Eating Healthy while at WDW

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I'm finally getting serious about my weight and what I eat. I am only going by calorie restrictions.

We have ADRs for:
Le Cellier
Garden Grill
Ohana
Crystal Palace
Cape May (Dinner)
Sci-Fi

We are travelling with family so we won't be changing the ADRs.

What are your tips and suggestions? Can you call ahead for dietary restrictions if your only restriction is low calorie?

What do you suggest for counter service?

What has been your experience with dieting while at Disney? Will temptation be coming at me from every direction?

 

[PrincessAurora]

I had no problems eating healthy. It is easier when you are eating in signature restaurants vs. counter food as most of counter food is fried/hihg calorie.

Example, I had "fish & chips" at Rose & crown but had them sub veggies for the chips and took off half the better. Still good, the mayo was fine. Get a dessert but make it a small one after a full meal. Have a chocolate croissant instead of a cupcake that is 2/3 frosting made of lard. Lots of veggies, fish, lean meat. Stay away from soda, drink water. Watch portion size, (THAT right there is the biggie). Portions should never fill a huge plate. That is a days worth of calories. Chew slow and take left overs back to the hotel to eat for breakfast the next day.

Example: a serving of meat is the size of a deck of playing cards.

Walk a lot, that way you can burn off any goodie like a Mickey bar you have and you don't have to feel bad about having a treat or a drink.

Just don't eat for the sake of eating. I did this, spent less and came home 3 pounds lighter instead of 5 pounds heavier and still had a great time and didn't feel deprived.

 

[DisneyZane]

Here's a good link:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/02/04/eating-healthy-in-walt-disney-world/

The podcast in there is good info too.

 

[darthtatty]

Thanks for the link.
Ive lost 6stone, so i too am looking forward to trying to eat healthier on our holiday next year. Ive been looking at the menus trying to work things out and see what type of options would be better. i know menus change but never hurts to look.
I know in the past ive usually brought a burger and fries as its cheaper than a sandwich and salad. im going to make the most of the dining plan next year and order more salads etc.

good luck.xx

 

[FLDisneyFan]

IMHO, the best deal in the theme parks these days is fresh fruit for about a dollar. A nice crisp apple not only takes the edge off of hunger between meals, but also quinches the thirst. Oranges are a little more work, and there are usually bananas and grapes available too. Look for the bottled sodas on ice, and nearby there is often fresh fruit.

 

[winterman]

Remember, you will probably be walking MUCH more than you usually do. That helps compensate for the times when you go off your diet.

 

[HelenParr]

A CS alternative snacking suggestion: scope out the places in each park with fruit and healthy snacks. If you feel temptation coming, high tail it to one of these pre-located areas. Roughly (there are more than these), these are:

MK: in Liberty Square, there have fruit, power bar type snacks, baked potatoes.

Epcot: Sunshine Seasons. Tons of choices.

AK: in Harmabe, near entrance to Safaris.

DHS: Aneheim Produce, on the road to ToT and RnR.

You can grab a very healthy "meal" and meet your party at whatever CS they have chosen.

 

[Brook1099]

I have lost 45 lbs and have another 45 to go. Nov is our Disney vacation so I will have some or most of the next 45 off. Now I can tell you from what I used to eat I have dramatically cut my portions. I eat alot of filling foods with high fiber.
So do I plan on not having anything I like NO. Just the foods I Love in Moderation.
Trying not to do to many buffets this year.
@ restaraunts like Yachtsmen I will ask to have a togo container with my meal and 1/2 it.
There are only certain desserts I love , like Ohanas bread pudding I will not eat the whole bowl myself like in the past but I will have some.

Lots of water.

 

[DisneyZane]

IMHO, the best deal in the theme parks these days is fresh fruit for about a dollar. A nice crisp apple not only takes the edge off of hunger between meals, but also quinches the thirst. Oranges are a little more work, and there are usually bananas and grapes available too. Look for the bottled sodas on ice, and nearby there is often fresh fruit.

