Is it possible to eat healthy at the Disney Parks? The answer is yes, if you want to. As part of the Disney Magic of Healthy Living initiative there are healthy food options at most of the restaurants and snack areas. It is up to you to choose these items.
That, of course, is the problem. Do I have an apple, or a churro? Chicken sausage in a pretzel roll, or an Angus cheeseburger? I admit that when I go to the parks I tend to not make the healthiest choices because I don’t get to eat in the parks that often. I don’t want to count calories on my vacation. But eventually I get tired of all the high calorie, high fat food so I am glad there are healthy choices.
It doesn’t take any effort or special planning to eat healthy in the parks. Below are 5 simple ways to keep your diet in check so you don’t end up looking like Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum.
5 simple ways to eat healthy at the Disney Parks:
1) Have fruit as a snack. I tend to notice where all the popcorn wagons are, but it is just as easy to find the fruit stands. A lot of the restaurants offer fruit as a side dish, also. Try fruit for one of your snacks and save your calories for a great meal.
2) Drink water instead of soda. Bottled water is an option at most restaurants and snack areas. If you are enjoying a sit down restaurant then you can ask for a glass of water. Bottled water can get expensive so a cheaper solution is to bring water bottles to the park and refill them throughout the day. You save a lot of calories by drinking water instead of soda, but if you enjoy soda like I do then decide to have just one a day.
3) Eat sweet potato fries instead of regular fries. This advice works if you like sweet potato fries. If you don’t, then don’t bother. Sometimes you will have no choice, like at the Hungry Bear Restaurant at Disneyland. It pays to check out menus as you are planning your vacation. Sweet potato fries have half the calories of regular fries, and if you feed them all to the ducks they have zero calories. As with all healthy options eat the ones you like. The Disney parks are supposed to be happy; that should include the food.
4) Share dessert. Beautiful cupcakes. Mickey Mouse cookies. Twenty-four layer chocolate cake. Disney makes the most amazing treats and desserts. They have entire shops dedicated to candy making. You won’t find many healthy choices there. But instead of depriving yourself, why not share a treat with a friend. You get half the calories, and all the enjoyment.
5) Order healthy items off the menu. Disney has been revamping a lot of their menus so most of the restaurants have healthy options. If you are like me, and you want your burger, enjoy it for one meal and pick something healthy for another meal. Who know? You might discover something you like even better.
The worst way to cut back on fat and calories is to not eat. You are going to be doing a lot of walking and you will get hungry. Hungry people quickly become grumpy people, so instead of suffering just pick from these healthy choices. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: If you aren’t sure that an item on the menu is healthy just look for the Mickey Check. This symbol is being introduced at the Be Our Guest Restaurant in the New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, but soon it will be found on menus at all the Disney parks. When you see this symbol you can be sure that you are ordering food that meets the government’s nutrition guidelines.