Crashing on the Food at WDW?

[MistressPhyllis]

Hi folks!
We're leaving in a week and a half, and I am SO excited! DH and I have never been to Disney before, and I will admit that I am as excited about the food as I am about the parks/resorts/etc.

But here's my concern, and it really didn't come up until yesterday.

We're on the Free Dining Plan (yahoo!) and I've heard folks say how much food it is.

But I just got back from a 4 days conference where I had to eat whatever they provided, and at a restaurant in the evenings. I worked really hard to always choose the "healthy" options, but even then, after about 2 days of that food, my body was just crashing.

We've been on a "Disney Diet" for the last two months, and have been eating really healthy... so I figured that all of a sudden, the processed foods and thick sauces were taking it's toll on my body. But I wasn't having any fun, and I could tell it was effecting my health: headaches, sluggishness, etc.

Did any of you have this happen in WDW? Are there good entrees that you can recommend full of fresh foods and veggies?

We went on the "Disney Diet" so that we were in good shape and could eat whatever we wanted once we got to the resort, but now I'm afraid that it will backfire when our bodies start to get overwhelmed with all of the foods that they aren't used to.

Thanks so much for your input and experience!

 

[Sammy]

I found it was getting easier to eat healthier at WDW when we were on the DDP this past April. We ate at way more TS restaurants than in previous trips, and I was able to select lots more salad options, grilled/broiled items, and more veggies. I also noticed that the CS options were now including things like carrot sticks and grapes vs. always having fries with that burger. Take a look at the menus listed on allears.net and you can get an idea what kinds of things you might want to order. I also found restaurants to be more than accommodating when I wanted two veggies with my meals instead of potatoes and 1 veggie.

Good luck!

 

[kathie859]

Not that I am over the top when it comes to eating healthy In fact, I'm just big on veggies and salads and basic protein foods and, in general, avoid heavy foods. WDW restaurants have been very accomodating--just like most restaurants--when asked to serve sauces on the side or not at all and doubling up on veggies instead of a veggie and a starch. My problem with the DDP is the desserts!!! I really should avoid having more than one a day--I just lack discipline when it comes to sweets!!

 

[MickeyMacks]

I was there on the dining plan a couple years ago and was able to order some food that didn't leave me feeling sluggish and bloated - I hate that feeling! Generally stay away from bread, potatoes and red meat where you can and go for fish and poultry, veggies and salad.

The Garden Grill in Epcot had a good lunch with lots of fresh veggies, Toy Story Pizza Planet at Disney-MGM Studios had a great salad and good (not greasy) personal pizzas. The entree salad at Columbia Harbour House in MK was fantastic. Teppanyaki in Epcot's Japan was light and satisfying (loved the ginger ice cream for dessert!) I was travelling with my sister and parents so pretty much the rest of the meals were on the heavier, more traditional side. I did love the soups at Boma!

Best advice I can give is to drink lots of water and stay away from the sodas (even diet ones), coffee and tea, they'll just make you feel more bloated, while water will "move things along" and flush some of the excess salts out of your system.

Have a great trip!

 

[DisneyNotes]

I agree with the lots of water suggestion. That's difficult for me to do when I'm away from home, but it makes all the difference in my mood/headaches/muscle aches, etc.

 

[GolfCrazy]

The dining plan is alot of food and I am not sure we'd do it again but, there are so many food choices that you can eat healthy and well at the same time. There will be times when you may be tempted to eat things you have been staying away from but you'll find options everywhere to maintain the healthy eating habits you are doing presently. Don't be concerned....

 

[MistressPhyllis]

Thanks everyone.
I think you might have hit the nail on the head with the water thing. I drink LOTS of water every day, and with the exception of an occassional mug of unsweetened, hot tea, I drink only water. During this LONG conference, I drank coffee and diet soda to stay awake, and much of my dismay might have originated from my beverages.

I'll gladly stick to water for the week, as it's my choice anyway, and I'll save my calories for desserts instead of beverages. Then again, my conference was in Hershey, PA... so desserts were plentiful!

If I find any amazing, diet conscious foods, I'll be sure to report on it when I get back.

10 days and counting!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Thanks everyone.
I think you might have hit the nail on the head with the water thing. I drink LOTS of water every day, and with the exception of an occassional mug of unsweetened, hot tea, I drink only water. During this LONG conference, I drank coffee and diet soda to stay awake, and much of my dismay might have originated from my beverages.

I'll gladly stick to water for the week, as it's my choice anyway, and I'll save my calories for desserts instead of beverages. Then again, my conference was in Hershey, PA... so desserts were plentiful!

If I find any amazing, diet conscious foods, I'll be sure to report on it when I get back.

10 days and counting!

That would wreak any diet. LOL. You must have had some good stuff though.

 

[DisneyNotes]

I'll save my calories for desserts instead of beverages.

Yum. I'd better start saving up those calories now!

 

[Jubilee]

If you choose healthy options, I do think you'll be OK, but if you did totally splurge and eat whatever then I think you'd notice changes. When we went in December, it was for our honeymoon and I'd just lost more pounds than I'd care to admit. I actually got sick eating on the DDP because I was having whatever I wanted. It's no fun to be ill on vacation! Try not to overeat and just go by what your body's telling you.