I love that they have fruit in the parks so readily, but I've had bad luck with the quality. Usually have to search quite a while for a decent piece of fruit.

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

Is anyone else in your party watching what they eat or a light eater? If so you can plate split an entree with then at any TS restuarant. I believe there are one or two restaurants that charge a small plate splitting fee but most will do it at no charge. If you are worried about having enough food you an order an appetizer to share as well. Or you can order an appetizer and dessert and skip the entree alltogether.

For CS you can order kids meals. No one pays attention to whether or not you actually have kids. And despite what people may complain about the CS kids meals usually have healthy options like grapes or carrot sticks or applesauce. If you don't want to order a kids meal and you have someone you can share with you can split a regular CS entree with someone else. There are several places, Tusker House, Cosmic Rays, Fairfax fare, that offer barbecue and chicken which come in huge portions that you can share. I also think you can sub the fries for apples or carrot sticks etc...

I also agree with the PP that there are lots of places that offer fruit. Skip the soft drinks and get water. Skip the mickey bar and get a fruit bar. Skip the funnel cake and get a soft pretzel. Skip the ice cream and get a lemon ice, etc... There are almost always healthy options wherever you look.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The buffet and family style places are relatively easy. Just don't take a lot of food.

As for the other dinners, you will have to try to leave some of that food on your plate. Good luck!

Plus, remember, you will be walking all over Disney. I didn't gorge myself, but didn't really count calories either, and ended up 6lbs lighter after I came home.

 

[Arkansan]

I have only eaten at two of the places you have listed, so I'll speak to those. You've gotten a lot of good general advice from others. DH and I were both watching our weight last year during our trip. I lost 5 lbs. while we were there! We were not on the DDP as we didn't want all the desserts and our kids were pretty young so we paid OOP for everything.

We went last May and had dinner at both LeCellier and Cape May. LeCellier was great about subbing sides. I had the mushroom filet (w/out the sauce) and subbed roasted potatoes for the risotto. I've never had it the "traditional" way, so have no idea what I missed taste-wise, but I'm SURE I saved myself TONS of calories. I also ordered a side of grilled asparagus. (split w/DH) If on the DDP, you'll have to pay OOP for it, but it was delicious and healthy. We shared a dessert of their homemade sorbet. It was really good and light. DH had the chicken dish. I don't recall the side, but he enjoyed it.

At Cape May you'll have more options, but also more temptations! They have lots of salads on the buffet, including a "traditional" salad bar type area. I also had boiled new potatoes (plain) and grilled terriaki (sp?) salmon that was very good. Of course, the clams are light if you don't drown them in butter! I didn't personally try those, but know they're low in calories. They also had some really good veggies on the buffet. The desserts here are good (try the oreo bon-bons and mini key-lime pie), but not so amazing you'll have to have a million. The good part is they are all very small--one or two bites--so you can taste but not blow your whole day. Beaches and Cream is here at the BC, though, so you may want to avoid that area if you have kids!

We found good options at each place we visited. You just have to walk around the whole buffet first (or read the whole menu) to see what the options are. Even places like Beaches and Cream and the Plaza had low fat, sugar free ice cream or sorbet or sherbert on the menu, subbed fruit for fries, had side salads or soup as an appetizer, etc.

You also didn't say where you're staying, but we stayed at the BC and there is a fitness room there. I would usually go early while DH stayed w/the kids and then we'd switch. We did a TON of walking, but you can't beat some good cardio! Even 20 or 30 min. is better than nothing.

As far as CS goes, we had good luck at Earl of Sandwich in DTD. VERY good sandwiches, great tomato soup, and I've heard good salads. (We just came out of a downpour and were DRENCHED so the AC was really cold.) I love entree salads, but needed something warm that night. If OOP, it is also very reasonable. Our family of 5 (kids were 7, 9, 9) ate for about $35--great for Disney. We're looking forward to going back this year!

Sorry so long. Hope you have a great trip and good luck on the continued healthy eating/weight loss!

