Best Low-Carb Disney Meals and Restaurants?

[RGirl]

We are heading to WDW in October.

I have been eating low-carb for about a month and a half and feel about 10 years younger. I don't plan to be militant about it at WDW by any means - I will share some carby treats with my daughter. However, I am hoping to keep most of my meals pretty low-carb when possible because I feel so much better eating that way (am actually suspicious that I may have some kind of gluten intolerance).

So, for any low-carb eaters, what are your favorite low-carb Disney meals and/or restaurants??

 

[minniebride]

Definitely the chicken shwarma platter from Tangierine Cafe!

 

[vinotinto]

The Wave has some nice proteins with veggies, good salads, plus some interesting high protein "grains" (like quinoa) and a (petite) sugar-free dessert trio.

 

[RGirl]

Wow! Those are both places that had not occurred to me. Thank you!!! I made our ADRs before I made the change in diet, but I may change a few things around. Both of those sound great. I'm going to check out the menu for The Wave!

 

[Quin]

If you are on the DDP, desserts will be your biggest issue. As you have probably learned by now, 'sugar-free' does not always = 'low carb'. And for places that want to substitute fruit, well, many fruits are high sugar too!

Other than the desserts, you can do quite well sticking to meats and veggies. At CS locations, look for places with chicken Ceasar salads. There are quite a lot of these; often at locations that also serve pizza but also places like Sunshine Seasons and a lot of resort CS. Just ask them to leave the croutons off. Ceasar dressing is usually one of the lowest carb options there is.

Pecos Bill and Cosmic Rays in MK are wonderful, of course, because of their toppings bars. Get a nice big hamburger/cheeseburger/double bacon cheeseburger. Ditch the bun. Put a bunch of lettuce from the toppings bar on your plate. Cut everything up and voila! You have a nice hamburger salad! Avoid the BBQ sauce, as the stuff is unfortunately full of brown sugar.

Good luck; I found that low carb was really the only diet that worked for me long-term too. I am more than 6 years since my major weight loss via low-carb dieting. While I have regained some, I am still nowhere near my original weight.

 

[RGirl]

If you are on the DDP, desserts will be your biggest issue. As you have probably learned by now, 'sugar-free' does not always = 'low carb'. And for places that want to substitute fruit, well, many fruits are high sugar too!

Other than the desserts, you can do quite well sticking to meats and veggies. At CS locations, look for places with chicken Ceasar salads. There are quite a lot of these; often at locations that also serve pizza but also places like Sunshine Seasons and a lot of resort CS. Just ask them to leave the croutons off. Ceasar dressing is usually one of the lowest carb options there is.

Pecos Bill and Cosmic Rays in MK are wonderful, of course, because of their toppings bars. Get a nice big hamburger/cheeseburger/double bacon cheeseburger. Ditch the bun. Put a bunch of lettuce from the toppings bar on your plate. Cut everything up and voila! You have a nice hamburger salad! Avoid the BBQ sauce, as the stuff is unfortunately full of brown sugar.

Good luck; I found that low carb was really the only diet that worked for me long-term too. I am more than 6 years since my major weight loss via low-carb dieting. While I have regained some, I am still nowhere near my original weight.

Thanks Quin! We are not on the DDP - it just doesn't work for us because, even before low-carb, we were not a mega-dessert family. Also, we are staying at a DVC villa and will have a full kitchen, so I know that some of our meals will be there. I have definitely been looking forward to a burger at Pecos Bill sans bun - LOVE that fixins bar!!!! Caesar salads are so yummy - I can definitely do those. And, obviously, I'm planning on being a bit off-plan for some of the trip too.

Congrats on SIX YEARS. That is just amazing. I am really hopeful that I can make this my new normal - I just can't believe how much better I feel and how much more energy I have.

 

[BareNecessities]

Thanks Quin! We are not on the DDP - it just doesn't work for us because, even before low-carb, we were not a mega-dessert family. Also, we are staying at a DVC villa and will have a full kitchen, so I know that some of our meals will be there. I have definitely been looking forward to a burger at Pecos Bill sans bun - LOVE that fixins bar!!!! Caesar salads are so yummy - I can definitely do those. And, obviously, I'm planning on being a bit off-plan for some of the trip too.

Congrats on SIX YEARS. That is just amazing. I am really hopeful that I can make this my new normal - I just can't believe how much better I feel and how much more energy I have.

There are lots of good options actually...love to see other posters with more ideas for all of us, as I offer one of my all-time faves: turkey legs!

 

[LindaBabe]

I've been doing low carb for about 3 years. Disney is pretty easy - I've found that most table service restaurants can sub veg for starchy sides. I like Sunshine food fair for quick serve, if I don't feel like Tangerine.

In AK, I like the Italian Sandwich at Pizzafari - I just leave off most of the bread and eat the filling. The caeser alone is also good. Yak & Yeti has good lower carb options.

With desserts, I order what I want and eat three bites. Or ask a companion for 3 bites of theirs - dh is usually willing.

 

[Pakey]

I'm a low carb eater too. Since I'm also a low fat eater I pretty much stick with fish entrees at WDW. Two months ago at Brown Derby I had grouper, at bluezoo I had seared ahi, at Flying Fish I had yellowfin. I do not eat any of the starchy sides.

I think the Wave has the best all around menu for healthy eating.

If I'm not that hungry, I will usually get a first course salad. At Sanaa, I had a cup of tomato soup plus a scallop that they had as an appetizer. I also enjoy the tomato soup at Ragland Road but as good as it tastes, I know it can't be low fat.

I also like the chicken shwarma platter at Tangierine Cafe. At most CS, I'm limited to mediocre salads so we try to avoid doing that. We are also DVC so we do breakfast and usually lunch at our villa.

 

[DEA]

My first thought was 'Ohana, as the whole theme is "we will keep bringing you grilled protein until you give up".

I had a good BBQ Chicken salad at Flame Tree BBQ in AK.