Eating healthy in Disney?

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runningartist
runningartist Posts: 24 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Anyone have any good tips to share? We have a suite with a kitchen, so that is an added bonus. Renting a car and hitting up the grocery store for snacks and meals. What do you do though when it's time for a character meal or out to restaurants around there?
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  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
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    The options aren't all that bad. And it's a few days, so I usually just loosen the noose. You'll be walking plenty and probably snacking less due to the prices. Healthy breakfast in the hotel, carry some bars or something for lunches and leave the restaurants for dinners, maybe?
  • abatonfan
    abatonfan Posts: 1,123 Member
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    I am also wondering the same thing. I plan on bringing the CalorieKing book with me (I need it to calculate how much insulin to take per meal), estimating the portion size, and not freak out if I go over on my calories. Per day, I can be waking as much as 10 miles, and I will need the extra calories.
  • ChelseaWelseyKins
    ChelseaWelseyKins Posts: 272 Member
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    I'd say go with your gut when you eat. If you're looking at a menu that has fried chicken and a salad, go with the salad. Or you could ask if you could see any nutritional info that they can give you :) That's always helpful and most restaurants are happy to give it to you.
  • motivatedmartha
    motivatedmartha Posts: 1,108 Member
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    The options aren't all that bad. And it's a few days, so I usually just loosen the noose. You'll be walking plenty and probably snacking less due to the prices. Healthy breakfast in the hotel, carry some bars or something for lunches and leave the restaurants for dinners, maybe?

    You'll walk miles!! We took fruit and salad stuff in with us and avoided snacks and restaurants in the parks during the day. You can usually find something reasonable in the evening - avoiding the mountains of sauces/dressing etc.

    Enjoy!!!
  • FaylinaMeir
    FaylinaMeir Posts: 661 Member
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    are you getting the meal plan? If you are then you're in luck because they will pretty much make you whatever you want. You tell them about your specific diet and they will make something to accommodate it :) Disney is an awesome place but like the other poster said.... ITS DISNEY! The diet can wait a week or whatever. I gained 5 pounds while I was there, but boy was I happy LOL Disney portions are HUGE though so 1 breakfast can feed two people.

    Just relax and enjoy =)
  • abatonfan
    abatonfan Posts: 1,123 Member
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    I'd say go with your gut when you eat. If you're looking at a menu that has fried chicken and a salad, go with the salad. Or you could ask if you could see any nutritional info that they can give you :) That's always helpful and most restaurants are happy to give it to you.

    Unfortunately, Disney does not offer the nutritional information. It's really annoying. :L
  • SymphonynSonata
    SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
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    If you can't enjoy time out with family/friends on a vacation without constantly thinking about your calories you aren't doing it right and it is not sustainable. Eat whatever you want, it's a vacation. When you get home analyze the damage and move on. You'll probably gain 3-5lbs if you go nuts and that'll come off pretty damn fast as most of it will be water water/weight sitting in your gut. Don't stress it.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
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    All the walking definitely helps!

    Last time we went, I packed snacks, things that were easy to grab and eat while walking or standing in line (almonds, peanut butter filled pretzels, bananas) and put them in a locker so we weren't carrying them around. Every so often we'd swing by the locker, grab some snacks and head for the next ride.

    If you do character meals or eat at restaurants in the park, just enjoy it! Don't go completely overboard of course, because then you'll be miserably full and rides will be no fun - watch your portions and enjoy the goodies!
  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
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    Sorry, I can't offer food advice, only amazing restaurant choices. The last time my husband and I were there we blew ALL our money on food. :bigsmile:
  • SharonNehring
    SharonNehring Posts: 535 Member
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    I totally agree. Fix healthy meals when you have control over it, relax a little when you don't. Snacks that can withstand the heat and take in a water bottle if they allow it. You'll be able to find some somewhat healthier options at the park to tide you over if needed but they'll be expensive.

    I haven't looked at their website but I'm guessing they have dining option information and you should be able to request it at park. Most importantly, sun screen, comfy shoes and clothes and drink lots. :smile: Enjoy!
  • rvore12109
    rvore12109 Posts: 2 Member
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    Actually in Disney they have a place that is outside that roasts turkey legs. They are low cal, very high in protein and so good you won't believe it. Try that for your dinner at Disney. Oh, they aren't too expensive so you should be fine.
  • ge105
    ge105 Posts: 268 Member
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    I just went on a two week road trip that included a stop at six flags and I ate healthy the whole time. You have to be willing to order a la carte and to ask exactly what you want. Sit down restaurants are best because they are more likely to tailor to what you need. My favorite thing to do was to order a small grilled steak or steamed salmon a la carte with a large salad (olive oil and vinegar as dressing on the side, no cheese no croutons because they put too many). Breakfast is even easier; order poached eggs, baked potato, and steamed veggies. Thats not usually on the menu, ask the waitress they always say yes because they have all those things at any diner. I usually eat brunch on the road and save money by skipping lunch and having an early dinner.

    Went three days to Six flags. Day one, shared a turkey drumstick with my fiance, not only was it more than enough food, and cooked without grease (bbq outside, im sure they have them at Disney too), it was super cheap since we shared. Day two, had a sushi roll from a shop, one of those deli style, premade and in a box. Got one that had no sauces, just fish, rice, and nori. Confident the calories were low there. The last day, went into a bar and restaurant at the park and ordered wings. It is more calories, so I just kept my portion small, ate all the carrot and celery, skipped the ranch. I could have ordered a steak and salad there too, but I wanted to get back to the fun sooner. Just spome ideas, hope they help.