 

[cigar95]

For a low-calorie case, I think there's less of a need to call in advance.

Having said that, don't hesitate to ask your server, or even to ask to speak to a chef about your choices. I've had dishes prepared in a way that better fits my condition, and even had chefs offer to prepare a dish from scratch that wasn't on the menu.

At Cape May, last time there the chef took me through the entire buffet and noted which choices would fit my needs. Then he offered to prepare for me a low-fat chocolate cake for dessert.

 

[MEK]

I think you can eat healthy at any restaurant, but it can be hard and you have to be good at resisting temptation. I think this is hard when your dining partner's steak and creamcheese potatoes (at Le Cellier) are staring you in the face. Good Luck with that.

I will suggest the Tusker House lunch and dinner as a buffet that has a ton of healthy items. Lots of fresh salads and fruits. So much to choose from. I also found that Hollywood & Vine has a ton of vegetarian choices.

Have a great trip!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Thank you for the wonderful advice.

(I've been busy over the last couple of days!)

The fresh fruit sounds like a great idea. I should also be an old pro at cutting the fat by July (or totally back to my old ways by then).

I will tell the staff about my diet, and will do salads, etc. when at all possible at the Counter Service places.

As for working out...we'll see. I'm very heavy now, and in the past getting through the week was as much exercise as I could muster. We are going with my sister's energetic family this time. I would be very pleased if I went the whole trip without having to find a bench, not even during group bathroom breaks.

As an update...I've been dieting for over a week now. I've had several successful days, and 2 major slip ups. I'm very happy to have climbed back on the wagon after recklessly abandoning the whole thing for Hot Wings and Cheese Fries. I was at a banquet the next night, and decided to have 1 bite of my decadent chocolate cake...I ate half of my large serving. I've hardly exercised this week because hubby has been home sick.

I know my update doesn't sound encouraging...but for me...its great progress. I definitely ate better as a whole last week than 98% of my life. I will make mistakes, and will learn from them.

 

[cigar95]

A very simple way to start on all this, besides adjusting your eating, is just by walking.

After my heart attack, I started walking just a couple hundred yards. It didn't take long at all to get to a quarter mile, a half mile, a mile, . . . . . now I do 3-4 miles a day. (Changing my diet helped also, I'm sure.)

I never believed that walking made a difference, but it does. And it will also prepare you for a WDW vacation!

 

[prncess674]

I will tell the staff about my diet, and will do salads, etc. when at all possible at the Counter Service places.

Just be mindful of those deadly dressing packets. A packet of dressing can have as much fat and calories as a hamburger. Other salad killers are croutons, cheese and bacon.

If restaurant offers chicken, peel off the skin and eat the white meat with a healthier side. Try to mix and match what you see on the menu. At Flame Tree you could orde the half baked chicken (give the dark meat to one of your travel companions) and substitute grapes and carrot sticks for the corn muffin and baked beans.

http://allears.net/menu/menu_ftb.htm

 

[megan926]

I am a very healthy eater. When I go to WDW I tend to be a little more lax, but still keep in mind healthy eating.

I tend to eat at buffets when I can. I can control what I eat then.
If I am not at a buffet I never clear my plate and only eat what I think is a portion.

I basically eat what I want...but watch portions sizes!

You will do a lot of walking in WDW, so that helps!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Just be mindful of those deadly dressing packets. A packet of dressing can have as much fat and calories as a hamburger. Other salad killers are croutons, cheese and bacon.

If restaurant offers chicken, peel off the skin and eat the white meat with a healthier side. Try to mix and match what you see on the menu. At Flame Tree you could orde the half baked chicken (give the dark meat to one of your travel companions) and substitute grapes and carrot sticks for the corn muffin and baked beans.

http://allears.net/menu/menu_ftb.htm

I agree. Italian, viniagrette, and lite/fat free are your friends!

 

[myjourney]

One of the things I cannot stand is low cal dressing so here is what I do. I get the dressing I like as a side and dip my fork ends in the dressing then spear some salad, that way I get the taste without eating very much dressing