackers and "fruit" snacks. They never get these at home.

Well, just some thoughts.

Diana

 

[tjmw2727]

We carry granola bars or fuit & cereal bars - there are lots of choices from nutritional to junky and everything in between. We pack and buy fruit - every park now has a few great fruit stands so we always stop for something. I do up my own trail mix (my girls call it party mix!) with a mix of cereals, rasins and even some m&m's and nuts. Of course you can customize it for your child.

Grapes are a great quick munch as they hydrate and they are fun. I think 2yo's can eat grapes without fear of choking? (you can always cut them in half?). I also make a couple peanut butter sandwiches on the thick whole grain pepperidge farm bread. Pretty good for you and dosen't crush, also dosen't need to be kept cool. I cut them on 4's and pass out as needed. Lots of water, they now make smaller 6 and 8oz sports bottles which are great for kids.

This may not work for you and your mom but I have found that by doing a late sit down lunch instead of dinner we can find great choices, even for the kids. My girls will choose an appetizer or salad and soup rather than a kids meal. I am quite sure that a 2yo could share your meals without a charge.

We find that the late afternoon rest for lunch helps everyone re-charge and the restaurants are less crowded. My girls were more likely to melt down during a long dinner! This can also work for a late breakfast - most kids like breakfast foods so wait until 10:30 11 and that covers lunch as well. We generally find some type of counter service or sandwiches for dinner - save time and money!

TJ

 

[CEDmom]

If she likes pasta how about those individual servings of spaghetti-o's etc. that come in their own microwave dish. One of you could take DD to the babystation to eat. It would give her a break from all the stimulation of the parks and you know she'd be getting something halfway healthy. Other less messy options are raisins or craisins, cheese or PB crackers or cereal bars.

 

[KPmom]

Gerber makes shelf stable (no refridgeration) meals for toddlers. They consist of pasta with veggies, a meat and a fruit. Most stores have them in the baby food isle. They are around $1.75 each and come in several varieties. The package says that they can be served room temp or heated. (they come in little plastic trays, you can run hot tap water over them to warm them up) They are pretty good and a good balanced meal. Also they are small and light to carry, but the perfect serving for a toddler.~KPmom

 

[memymomonica]

I say raisins, banana chips, sunflower seeds (no shells), trail mix. You can also get yougurt covered raisins and peanuts. They have cran-raisins too. What about pudding cups? You can also take a gladware container with crackers, cheese and pepperoni. If you want it real easy, you can take lunchables. Just some thoughts.

 

[frannn]

We stopped at Publix and got Parmalot in the juicebox size, ritz crackers, baby food in jars, gerber graduate meals, mini muffins, individual apple sauces, water, etc. We brought nutrigrain bars, granola bars, gum, cereal bars, fruit & nut mix, oatmeal & fruit pieces, etc. Most of time, DD1 would have her own jar of food or container of fruit first, then share a bit of our food, so she got to experience the "taste of Disney" with us!

 

[disneyfan551]

These are great ideas! Thanks so much! I am just worried that she'll get tired of the same old junk food. And, it would be nice if 'some' of it were nutritious as well!

GREAT idea on the baby station! I hadn't even thought about them! Does anyone know if they do have a microwave? We didn't visit one in Dec., but did when she was little. I just can't seem to remember...

Thanks all!!!!

 

[MagicPrincess]

ya know what?
DD is 2, and she loves all the same things, macaroni, pasta, pb and j, chicken fingers....
she snacked quite a bit while we were at Disney because she was too excited to eat half the time. there was too much excitement going on around her! we took teddy grahams, goldfish crackers, fruit, raisins, etc. to snack on. Make sure to take drinks, too. she ate when she was ready!
my advice to you is....Don't worry! She'll eat when she's hungry!
have fun!!!

ps...try not to load up on too much "junk" as we saw a few little ones with bellyaches that weren't feeling too good.

 

[MomE@Home]

Peanut butter for kids under 4 ?
My kids Ped. says no peanut butter for under 4 yrs. old-their throats are so small & it's easy for PB to get stuck in there.

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by MomE@Home
Peanut butter for kids under 4 ?
My kids Ped. says no peanut butter for under 4 yrs. old-their throats are so small & it's easy for PB to get stuck in there.

Varies with each person's "worry" factor Ours said 1 year old, but make sure when we do give it, that it's in small amounts, and spread pretty thin....no big globs.

My 20-month-old chokes on lots of stuff still (we joke that he has an "eating disorder") but he's never choked on peanut butter! It's usually things that don't give anyone any problems...he just decides to swallow without chewing because he's too busy playing around

 

[memymomonica]

I thought 4 seemed old. I have heard of holding off on peanut butter if there is a history of allergies in a family. I think my daughter was about 2 and she never looked back. Peanut Butter is her meal staple.