What to feed my 14 month old in parks?

[3boysluvndisney]

We have a 13 month old who will just have turned 14 months old when we go to WDW. Our problem is that he doesn't do textured food really well. He lives off of mashed potatoes and baby food (stage 2 unless fruits) and oatmeal (Gerber). Any type of food that has textures he gags. He is doing a little bit better but just nimbles on stuff like goldfish crackers and such but definitely not enough to fill him up. He loves mashed potatoes and eats them for lunch and dinner all the time. He eats a BIG bowel of them. I'm concerned on what to feed him while in the parks. The baby food can't be warmed and I want him to get a hot meal at least once during the day while we are there. Then there are snacks.....????? Anyone ever have this problem and if so what did you do. I was so hoping that he would be over this problem by vacation time but it doesn't look like he is going to be as we only have 3 weeks left. So any help or suggestions would be great. TIA!!!

Less than 3 weeks!!!!!!

 

[disneygoof]

You can warm food at the Baby Center in MK and though I've never been in the centers at the other parks, I assume it's the same there.

Check the menus here and at allearsnet.com to see where they serve mashed potatoes. Maybe Liberty Tavern at MK? UK at Epcot? 50's Cafe at MGM?

My son is all about pizza so we end up eating at the Plaza Pavilion for lunch every day, the only pizza in MK. We know it and expect it in advance and then we don't get disappointed...just one of the sacrifices we make for his happiness and to avoid meltdowns.

You should know that most sit down restaurants are VERY accommodating for discriminating (read, picky) tastes. My son has even had pizza delivered to him at the Hoop Dee Doo Revue where the menu is strictly chicken and ribs. It never hurts to ask if mashed potatoes are available even if they are not on the menu.

 

[campingcorgi]

I'd take some of the bags of instant mashed potatoes (the new kind that only needs water) and mix it up in the Baby Care center. There is a microwave there and water and high chairs. Then you could let him nibble on snacks when you eat.

 

[my3princes]

The gerber rice cereal comes in travel packs and you can just add hot water. I have requested hot water at many restaurants and they have always given me a cup. I can make cereal or put a jar of baby food in it to heat it up. It really shouldn't be too much of a problem. If he likes the baby food fruit varieties you wouldn't even need to heat that up. You may want to carry a small tupperware dish to dump a cup of hot water in if you go that route as I'm not sure that a jar would fit in a cup that easily.

 

[lovesdumbo]

The Baby Centers are great-they also sell baby food. I did use those individual packages of baby cereal that Gerber makes.

Have you tried Stoney Field Farm's whole milk yogart?

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Don't forget that heating up baby food does not make it any more nutritious. It the heat, he might like it just as well room temp. if you are carring it in the stroller, in the jar, it will be pretty warm anyway. A smart friend told me when DS was born to never start heating baby food. WE did not and DS liked it just as well straight from the jar, and so much easier and even safer than trying to get the food to a safe temp.
Another word is to remember not to add any new foods to his diet just before or during the travel time. You don't want to chance a tummy upset. He will learn to accept texture in his own time.
Many places have mashed potatoes on the menu as well as most buffets. I think the instant mashed potatoes are a great idea. You might want to figure our a serving size for him and put it into ziplock bags to carry into the park. Any resturant can get you water hot enough to mix the potatos, it does not have to be boiling, hot tap water will even work in a pinch.

Dont wory and have a great trip with your little one.


Jordans' mom

 

[bartleby1]

Like a previous poster stated, heating the food doesn't make it more nutritious and your little one probably won't even know the difference. I always heated my the food for my first born but on a road trip one day I was forced to give her it at room temperature. She didn't seem to care at all. So, for my second child, I never bothered heating it.

As far as the mashed potatoes, the instant packets should work although you probably want to push the fruits and veggies if it is hot rather than potatoes which don't provide much nutrition or liquids to fight off dehydration. For the baby cereal, I used to put the dry cereal and a small amount of powdered formula into a small snack cup that had a lid. I'm not sure who makes them, but they are sold in baby stores and come in a 4 pack. When it was time to eat, I added a little water and could feed them right from the snack cup. Then I could pop the lid back on and didn't need to wash it until I got home.

We took DS at 14 months and he was doing finger foods and pieces of fruits and veggies. The whole time I was there, I was thinking how much easier it would have been if he were still on baby food! Much less messy and they aren't dropping half of their food on the floor. We were there in July and I had to take him to the restroom after every meal and practically give him a bath in the sink! Food in the hair, in his lap, etc. Consider yourself lucky that you can still get away with the baby food. It will make your life much easier on the trip. Be sure to bring some of the disposable bibs.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[tjmw2727]

I would just plan to bring some baby food to the parks with you and supplement with approprite foods you can find at the restaurants. As some others mentioned the baby cereal can be mixed anywhere with the warm water and makes a great nutritious meal. I also never warmed the baby foods, room temperater should be fine. You can try and warm it a bit less each day from now until the trip to get him used to it.

Definately take advantage of the baby care centers, quiet place to nurse, feed and change baby. Microwave for heating and emergency supplies if you have forgotten something.

Don't worry about the texture issue, my older dd didn't start much table food until later in the 2nd year and she is my best eater now!

Personally, WDW or not I would try and get him out of the mashed potato habit. Perhaps try some cereals, fruits and veggies he likes and then just lessen the bowls of potato until he is more dependant on a variety of other age appropriate foods. Nothing wrong with potato now and then but IMHO its not a good nutritious staple food for a baby. (I am not judging btw - just suggesting!).

