When kids don't like the menu options?

[Nennie]

Just asking for advice from other parents! I have a 3 and 6 year old who aren't super picky for their ages, but I know they won't like the menu options at some of the Epcot restaurants that we'd like to go to dine (Mexico and Japan), and probably a few others.

What do other parents do? Skip the restaurants? Let the kids just order dessert? Feed them before hand? Bring Pb&J?

Just wondering how others handle it!

 

[ELSA711]

We've always had success in asking restaurants to modify items.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

Up until this trip we always picked places that had stuff all of us would like. This time we're doing San Angel Inn - the kids menu looks fine but the adult menu I'm not sure about. If the kids (12 and 14) can't order from the kids menu they can just order dessert instead, and they're fine with that. We snack enough during the day, it's not like anyone is going to starve

 

[Baklava]

Pretty much everywhere seems to offer some sort of "safe" option for non-adventurous kids. (In fact, I was sort of irritated at the lack of on theme cuisine at some places.) If you really don't think they'll eat anything on the kid menu you might look at sides available.

 

[tink9702]

At this point we skip restaurants that don't have an option my kids would like. I have a 4 & 6 year old that are extremely picky!!! It won't be fun for me if they don't eat because they either won't sit still or won't stop talking! lol

As they get older I'm sure we'll just feed them beforehand if there is something we really want to eat, or we'll use the Kids Club and have a date night!

 

[aaarcher86]

Same thing I do at home - skip it. I haven't found a restaurant that doesn't have something they'll eat at Disney though.

 

[minnie mum]

We simply chose restaurants where everyone could find something they would like to eat. Yes, there were certain restaurants that I wanted to try that we avoided, simply because there was nothing that one or another of the girls would eat. The price of being a parent. The nice thing was that eventually they grew up, and so did their palates. We were never those guests who insisted on menu modifications or off menu items simply because of taste preferences.

 

[Alesia]

I would just say, "Find something on the menu or don't eat." but that's not a particularly popular response on the dis.

I also don't let my daughter repeat meals on vacation. It keeps her from just falling back on chicken nuggets for every meal out of laziness.

 

[22Tink]

I skip it. I tend to check the menu carefully before booking to make sure there's something on there my DD will eat. Less stress for me!! Unless it's a restaurant specifically chosen for the 'experience' rather than the food, of course.

 

[sharadoc]

I think every restaurant has a chicken, pasta or pizza option. I think all of the Japan restaurants have something, unless you are going to the hibachi one (Name?). We ate at Tokyo Dining and my DS had tempura chicken and rice, he liked it fine and he doesn't eat as much adventurous food as the rest of us.

 

[nat8199]

I would skip restaurants that I didn't think my kids would eat at, but luckily I haven't seen a menu yet that doesn't include something my kids will eat. I wouldn't want my kid to be hungry, which means cranky, because of my planning.

 

[Octoberbaby]

Mine aren't terribly picky. However, if we are in a restaurant and they aren't happy with the menu, I make them choose something anyway and try it. Usually they end up liking it.

 

[Nennie]

Thanks all! I decided just to skip Mexico and the hibachi place, and do counter service when we are in the countries and save table service for the places that I know they'll love!

 

[nicki.momof3]

All of the disney restaurants offer similar boring children's menus. I would love if the themed Epcot restaurants offered themed kids menus. I would never choose our restaurants arounds the kids tastes. We eat as a family which means everyone enjoys a meal. If they don't like something they have to at least order something and try a good amount of it. How else are they going to like new foods. Eating all junk food or dessert is not allowed at home or on vacation.

As a result I have 3 very healthy good non picky eaters.

 

[newestkg06]

I think the Refreshment Coolpost offers a Perry the Platypus Pack with a PB&J, and other kid's palatable things. It's a good backup plan if you can't find something they might like.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I would just say, "Find something on the menu or don't eat." but that's not a particularly popular response on the dis.

I also don't let my daughter repeat meals on vacation. It keeps her from just falling back on chicken nuggets for every meal out of laziness.

That's totally me too. Either eat or don't...your choice. But certainly not just dessert if they aren't willing to try something else first. Unfortunately we parents are the ones that let our kids turn into picky eaters because it's often easier to let them get their way than listen to the whining. Thst happened to my first two. Then I got wiser. Third daughter, with down syndrome, will try anything. She may not like it which is fine but she will always taste and usually does like it Watched her astound another family in Paris once who were letting their kds order pizza at a lovely little bistro so they would stop complaining At our table next to theirs Alex was eating escargot and rabbit.

 

[marinejjh]

You can order adult food for your quick service meals for the kids. It wouldn't hurt to let them try some things. My son is really picky and he liked some things we didn't think that he would.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would just say, "Find something on the menu or don't eat." but that's not a particularly popular response on the dis.

I also don't let my daughter repeat meals on vacation. It keeps her from just falling back on chicken nuggets for every meal out of laziness.

This is us also.

My kids aren't picky eaters but they are used to eating Puerto Rican meals. That's what they eat on a daily basis. At times they can get "weird" with typical American food. I just tell them to eat it or starve. They will order something and they have always liked what they ordered.

 

[quakechicago]

We have food allergies, but it's been our experience that they will bring you whatever your kid wants at TS places. My kid had a pizza and strawberries brought to her at the teppanyaki place. (She's allergic to soy and soy sauce).

But we've also done a ton of work with her so that she might not like different things, but she will try them (as long as she is not allergic). She has a cousin who at 15 still ONLY eats plain pasta and chicken nuggets.

 

[Hopefully]

We have food allergies, but it's been our experience that they will bring you whatever your kid wants at TS places. My kid had a pizza and strawberries brought to her at the teppanyaki place. (She's allergic to soy and soy sauce).

But we've also done a ton of work with her so that she might not like different things, but she will try them (as long as she is not allergic). She has a cousin who at 15 still ONLY eats plain pasta and chicken nuggets.

Allergies are totally different than pickyness. There is a CM who posts here on the DIS who has said multiple times in the past several months, that given the explosion of demands for substitutions and special food for picky eaters, Disney is now working to limit the availability of these. Because of the outrageous demands of some, the response is looking to be things becoming as restrictive as not allowing simple substitutions of things like a side of fries on the menu for a side of mashed potatoes on the menu. Once again the unreasonableness of the demands of some is going to negatively impact the majority.