What to do with picky eater?

[Hersheybar417]

We are taking my DNiece, nephew and their two young daughters to Disney in January. This will be their first trip. The youngest one will be 10 years old when we go. She is the pickiest eater in the world. She eats nothing but chicken fingers, potato chips, raw cauliflower and popcorn. Seriously!! We really don't know what to do about meals. We want the rest of the family to experience some of the great places to eat, but we don't know what to do for her. Because she's 10, we can't order off the the kid's menu. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Linda

 

[brymolmom]

If it was me, I would just choose restaurants that would appeal to everyone else in the party. Obviously you can't go to the Chicken-Finger-And-Califlower restaurant for every meal! Maybe figure in some buffets that would appeal to multiple people and where she has a good chance of getting chicken fingers at least. I would not cater to my own child if he/she had this limited number of options. Most places have rolls and butter of some sort - I am guessing that this, too, is on her list of foods that she will eat.

I believe that at most places she CAN order off the kids menu even though using an adult credit - it is just a waste of $ to do so (which, with that limited of a menu - the adult plan will DEFINITELY be a waste for her so you know that upfront anyway). Is there another child in the party with whom she can swap meals and allow the under-10 year old to enjoy a bigger portion and more options like an adult?

If all else fails and she won't eat anything at the restaurant of the moment- buy her a box of popcorn using a snack credit as you leave.

I have found that hungry kids tend to try more things at WDW...they get hungry and the atmosphere is less pressured than the kitchen table. So you might not have to worry as much as you think.

 

[3R1C]

My son is very picky as well. Most places were flexible with putting together a meal he would eat. We would make sure to choose counter services restaurants that he could find plenty to eat at. I was very worried when we went, but very pleased with the ways things turned out!!!

 

[goofygal531]

I have found that almost all WDW TS restaurants have chicken nuggets on hand, even when not listed on the menu.

 

[CathieArms]

Actually - with the exception of the buffets - I think you *can* order off the kids menu. Well, that's what the last CM told me. The one before that told me it was at the discretion of the individual restaurant. I'll be there in 2 weeks and I can let you know for sure when I get back. You see, I have a *very* picky 13 year old. She'd be thrilled to eat mac and cheese and chicken fingers, and it's going to really bite me in the butt to have to pay for an adult menu for her that she won't eat at all. So, we'll see what they say.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

Because she's 10, we can't order off the the kid's menu.

You can order off of the kids menu regardless of the child's age! Go where ever you please & just have her order chicken nuggets from that restaurant's kids menu. Most also offer a salad as the child meal's appetizer. Seriously, you shouldn't have any problems. Enjoy & bon appetite!

 

[tavettava]

You can order her a meal off the kid's menu. We did this for a few places for ds (10), it just left us a few credits to us. We payed for his meal out of pocket when we did this.

 

[Tweevil]

I have the worlds worst picky eater who is 10. We went where we all wanted to eat and asked the waitstaff if he could have either nuggets or buttered pasta - each and every time they were very accomodating. It was really nice.

Well... except I have pics of everyone at lunch/dinner with fantastic meals and in each and every one of his it is buttered pasta or nuggets.

But, I wouldn't fret at all, they are super helpful!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I have two nieces who were very picky eaters.
2) When we took them, we were told of their "limited food preferences".
3) We did not cater to them, or allow them to spoil our eatery choices.
4) Their choice was eat from the menu, or have water.
5) After missing two meals, their peakiness disappeared!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I consider myself a pickey plan eater and always find something for me. I go to all the resturants cause my DH loves to try different things. They always work with me.

 

[jrc-elpaso]

1) I have two nieces who were very picky eaters.
2) When we took them, we were told of their "limited food preferences".
3) We did not cater to them, or allow them to spoil our eatery choices.
4) Their choice was eat from the menu, or have water.
5) After missing two meals, their peakiness disappeared!