Gerber makes a great line of toddler foods and has some great cereals that would be a good replacement for the potato.

Have a great trip!
TJ

 

[Sunbeamblue2002]

Hello,

Dose he like applesauce? Cause our 13month old just loves the stuff. It must be a kid thing. Buy those snack cups that like come in 6 packs and a plastic spoon. Although I'm sure that they have spoons down there (but have never been 1st trip) They don't need refiged or heated up and applesauce is applesauce as long as its not the chuncky kind. Just to spruce up the menue so to say. Thats what were gonna do for a quick snack. Have fun.

Sunbeamblue2002

 

[ahutton]

Don't be afraid to ask for something you don't see on a menu either - many places are glad to help with finding something for a child. Cosmic Rays is a fast food place in MK that serves mashed potatoes. Many of the fruit stands and snack places have bananas which may be good. Many places will also get you some well cooked pasta with a little butter which can be mashed into a potato like texture too.

 

[3boysluvndisney]

Thanks everyone for all your advice and suggestions!! They are really great and have helped out alot. I will be getting those travel packs of cereal definitely. He has ate baby food at room temp before he just doesn't eat it as well. Yes, he loves applesauce as a pp suggested. I will take that along as well. So now I'm not as nervous as I was about what to feed him thanks to all of you guys. Again thanks as you have made me feel a whole lot better!

LESS THAN THREE WEEKS UNTIL WE SEE MICKEY!!!!

 

[tjmw2727]

The menu's for all the restaurants are at www.allearsnet.com - hopefully you can find all you need. I was thinking that maybe steak fries would be fun for him, they are like mashed but he can pick them up and eat the "sort of mashed potato" inside??

Le Cellier in the Canada pavillion comes to mind as my dd's love the "very fat steak fries".

The applesauce containers sound great and gerber has lots of baby fruits in plastic. Plastic spoons are available everywhere so don't worry about them. The fruit stands are at every park now so you could let him have a go at a bananna - you could just grab a plastic fork and smash one for DS or let him have at it if he/you are ready, that was my dd's first go at it!! ( we have some cute pictures!).

TJ

 

[4greatboys]

Just wanted to let you know if you do some character meals or buffets your ds eats for free. Most of them have mashed potatoes on them.

 

[fran99999]

dont forget the Cheerios. I buy the multigrain ones for my DS5 and he still loves them. They also travel well in sandwich bags.

Cereal is a very good snack food. My son also love Kix. Look for cereal that is low in sugar. Chex is low in sugar but has pointy parts that make hard to chew.

May want to watch the milk intake if going in the HOT summer months. The milk may sour DS tummy if he gets to hot.

Have a great trip

 

[tinxmom]

In reply to the posters who stated that potatoes are not very nutritional---Potatoes are extremely high in potassium(which we lose when dehydrated) , dietary fiber, and 1 serving offers 50% of the vit. C we need per day. This maybe somewhat different for instant, But if this is what he loves, then its a good thing!!!! I would even recommend buying the refrigerated, already made , mashed potatoes if you are taking a collapsible cooler in the parks---if you are concerned about nutrition. Otherwise , the instant would work great. What about other mashed fruits, veggies??. No, i am not from idaho, but already knew this info, and even looked it up just to be sure. Potatoes are very good for your son---have a good trip!!!--we will be there 6/6-6/12

 

[tjmw2727]

If your referring to me - re the potato I didn't say and certainly mean to imply that potato is not nutritious. I simply ment that I do not consider them a good "staple food"for baby, I am sorry if I sounded that way. Potato is just one of many great choices in the fruit and vegatable category. The recommended serving is 1/4 cup of fruit or vegetable 1-3 times a day. The main category for children 1-6 should be from the grain base in the pyramid - 6 servings a day.

Granted not everyone follows the pyramid - especially the new one. I just wanted to offer that a varied menu may be better for baby and easier for mom especially if he could add some fruits and other vegies and get him interested in some cereals as well.

I hope I didn't sound judgemental as I certainly know that some battles are worth taking slow or just not worth fighting at all, esp with a toddler!

TJ

 

[Disney_1derland]

buying a small portable baby food mill ($10 at the baby depot and comes with a carrying case)?

You can mill ANYTHING through these little things and they make a great consistency for small ones with texture issues. I have used one when traveling and my Littles just eat part of whatever I order. This would work especially well at a Buffet.

Also, gerber has some new toddler snacks that are like whole cereal but they are made to disolve almost immediately on entering their mouths. They really do 'melt', maybe that would help with the texture thing.

Good Luck, I'm sure it will be just fine!

 

[bartleby1]

Originally posted by tinxmom
In reply to the posters who stated that potatoes are not very nutritional---Potatoes are extremely high in potassium(which we lose when dehydrated) , dietary fiber, and 1 serving offers 50% of the vit. C we need per day. This maybe somewhat different for instant, But if this is what he loves, then its a good thing!!!! I would even recommend buying the refrigerated, already made , mashed potatoes if you are taking a collapsible cooler in the parks---if you are concerned about nutrition. Otherwise , the instant would work great. What about other mashed fruits, veggies??. No, i am not from idaho, but already knew this info, and even looked it up just to be sure. Potatoes are very good for your son---have a good trip!!!--we will be there 6/6-6/12

Without turning this into a potato debate, lol, you are absolutely correct that potatoes are high in potassium and vitamin C, however most of the nutrients are found in the skin and just below the skins surface. I was assuming that most parents are not feeding the skin to a little one. I know I never did.