Going to an amusement park tomorrow...help!

Is bringing a packed lunch an option?

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

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....

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.

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.

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!

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! ;-)

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).

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...

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

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!