Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Blue. Enjoy the ride as we discuss ways to stay fit & health at the Disney parks!
Eating Clean at Walt Disney World
Clean eating is a fairly vague term. It has different meaning and extents to different people. I'm not as extreme as some, including one of my current addiction: Food Babe, though, she has made me a little more scared of food than I hoped.
For this, let's just stick with - making good choices!
There are so many possibilities to stop for a Mickey Premium Bar or ice cream sandwich, and while I have a hard time resisting a Mickey Mouse candy apple, I try to avoid having snacks like that on a daily basis.
Our last trip, we got on the road at the tail end of me completing an extreme clean-eating "diet reset" - let's just consider basically paleo vegan. Very strict for a temporary period, but with a goal of changing my taste buds and to stop reaching for the sugar and reach for a piece of friend, raw vegetables, or nuts.
Where do I start?
- Be Prepared
- Bring pre-chosen snacks to battle hunger, such as fruits, nuts, and veggies
- Look at menus ahead of time to choose menus that fit the dietary habits you are hoping to maintain
- Don't Get too Hungry
- If you walk into the Main Street Confectionary hungry, it may be near impossible to avoid a delicious sugary treat (again, I'm all about the splurge, but I'm trying to limit those!) - so walk in after you've had a meal and aren't craving sweets
- Choose wisely with your snacks
- Ice cream carts and snack kiosks sell fresh fruit such as apples, oranges, and bananas.
- Liberty Square market sells baked (I've seen white and sweet) potatoes, corn on the cob, fresh fruit, veggies, dried fruit
- Bring snacks with you so you don't get too hungry!
But, I'm Walking 7 miles a day, right?
True - you may be walking anywhere from 6-10 miles on an average day at Walt Disney World, but those cupcakes may have 300-500 calories a piece. Add in a hamburger and french fries at another 800 calories per meal, and the calories add up quickly!
Plan for indulgences
As I mentioned, my current favorite of delicious Disney treats are the Mickey Caramel/Candy Apples - I think they're delicious. For other sweet fruit items, I feel less guilty eating the chocolate/caramel (Karamelle Kuche) covered fruit. Dark chocolate and strawberries? Win/win! But, if you want a Mickey Premium bar, go for it! I try to save my big indulgence for the last day so I'm not wanting one every single time I pass them!
While you're at a big meal, consider choosing a salad or vegetable as a side or appetizer instead of french fries or something less healthy! This appetizer from Be Our Guest is delicious!
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| Karamelle Kuche in the German Pavilion |
While you're at a big meal, consider choosing a salad or vegetable as a side or appetizer instead of french fries or something less healthy! This appetizer from Be Our Guest is delicious!
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| Salad Appetizer at Be Our Guest Restaurant |
Good luck and happy clean eating! Stay along with this Magical Blogorail Blue loop for different dining options and other ways to eat healthy while at Walt Disney World!
Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Disney on Wheels.
Oh boy Jenn, do I know how hard it is to refrain from all of the heavy snacks that Disney has available! You presented some great choices today, thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteSuch great tips! I love the one about bringing in healthy snacks.
ReplyDeleteThat salad appetizer looks great! What were the different salad types?
ReplyDeleteI learned so much from your post! Where are the best places to get Vegan dishes?
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike! I am often overruled in my gang and still tend to have treats, but sometimes those fresh oranges are more appealing to the heavy stuff to me!
ReplyDeleteI think Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge seemed to have a LOT of soup and salad options, though a few have cream (that sound like they could be without) so it's good to ask a server/chef. Another option would be Tangerine Cafe in the Morocco Pavilion. Many of the value resort food courts have build your own salads/pasta - so you can customize as you like there!
ReplyDeleteThere was a beet trio, watermelon and radish (surprisingly delicious), and green bean, tomato salad So good!
ReplyDeleteDawn - you are my Disneyland expert! I haven't even been there yet, though still sort of hoping to get there in June. I've seen much healthier menu options available there than at WDW - especially breakfast options - more fruit bowls, etc... If you ever need a place to share that stuff, let me know ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I have not researched "clean eating" yet, but am leaning more and more towards vegetarian. Are these similar? Can I eat fun foods at Disney that are vegetarian?
ReplyDeleteThere are TONS of great veg options at WDW - I'm not vegetarian, but to me, clean means - I can pronounce all of the ingredients and know what they actually are... so I eat larabars (dates/almonds/simple ingredients) vs clif bars (LOTS of ingredients). If I eat bread, it's fresh from a bakery or homemade and not sitting on a shelf... and frankly I haven't been eating much of that lately.. but stuff like that.. And, when I can convince myself, eating fresh fruits and vegetables over just about everything else! But yeah - I eat meatless meals a LOT and there are TONS of great options, though some of the counter service is a bit more difficult.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to resist those sweets but I've been doing a lot better lately. Great tip to bring your own snacks. We are going to try to do that more so we don't end up stopping for pretzels and popcorn too often.
ReplyDeleteYeah it can be very difficult! Right before our last trip, I was doing a serious whole foods diet reset, to get rid of junk. Of course, my last day was in the car, so it was 100% eating well to Disney, but I brought in raw mixed nuts and fruit and bought fruit/veg as snacks and meals when possible. I did have a pretzel during my stay and a couple other treats, but definitely scaled down from the usual go wild wdw eating!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! It's so hard to resist eating Mickey bars everyday! They're so tasty!
ReplyDeleteI also try to add a 'healthy' side at Disney. I may not be successful all the time but I try. And Boma has one of the best salad option on property!
ReplyDeleteBeing allergic to grains takes a fair portion of treats (and meals) out of the running for me. Take away all snacks with wheat, oats or rice in them, well that is lots of them. I have been losing my sweet tooth as I get older so a Mickey Premium or two during a trip and a dark chocolate salted caramel at caramel kuche is lots for me. I bring safe snack bars from home and stick with hard boiled eggs and yogurt for breakfast to start the day off better.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips, Jenn! Ashley and I are on the convention circuit this spring and we've been packing things like beef jerky, nuts, and trail mix. These things are filled with protein and keep us filled up throughout the day so we only have to eat suppers.
ReplyDeleteExcellent tips! It's really hard to resist some of that wonderful Disney food, but if you plan right, you can stay healthy & fit!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas Jenn! Do you have any quick service healty option suggestions?
ReplyDeleteCan you have the mouse apples? Those are a fave! I don't necessarily have any allergies, but still - it can be hard to eat healthy when not at home!
ReplyDeleteBoma has amazing soups and salads - I agree!
ReplyDeleteThey are good!
ReplyDeleteEPCOT as for just about everything food wise - has Sunshine Seasons (I lOVE the beet salad) and Tangerine Cafe in Morocco has many good options. I think that Hollywood Studios has the least options, but I haven't eaten there in a while!
ReplyDeleteShhh, don't tell anyone, I don't like candied apples. The too sweet outside with the texture of apple inside is just weird to me. I do love looking at them!
ReplyDeleteA very common sense approach Jenn; I do believe that if you deny yourself entirely, especially while on vacation, it WILL backfire. However, losing all control is so easy once you get that first sugary treat in your mouth! Thanks for outlining the healthier options; in general, we feel better at the end of our trip when ALL is done in moderation. :D
ReplyDeleteI was at Disneyland during this loop, so I'm just catching up now. I found that Disneyland was MUCH easier to make good choices than WDW, but still had their temptations. I think you're right, Jenn, planning ahead is the most important step. Also, one or two snacks per trip won't hurt you, but it's important to limit these!
ReplyDeleteRosanne @ The Disney Point