It's amazing what being hungry can do. Our sons were never picky - I think partially because we made them try new foods. If they didn't like it (had to have more than one bite - and no "it looks yucky" allowed) then they didn't have to eat it. There was no way I was going to be a short order cook - they could eat what I made for dinner or make themselves a PB & J sandwich.

 

[madalex]

1) I have two nieces who were very picky eaters.
2) When we took them, we were told of their "limited food preferences".
3) We did not cater to them, or allow them to spoil our eatery choices.
4) Their choice was eat from the menu, or have water.
5) After missing two meals, their peakiness disappeared!

I agree with this 100%. This is absolutely the way to go. And, once you get the child out of the "picky eater" habits, you don't have to ever worry about it again. The number of posts on these boards about adult "picky eaters" absolutely astounds me. So many people simply do not know what they are missing!

 

[dragonye]

I found with my picky eater that buffets are the way to go.... DS is picky but getting better as he has tried new things at buffets..ummm last night he ate steamed clams for the first time.... I couldnt eat those till I was in my 30's ! But he had no problems at Disney and like another poster said sometimes he had a cup of soup and we saved his credits and paid out of pocket.

 

[Hersheybar417]

Thank you all for your replies. Let me add, my DD and DS are NOT picky eaters. They thoroughly enjoy most any and all Disney foods! Having said that, I have had no influence over how my nephew's daughters were raised and really have to bite my lip at times. They are adorable girls and we love them dearly. My DD has been trying very hard to expand the food choices of both girls. She's having more luck with the older girl (11) than the younger (9).

I was under the impression that when calling for ADRs, they ask how many adults and how many children. If Disney's cutoff age for children/adults is 10, then we have to list her as an adult. Am I wrong in this thinking?

Also, we are not doing a dining plan. No one in this family of 4 is a big eater, so the dining plan wasn't even considered.

Thanks again, you've given me hope for the future, that we won't have to purchase expensive adult meals and have it go to waste!

Linda

 

[MickeyNicki]

My niece, now 13, is so darn picky I could cry. What works best for us when we take her is to do big buffet breakfasts and she will eat her heart out! Then a CS for lunch or dinner or feed her before we do a TS dinner because she didnt like what was on the menu

 

[tndisneyfan]

1) I have two nieces who were very picky eaters.
2) When we took them, we were told of their "limited food preferences".
3) We did not cater to them, or allow them to spoil our eatery choices.
4) Their choice was eat from the menu, or have water.
5) After missing two meals, their peakiness disappeared!

I admire you for having the willpower to do that. I wish we had done that sooner with DS. Thank goodness he grew out of it.

 

[madalex]

I was under the impression that when calling for ADRs, they ask how many adults and how many children. If Disney's cutoff age for children/adults is 10, then we have to list her as an adult. Am I wrong in this thinking?

Yes, you list her as an adult, but she can still order off the kid's menu.

 

[Hersheybar417]

Yes, you list her as an adult, but she can still order off the kid's menu.

Linda

 

[SandrA9810]

try having some one who's 26 and picky??
She won't chicken, or the flat bread pizza they serve on the kids menu. She stopped liking the mac and cheese after they changed thier recipe (she will eat the mickeyroni and cheese though). So she's down to the regular pizza or cheeseburgers and fries. 99% of all meals are ordered off the kids menu, or we share an adult meal.

If you want to get your monies worth out of the dining plan, use the credits at buffets where she would get charged an adult price no matter what she eats. This is what I do with Kari, so I don't feel like it's a waste of a dining credit. Or go for breakfast. Most people aren't that picky when it comes to breakfast foods.

Another option is to pay out of pocket for her meals, and if there's enough credits... use the credits you would've on her for another meal for every one else. They give you enough credits for 1TS, 1CS, 1snack x number of days x people. It's up to you how fast you want to use them or what order. We end up with a bunch of snacks left over.

 

[hroyale]

My DS is also very picky. When we dine out I pack some food items that he will eat and take them in my bag. I still order off the menu and try to find something for him, but I can pull out string cheese or yogurt or a piece of fruit.

That way we can dine where the rest of us want without stress.