    I forgot to add- the reason for wanting things steamed or grilled is because sauces can really change the calorie count and are easy to overeat. They dont always measure, and some cooks have a heavy hand. Things cooked in a pan with oil are likely to be more calorie dense even if they're a healthy option, like sauteed chicken breast. Something like a stirfry can actually be a terrible choice because of the sauces and the fact that it was fried in a pan with god knows how much oil. Stick to grilled and steamed if you have the option.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
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    If you can't enjoy time out with family/friends on a vacation without constantly thinking about your calories you aren't doing it right and it is not sustainable. Eat whatever you want, it's a vacation. When you get home analyze the damage and move on. You'll probably gain 3-5lbs if you go nuts and that'll come off pretty damn fast as most of it will be water water/weight sitting in your gut. Don't stress it.

    Agreed. If you're watching what you eat the other 50 weeks of the year, a week's holiday and Christmas Day plus whatever other days you celebrate won't make much of a difference. Don't stress over gaining. Accept it, enjoy yourself (without bingeing) and come back then pick up where you left off.
  • sargessexyone
    sargessexyone Posts: 494 Member
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    We went to Disney in Feb. We did the meal plan and most of the places we ate were buffet style so it was actually a little easier to control portions.

    My advice is don't worry about it. Make healthier choices when you can but don't stress if you can't. You will be doing tons of walking. Disney is meant to be a fun family trip, although if your family is like mine that can be stressful in and of itself :ohwell: . If you are stressing to much over what you're putting in your mouth it won't be fun for anyone.

    I have also found that it usually doesn't turn out to be as bad as you think it will.

    Go have fun with your family :flowerforyou:
  • RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle
    RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle Posts: 1,349 Member
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    When my children were little, I used to take sandwiches, fruit, and water bottles into Disneyland in a bag I carried over my right shoulder. I did this on at least five vacations. The good news was that we didn't have to wait in line for food, saved money, and didn't waste any ride time. The bad news is I wonder if it contributed towards me needing surgery for my right shoulder many years later. I'd suggest a mini backpack if you try this op:)
  • RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle
    RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle Posts: 1,349 Member
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    I also bought a $25 Disney themed mug and microwaved eggs in it in the mornings. We still have that mug. My husband calls it my expensive egg maker:)
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
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    If you can't enjoy time out with family/friends on a vacation without constantly thinking about your calories you aren't doing it right and it is not sustainable. Eat whatever you want, it's a vacation. When you get home analyze the damage and move on. You'll probably gain 3-5lbs if you go nuts and that'll come off pretty damn fast as most of it will be water water/weight sitting in your gut. Don't stress it.

    Agreed. If you're watching what you eat the other 50 weeks of the year, a week's holiday and Christmas Day plus whatever other days you celebrate won't make much of a difference. Don't stress over gaining. Accept it, enjoy yourself (without bingeing) and come back then pick up where you left off.

    ^All of this.

    Not to mention, what are you trying to define as healthy? The amount of calories in a food/meal (or lack thereof) =/= healthy.

    Nobody got fat in a few days or a week.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,626 Member
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    Ugh. Disney food is mostly the most unhealthy stuff around. The portions are huge. They purposely pump smells into the air to tempt you, too.

    I try very hard not to eat in the parks.

    Most buffets have fruit, if not fruit and salads. If you have meals that are served family-style, you can load up on veggies, but even those aren't prepared in the most healthy way. Sunshine Seasons in Epcot has little salads and scoops of mayo-laden tuna fish. That fast-food fish place over by Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom has a kid tuna fish sandwich, again with the mayo.

    You can buy fruit and Craisins in some of the parks. In Animal Kingdom, they're in Africa and in the Studios they're on the street you walk down to beauty and the Beast and Tower of Terror. Epcot has fruit in Sunshine Seasons. If you look for salads, you can find them in all the parks. The water parks, too. Bring your own dressing if you don't want high-cal dressing. Many fast food places will sell you like 25 grapes for $3-4.00.

    I try to never eat over there. I'll bring my own stuff. It's ridiculously priced, some is good and some isn't (especially the sweets, not too good, don't feel like you missed out passing those up) and it's so unhealthy. My friend and I will go to Sweet Tomatoes before or after we go to a park. Sweet Tomatoes is cheap and has fresh ingredients, even if it isn't the nicest place. We like it. :) Boyfriend loves to eat, though, and drags me into those places on occasion. The waiters hate me because I get a salad and water.

    The one and only thing I miss eating at Disney is the Holiday Sandwich at the Earl of Sandwich. It probably has a week's worth of calories, but it was oh, so good. I am going to have one in November or December. Looking forward to it! :)
  • runningartist
    runningartist Posts: 24 Member
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    Thanks for all the good advice! We aren't new to the Disney scene - we go every year since we are DVC members. We don't do the meal plan - but try to do out own thing when we can. You're all right - a few days of having a little fun isn't going to hurt anything, I was just curious if anyone had any good suggestions! I love all the feedback - and this time I'm carting my jawbone 24 with me so I can see how much walking we actually do! That's the best part.... :)
  • chaoticdreams
    chaoticdreams Posts: 447 Member
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    As a Floridian that frequents Disney World several times a year, I don't eat in the parks. Personally, the food isn't that great and way way over priced. (With the exception of the turkey leg LOL) I tend to bring in snacks. I'll buy the water they sell and occasionally an ice cream in the summer. You will do a LOT of walking, a LOT of standing, and will get some miles logged just wandering around the park. If you have to or just want to eat in the parks, last time I went there (February), there were some healthy options alongside the bad. The buffets and some of the places at Epcot are pretty friendly to a diet.

    Honestly though, i avoid the food to help my wallet. And this time of year, the place is so crowded that even with Fastpasses, you'll probably be in line so much you really won't find time to eat LOL.

    I wouldn't worry about it so much imo. Just enjoy yourself and have a great time.

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