Disney To Serve Healthier Food

[RitaZ.]

I think there needs to be more creativity in all choices. "Healthy" shouldn't always be trans-fat free chicken nuggets with carrots and plain applesauce. How about more creative, healthy, tasty choices? (And not everything has to be healthy - it's good to be moderate in food, and I do eat some junk!)

I mentioned elsewhere that I'd love to see an Earl of Sandwich in each park. They have healthy choices, some not-so healthy ones, very fresh food. I can get a baked potato and tomato soup for $2.50 plus tax, and that is something that many kids can eat too (without being dumbed-down on chicken nuggets all the time). There is a place for chicken nuggets - but it isn't necessarily at every meal.

I completely agree! I'd love an EoS in the parks.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I wish they would offer more healthy menu offerings. Leave the usual menu, just give me the chance at not undoing what I worked so hard to achieve before the trip.

 

[Aidensmom]

I don't think they should eliminate all the less healthy food, but I do like the prospect of more variety of healthy choices. I do enjoy a burger and fries once in a while, but I can't eat that stuff for a whole vacation.

 

[janette]

They've offered carrots and other options with kids meals for awhile. It isn't new just looks like they've changed it to the primary offer instead of the substitution.

When we were there with my 6yo niece we learned that her favorite meal was grilled cheese with fruit. It was great that all the sit down restaurants made it for her without regard to what was offered on the menu.

I'm sure all of us will get to eat whatever we want without too much problem. Now if Beaches & Cream stops serving ice cream or heaven forbid start serving diet ice cream than we'll have to start talking.

 

[deekaypee]

It seems to me that Disney's announcement about providing healthier food for children is really nothing more an extension of Disney's consistent promotion of its brand as family & child-friendly. This strategy is nothing new. For instance, alcohol isn't served in the MK because the MK park is viewed as having been designed especially for children. Disney regularly attempts to position itself as a moral as well as profitable entertainment conglomerate, and many of its policies reflect this: dress codes, environmental policies, policies of behavior in the parks. What's new is how they're tapping into the cultural zeitgeist with regards to concerns about children's obesity, let alone with our own.

So I didn't see this posting as an annoucement for less choice--I suspect there will also be plenty of unhealthy choices for consumers--but as part of Disney's attempt to position itself as a corporation that responds to consumers' concerns and supports consumers' making responsible choices. [And my use of this phrase is by no means directed at anyone here, btw.]

 

[TDC Nala]

They're trying out that standardized kids' menu right now (at some but not all of the park restaurants; this is apparently the fat and calorie-controlled menu) which is causing a tizzy on the restaurant boards because of the limited choices available.

Kids on the dining plan are required to order from the childrens' menu and some of the parents don't think they'll find a choice the kids will eat, and some think the kids will eat the "healthy" meal but it won't be enough food and they'll have to buy the kid something else to fill them up.

I did think it wasn't right that apparently the Brown Derby, which requires two dining plan credits, had the same menu for kids as Sci Fi Diner, which only requires one.

Oh, and there were the dining plan users who said that after the kids had eaten from that menu for the first 4 days of a 7 day vacation, they'd had enough.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I don't think they should eliminate all the less healthy food, but I do like the prospect of more variety of healthy choices. I do enjoy a burger and fries once in a while, but I can't eat that stuff for a whole vacation.

I agree. If they do something along the lines of what Wendy's does (choice of fries, baked potato, or side salad, choice of soda, juice, or milk at no extra cost), I think it is great. But America needs a lesson in Personal Responsibility! Just because Homer can't tell the difference between a cheeseburger and a salad doesn't mean that the rest of us should be banned from cheeseburgers!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I don't think they should eliminate all the less healthy food, but I do like the prospect of more variety of healthy choices. I do enjoy a burger and fries once in a while, but I can't eat that stuff for a whole vacation.

ITA!!!!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Exactly! What ever happened to person choice and personal responsibility? The government and corporations should not have to force these things among people. It is a really sad time when they feel that is the only way to change the way people will act.

Actually--corporations can and do.

there are many restaurant options in the real world that create their menus as they see fit to make money. As a consumer, your choice is not lost--if they don't have what you don't like to eat...you eat someplace else.

Who knows--maybe these changes will increase their bottom dollar.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

I dont mind healthier options being added...as long as I can still order the unhealthy ones. Vacation is a time to leave all my stresses at home, and that includes the stress of having to count calories.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I am not in favour of healthy food

 

[KrnB]

I like the idea (if I read this correctly) that the *default* side dish is a healthy one - applesauce, carrots, etc - but that the fries and pop would still be an option if asked for. Then you can still get the fries for the kids as a treat if you want, but most will end up with the healthier option.

As long as I can still get my junk food, I'm cool with them having healthy options. I like Conservative Hippie's idea of doing like Wendy's, where you have lots of options for sides - some healthy, some not.

 

[Honu]

I don't mind healthy options. I eat healthy most of the time, BUT when I want fries, I want them salty and fried in saturated oil. When I want cookies, I want GREAT cookies. Not cookies that have been reformulated with no trans-fats.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I already posted about this on the restaurant board (and other Disney boards- I'm opinionated today! ), but I thought I'd chime in here, too.

I love the idea of having more healthy options, but the wording of this article makes it sound like it will be at the expense of the unhealthy ones!

The main thing I'm wondering now is if Disney will rethink this plan based on all the negative response to the new kids' menus. Judging by the food porn thread alone, it is easy to see that dining at WDW is a big part of the fun for many people, as well as a huge income for Disney! It seems strange that they would make such a big change.

I like the idea of offering the low fat stuff, but I still want the option to have the original!

 

[schlepsnort]

All I have to say is that they better not even TOUCH the Mickey Bars...or someone may get hurt.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Mess with the fish and chips and then my fuse will be blown(plus hey I'm a woman of 27 who loves the idea of those fun treats(even one beer at PI) )

 

[Planogirl]

All I have to say is that they better not even TOUCH the Mickey Bars...or someone may get hurt.

Do I ever agree with you there! I would prefer that none of the desserts get changed in fact. I can worry about that stuff when I'm home.

 

[themarquis]

have you guys ever made the mistake of looking at the nutrition info on a mickey bar?

I'm not saying I didn't enjoy my delicious mickey bar or that I wouldn't ever eat one again ... but ... do they really need to have something like 40 percent of your daily saturated fat in them....? (not sure of the exact amount)

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I think there needs to be more creativity in all choices. "Healthy" shouldn't always be trans-fat free chicken nuggets with carrots and plain applesauce. How about more creative, healthy, tasty choices? (And not everything has to be healthy - it's good to be moderate in food, and I do eat some junk!)

I mentioned elsewhere that I'd love to see an Earl of Sandwich in each park. They have healthy choices, some not-so healthy ones, very fresh food. I can get a baked potato and tomato soup for $2.50 plus tax, and that is something that many kids can eat too (without being dumbed-down on chicken nuggets all the time). There is a place for chicken nuggets - but it isn't necessarily at every meal.

i LOVE Earl of Sandwich! i'd love to see more of those around the resort

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

No! No! You did NOT offend me! It is Disney that offends me. Why are they making choices for me?

oh ok. hey, like i said, i don't think they'll be changing much. they still have that deal with McDonald's i don't think Mickey D's is going anywhere.