Going to an amusement park tomorrow...help!

sydneyh0pe

Okay, so I'm going to Carowinds tomorrow morning...and there's so much fast food!
Any suggestions or help you can give?
I'm only going to be drinking water, and I'm thinking about bringing snacks but I know eventually I'll have to eat a meal!
Help please!

sgoldman328

Is bringing a packed lunch an option?

So_Um_Yeah

Bump!

farrellb2

pack something easy like a whole wheat bread with Nutella on it (I know some people put banana slices on there to get some fruit sin there) and some carrot sticks-both store great when your at an amusement park

Dabbles

Ahhhh I use to go there when I was a child. Had seasons passes! I say take some good treats, protein bars and what not You'll be burning some calories though with all the walking!

maryzcontrary

Oh, I remember going to Carowinds when I was a kid! I can't believe it's still there!!! Why not pack a little backpack or bellybag with some nutrition or protein bars? Tom's cheese/peanut butter crackers, or almonds and such....

Barbeliza

Go to the website - it lists restaurants with menus so you can plan in advance. Make sure to get something you really want as a treat and share it with others! Have a great time.

marquesajen

Bring some snacks, nuts, carrots, apple, small sammie. When it comes to a meal order what looks best to fit in your day, but supplement with your snacks.

songbyrdsweet

You can eat at an amusement park!? :noway: Haha, I always get so caught up in riding coasters and eventually get motion sick so I don't eat much. :laugh: One option is to practice practical moderation...get one item when you're hungry, drink lots of water, and don't nosh on stuff just because it looks good. Another option is to just bring your own heat-stable snacks like fruit and nuts.

sydneyh0pe

Packed lunch isn't an option, I'll only be bringing a purse so it'd probably have to be something like crackers or dry food haha!

ebert5150

Count all the hours of walking around into your exercise. That should help some.

sydneyh0pe

thanks you guys!

sgoldman328

Go to the website - it lists restaurants with menus so you can plan in advance. Make sure to get something you really want as a treat and share it with others! Have a great time.

I think this is a good idea!

JennsLosing

Packed lunch isn't an option, I'll only be bringing a purse so it'd probably have to be something like crackers or dry food haha!

be happy you can even bring that...alot of amusement parks wont let you bring even snacks in, unless you have very small children.

milaxx

The good thing is you'll be running around all day so you'll likely burn off most of what you eat. Eat a good breakfast before you leave. Pack snacks(fruit/granola or protein bars/nuts) and water, then choose carefully; one slice of cheese pizza is not too bad. If you go for ice cream get the child's size or a single scoop in a cup.

♥Amy♥

I've been to DisneyWorld and Six Flags both in the last month and what I did was pack snack items.

For breakfast: dry cereal (I don't like milk) or breakfast bar

Snacks: Peanut Butter Crackers, Animal Crackers, Pre-packaged apple slices

Then for lunch/dinner: I just chose something off the menu that looked healthier, yet still tasty. I shared my meals with my 2 year old and 7 year old too.

Even though I was walking a lot, I wasn't as hungry due to the heat. Just make sure to drink lots of water.

Have fun!

Elle_Jamaicangirl81

i say have fun at the amusement park... you'll be walking a lot so make sure u add those as exercise


BUT to be safe, do a little research. Think about what might be there and take some nutritional values notes (mentally or put in your phone or something if u wish)

Realizing that there are 760 cals, 80 carbs and 16g of sugar in ONE funnel cake might help you make some more healthier choices


you might not even eat too much anyway.... gotta get on those rides!

christiansurf

I don't fit on most of Carowinds rides these days, but last time I went, they were pretty strict about what you could bring in the park, but that was closer to 2001./911 times. It seems the let in a net bag I had that carried a bottle of water (sealed) a few flavor packets for refilling the bottle later, and two power bars. All food items are very expensive in the park, but the the sit down places often have salad and fruit options as eatting healthy is 'in vogue'. If you are going to the water park there are lockers to stow food in. For the rides it's best to have something that you won't mind loosing if it's not there when you get back from the ride, but my water bottle bag always survived; you just can't bring it with you on 90% of the rides, there are attendants that will take it for you and put it in a cubby or on the floor next to the ride, to be search/found by you when exiting, at least they used to...sometimes you'd have to toss it over there depending on the ride. If you are thin enough, a fanny pack can sometimes fit on the ride with you, as long as the bar comes down and snaps closed. Better safe than sorry though, falling out of the ride would be a major bummer!

BTW Busch Gardens has more 'plus size-friendly' rides...I'm guessing because a lot of their target market may have beer bellies? The only coaster at Carowinds I can fit on is TopGun (if they still have it) the stand-up coaster. At Busch Gardens I can fit on just about every ride without a problem, though on the Griffin I have to sit in the special middle seat that has the double straps.

Bonus: With all the walking, you are sure to burn tons of calories! ;-)

Nikstergirl

Make sure you choose wisely.. skip the fries and go for a hot pretzel, skip the ice cream and go for the slushy (still cooling but fat free), skip the sausages and choose a chicken sammy... but I agree with sticking some protein bars or an apple in your purse.. even some crackers w/peanut butter if you can, or other snackies. I love Larabars or Clif bars for just such an occasion.

Oh, and have FUN!!!!

jellybaby84

Just think of the food on sale there as unaffordable. It probably will be!

I went to EuroDisney the other week and was so horrified by the ticket price that I said I was taking food and refusing to buy any souvenirs.

My lunch and dinner were a nectarine, a cereal bar and some rice cakes bought from the supermarket opposite our youth hostel for probably less than 3 Euros.

My friends lunch and dinner were a burger, fries and icecream and a hotdog, fries and icecream bought from the most affordable restaurant we could find for 25 Euros.

I think I won on calories and money!

It's definitely worth taking a small backpack. I didn't buy any drinks all day either, I took my own 2 bottles of water (2 Euros as oppose to the 10 or so my friends spent).

Flyntiggr

Carowinds can be easy - I got there almost every other weekend. The chicken tenders are actually tasty, and not that bad for you. Add them to the salad from the Snoopy (Barnstormers maybe?) food service venue. You'll also burn quite a bit walking around and sweating. Goons be warmer tomorrow!

Have a great time!

Flyntiggr

Oh, and they are super crappy about bringing any snacks or drinks in! I've seen them make people throw bottles of waterway before they could enter the park...

bmw4deb

I went to King dominion a few weeks ago, took some good light
snacks, had a grilled chicken sandwich with watermelon for lunch
and burnt 1700 calories walking!!!! per my HRM

wickedcricket

won't you be burning calories all day!? don't worry about calories too much - avoid the cotton candy and have a great time!

jellybaby84

If they won't let you take food and drink in (what a crap rule, never heard that before!) -
Tell them you are diabetic and need to eat small amounts at regular intervals. Or that you have a gluten intolerance or something.

its_betty

Wow, I just looked up Carowinds--looks huge and fun! But they don't allow outside food or drinks. (Boo, hiss.)

As everyone else has said, just make better choices and enjoy yourself. No guilt--it's a special occasion.

Try to pay attention when you are eating, and stop if you are getting full. The portions might be big; it's ok to throw some out. (Greasy amusement park food never tastes as good as it looks anyway.)

Have fun!

mislmar

we went to an amusement park recently and took a cooler with us. We packed water, baked lays and healthy deli sandwiches along with a few granola bars and rice krispy treats. We could come out to our car and eat or go into the park with it.