Eating well in Disney World?

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  • Quote: If you want a burger, have it. Take off half the bun and pass up on the fries. Ask for fruit for dessert.
    I've never been to Disney World myself, but am probably one of the biggest Disney fans you'll ever meet and have been to Disneyland several times. I recall that several of the fast food-type restaurants at Disneyland offered certain veggies or fruit to be substituted for the fries as the side, depending on the time of year. I remember how I was overjoyed that I could get a grilled chicken breast sandwich and being given the option of grapes instead of fries.

    If it's hot and you're dying for a frozen treat, you could go for a frozen chocolate banana (160 calories) or one of my favorites, a Dole Whip (80 calories). And as previously stated, I'd also recommend getting a bottle of water, carrying it and refilling it throughout the day. It'll be really easy to get dehydrated and feel hungrier than you normally would without enough water.

    Keep your eyes out for healthy choices at mealtimes and don't eat past the point of being full; you'll be at the happiest place on earth but won't be able to fully enjoy it on an overly-full tummy! Take care and have a great time
  • I've had the Disney World annual pass for a few years so I've tried almost every restaurant in all the parks among other things.

    There are a lot of healthy options when you travel you just have to do your research ahead of time.

    I'm a huge fan of Epcot's Tangierine Cafe at the Morocco Pavilion in the World Showcase. It's quick serve and have great choices of chicken with hummus, tabbouleh salad and pita bread. In Future World, inside the Land Pavilion has a cafeteria style area to eat with different stations with Asian Stir-Fries, Salads, and Sandwiches.

    Hollywood Studios has a great grilled vegetable sandwich I had at Backlot Express.

    Animal Kingdom's Tusker House is a buffet that has great healthy options. I normally go there during lunch so I can stay full all day.

    Their website is really informative with the menu and the maps of all the parks.

    Sidenote:
    One of the things that you will get a lot of is walking because you want to see everything! Make sure you pack good walking shoes

    Also, stay hydrated! It can get hot and humid especially in the afternoon
  • I am going to disneyland for a 3 night 4 day conference /trip in May for work. I am reminding myself that its a vacation from my everyday life but not from my food lifestyle. I am going to make a bunch of fun plans that don't involve food and remember...it's just food! Nothing at the park is THAT amazing (in all honesty) that it can't be passed up. :-)
  • They will let you bring food (and water) into the parks, as well, so it's perfectly fine to pack snacks. I usually bring fruit and some nuts with me.
  • Unless you've got a lot of money I wouldn't worry about it because food at any Disney location is VERY expensive plus you'll be walking around the park all day.

    My opinion? Eat a protein heavy breakfast and then don't worry about it. Enjoy yourself.
  • Quote: Unless you've got a lot of money I wouldn't worry about it because food at any Disney location is VERY expensive plus you'll be walking around the park all day.

    My opinion? Eat a protein heavy breakfast and then don't worry about it. Enjoy yourself.
    I'm in this camp, too. At places like this when I'll be walking around in the hot sun all day, being active... I focus on keeping myself hydrated and making sure the foods I'm eating will keep me from getting dizzy. For me, that's avoiding starchy/sugary stuff. I don't worry too much about calories. It always seems to even out, in the end

    Have a great time!! I'm so jealous!!
  • We did a Disney Cruise and WDW in November and I gained 3 pounds.....I ate all the time and every thing I wanted...It took me about 3 weeks to loss it and then another 3 weeks to get back on track...because Thanksgiving and Christmas was right after too...but you know what...I enjoyed my vacation...I enjoyed my food and I don't regret any of it. Just be honest with yourself about what you expect as far as weight loss during your trip...maybe make it an exercise in maintenance... that's how I look at that time for me...and most of all enjoy and have a great time...I love everything DISNEY!!
  • Depends on your spending budget.

    We've been lots and tend to eat before we get there, and save up for the dinner splurge somewhere nice. Esp in Epcot where the food has a prayer of being nicer. The rest of the time it's typical "burgers & fries" type fare at Magic Kingdom and so on. Rainforest Cafe is attached to Animal Kingdom and the Yak and Yeti is fun to eat at -- but on a student budget in a group setting that may not be where the group ends up. I'm not sure how much freedom to get to be on your own or what the group thing has planned for the students.

    I'd go with the decent continental breakfast, bring a water bottle because you can refill at any fountain and it gets HOT.

    Remember you are walking around (I clocked 15 miles on my pedometer the last time I hit Epcot for the day), so that helps with travel food.

    Just go with kid size meals, fruit, and keeping it real. Both on budget and trip eating. It's not the end of the world to have something you normally don't on a trip like an ice cream bar. But you don't have them for every meal either, right?

    AND after when you get home -- travel food tends to have more sodium so if you end up with a few pounds of water retention from the sodium. Just keep drinking your water and it will clear up in a few days.

    Don't use that as an excuse to derail "for real" when it's "just water weight" or get yourself into a whole emotional roller coaster of "OMG! I blew it on the trip!"

    Just enjoy your trip for what it is and have a nice time! It's a fun step outside the ordinary for you! Hope your band trip is a blast!

    GL!
    A.
  • I am going to WDW in 6 months, and I am working on losing 100 pounds for it, already down 47 pounds. I am actually excited about finding ways to eat healthy because I've heard that there ARE options that will be great, plus with the walking I bet I will lose even more weight! You will do fine, I like the idea that someone had of saving money you would use on crappy food for a nice souvenier!
  • You can choose to eat those unprocessed food (natural foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, naturally raised meats, organic poultry, raw nuts, seeds and organic eggs.) Natural foods are naturally low in calories and won't make you feel hungry. Try to avoid dessert such as cakes, cookies, etc.

    Enjoy your trip!!
  • What also helps me is following the rule of half or even one third. Eat 1/2 to 1/3 of the portion you are given. Good luck!