Which would you rather have??

[shellybaxter]

Healthy kids meals or old standbys? I have been reading complaints on this board for a while that the kids meals at WDW are not healthy. Several times I've seen mom's write "I don't want my little boy to have to live on mac and cheese all week", and I honestly don't blame them.

Then today I read the thread about LTTs new kids meals. They are certainly a healthier alternative to most sit down kids menus. I didn't think they were that bad. They had fruit and yogart and a tortilla chip and beans dish, these sound like things kids eat. But the poster's were all unhappy with the change and at least one was going to cancel their ADR.

I suppose maybe LTT went overboard (one of the choices was grilled mahi mahi) and could have included an old standby or two. But they didn't.

So I'm curious, would you rather a disney sit down restuarant have only healthy choices for kids or only old standbys (hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, mac and cheese)?

 

[VINN127]

Why not offer a choice of both. Perhaps your poll could have another choice.

 

[newcomer52]

I vote for healthy, but my kids are grown. I do want healthy for my grandkids and hope that will be their choice also!

 

[MN Dis Fans]

Who wants to eat only healthy stuff when they are on vacation? That is the time to splurge a little, isn't it?

 

[shellybaxter]

Why not offer a choice of both. Perhaps your poll could have another choice.

I agree with you - both might be a better idea - but that's not what LTT did. For whatever reason they chose to put only healthy choices on their new kid's menu.

That's why I asked the question the way I did, to see if people could only have it one way or another which they would choose.

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

I agree with that totally. At home we are as healthy as it gets, but vacation, well that's another story!! What happens at Disney stays at Disney.

Who wants to eat only healthy stuff when they are on vacation? That is the time to splurge a little, isn't it?

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

After a long afternoon of playing and walking, Is it really that big a deal to have chicken fingers and french fries?? The kids are happy, you aren't spending your meal BEGGING them to eat the carrots, and they are going to walk it off anyway.

 

[slk537]

I love a choice - DS loves things like yogurt and broccoli and chicken breast (honest!) but more than anything in this world he loves candy and "junk". And in our home, birthdays and holidays and vacations are about indulging. I have told people that if he wants to eat nothing but potato chips and frosting on his birthday, then so be it. Call me a bad mom, but that's how I feel.

But I would love him to be able to have the choices - when we go to Applebees he gets a corn dog or chicken fingers, but they have choices of applesauce, carrots and dip, fries, broccoli, etc. Choices. I like that.

I'm not excited about the LTT kid's menu. No disrespect to anyone meant, but I laughed out loud at the idea of trying to get DS (or DH for that matter!) to order tofu at Disney World...

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

Who wants to eat only healthy stuff when they are on vacation? That is the time to splurge a little, isn't it?

I think we all splurge while on vacation, so why should the kids be any different. I would rather have the old standbys, especialy when the kids are exhausted and on the verge of a meltdown, I think it is good to have some comfort food.

 

[shellybaxter]

Looks like the old standbys are winning almost 2 to 1. That's interesting. I agree with the "splurge" theory. When I'm on vacation I mostly want things that taste great, and if they happen to be healthy (not usually) then great, but taste comes first

 

[The Sweetness]

Theres no reason why it cant be a little of both. Adults have the option, kids should too. In fact, in a perfect world, you should be able to order a 1/2 portion of anything you want for about %60 of the price. (JMO)

 

[3princesses4us]

I agree with everyone's rational involving the old standbys. One, we're on vacation so if I'm going to eat some junk, so should they be allowed to splurge. Two, with so much walking/ exercise, I want them to have some nourishment. I would be worried about my middle child by the end of the week doing all that walking and eating next to nothing to keep her strength up! Give me chicken nuggets or give me death!

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I have a split vote also - 1 of my kids eats well, and enjoys variety, she would like many of the healthier options, including grilled fish. The other child would starve without the old standbys.

 

[Stacerita]

Ideally choices would be best. The sweetpea loves "junk" food, but would give that up for a good salad anyday. Why can't there be a choice?

But if choices weren't an option, then the old standbys. We are on vacation so why not slurge a little. At home im much more picky about her eating the right things and keeping away from junk. But on vacation, have some fun. I know I will splurge, so why shouldn't the sweetpea.

 

[TiggerandBelleFanMom]

Choices would be best, but I like the new healthy choices a lot. My kid will get a chance to have chicken nuggets and hot dogs at OTHER meals at Disney (1900 Park dinner buffet, lunch at Brown Derby, etc.) She LOVES yogurt and fruit, so her LTT meal will be a nice chance to have that. I hope they have strawberries or apple pieces, her favs! Honestly, I doubt any kid is going to be chicken nuggets-deprived at Disney! It's nice to see some restaurants breaking up the same-old, same-old with some different choices. And I think it's important for parents not to assume that kids are going to prefer the unhealthy choices to the healthy ones. Your kids may surprise you! (My kid, for example, who is so picky she won't let me put jelly on her peanut butter sandwich, LOVES kidney beans and eats them by the handful. And while she enjoys chicken nuggets, she enjoys strawberries even more. You never know!)

 

[Terri C]

My vote was for the healthy menu. But my DDs like a variety of foods. I can see where this type of menu could be a problem.
It would be nice if there were menus with healthy options and the old standbys


Terri

ixiedust

 

[Forever42]

I just went and looked at it, since we don't have kids, but I think that new LTT menu looks fantastic! We didn't eat french fries/chicken strips/etc when we were growing up, so this new menu would be perfect. Why does healthy always have to = not tasty? They sound a lot more tasty than "fried fried" stuff!

 

[Cameo]

I am the OP from the LTT menu change thread. I agree with most people here in that there should be options. Why can't there be 2-3 healthy choice meals and 2-3 standby meals? I would gladly serve some of these things in my home and if the kids don't eat them, so be it. But, I refuse to fight with my kids while on vacation about what they eat. As someone said, it's hard enough to get them to eat, what with all the excitement and tiredness going on. And as for my kids, we are all much happier if they have nice full bellies!

Even the local fast food restaurants have realized they need to offer fruit choices as a side. I do know that some of the WDW restaurants offer grapes instead of fries and we do order those kinds of options - sometimes.

For myself, I think some of the LTT new meals sounded great, just not for MY kids. If other people's children will eat them, I applaud that. Fantastic. They should certainly have ample choices for their families as well.

It would be nice if the restaurants would tune in to these kinds of opinions and offer more of a balanced choice.

 

[NMW]

I think there should be a choice of both a couple stand-bys and some healthy dishes like Brown Derby and Yachtsman have. I voted for the stand-by kid food though, because I don't think it should be off the menu completely, it is a vacation after all. I don't eat the way I do at Disney when I'm home either. Why shouldn't kids get the choice to eat a cheeseburger or chicken fingers? It's not like it's going to kill them if they don't eat grilled chicken and a vegetable every night while they are on vacation.

 

[lillygator]

I think the kids menus are fine, we can always order off the adults menu if DD wants something different or we feel she needs to be healthier.