Healthy eating tips.??

[Rosy Robin]

Anyone have any great tips on sticking to a healthy or clean eating diet while eating at WDW? We will have a kitchen at BLT, so we will prepare several meals to get what we need with less calories, etc... But curious if anyone thinks about it too. It never fails, I'd gain 10 pounds on a WDW trip!!!

 

[AmyB2006]

See, we walk so much I guess, I don't ever worry about this. I feel like I eat normal, but I'll splurge here and there, with drinks, apps, and maybe a dessert or two. But because of all the walking, I never gain a pound. Which is very unusual for me. I'm one of those people that gain weight by looking at food. :/

But Disney does have healthy options everywhere, even at their CS locations now. You should be able to eat healthy easily.

 

[JJ in wonderland]

I tend not to watch what I eat but I hope these thoughts are helpful -
always helpful to carry fruit (apples hold up the best especially in the heat) so when you get hungry between means you can snack on them. Get the fruits as the sides like the kids meals come. Plus every places have salads with proteins on them, you can ask for dressing on the side and no cheese. Try splitting meals they are big enough for two. Plus besides salad there are healthier options like grilled chicken sandwiches (cosmic rays and a few other places) or like backlot express has Cantaloupe and Cucumber Salad, Grilled Turkey & Cheese or Grilled Vegetable Sandwich. Best bet is doing research on the menus so in a fit of hunger you don't just get what's most convenient at the time haha.

Have a great trip!

 

[Dislover1991]

I ordered grilled entrees containing mainly protein and requested veggies or a fruit cup as a side. I also made sure to fill up on a healthy breakfast- omelet or oatmeal. I ate 2 good meals a day, a few snacks, and had dessert each day- arrived back home to find that I had lost 4 pounds!

All that walking really balances out what you eat. My dad completely pigged out and only gained 2 pounds.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I know this sounds dumb.
2) REALLY DUMB.
3) But, we seldom worry about "healthy eating" at WDW. *
4) MrsRustyScupper and myself either
. . . share appys-entrées-desserts, and/or
. . . leave LOTS of food on the plate
5) I think WDW weight gains are not due to food contents, but overeating.
. . . to warrant the high prices, WDW piles the plate high with food
. . . just look at the volume of food set before you
. . . then, try to compare what you put on your plate at home


* This is not to say that we have ice cream for appy/entrée/dessert. We do
make sure we have adequate proteins per meal - my goal is 18-25 grams. In
other words, protein (fish or meat or poultry) about 4-ozs or 4"x2"x1". Compare
this to the size of the meat on the typical WDW plate.

 

[prgal0715]

I agree with what almost everyone has said; all the walking really makes a difference! But, the thing to remember is that this is DISNEY. They want to make you and happy and will accommodate requests for sauces on the side, extra veggies, foods grilled instead of sautéed, etc. The staff at Le Cellier happily altered the *signature* menu item to suit my tastes with no question at all. When in doubt - or if all that walking isn't enough - just ask for what you want!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Sorry, but for me "WDW" and "Healthy Eating" are mutually exclusive. The one place where a Ghiardelli's Sundae is a perfectly acceptable breakfast.

 

[AliceandAriel]

Anyone have any great tips on sticking to a healthy or clean eating diet while eating at WDW? We will have a kitchen at BLT, so we will prepare several meals to get what we need with less calories, etc... But curious if anyone thinks about it too. It never fails, I'd gain 10 pounds on a WDW trip!!!

I tried being conscious about what I ate on one WDW trip, and ended up ditching it a quarter of the way into it. Factor in the walking (up to 12 miles a day?!) and suddenly the idea of eating a little more than normal isn't so bad. Last time I think I came home 2lbs. heavier? And the weight vanished within the week once I went back to my regular routine.

 

[MillauFr]

I would skip the dining plan. Seems like it encourages overeating.

 

[JJ in wonderland]

Sorry, but for me "WDW" and "Healthy Eating" are mutually exclusive. The one place where a Ghiardelli's Sundae is a perfectly acceptable breakfast.

Haha I agree! But after walking 12 miles a day you kind of counterbalance the bad vacation foods

Also if your trying to eat healthier and you thinking just order vegetables, those vegetables are cooked in enough butter you may as well had fries haha. Try asking for them steamed with no butter (they still may put a little oil on for extra flavor)

 

[Rosy Robin]

I would skip the dining plan. Seems like it encourages overeating.

This is exactly the problem from our previous trips... This time we are skipping the DP.

 

[Rosy Robin]

1) I know this sounds dumb. 2) REALLY DUMB. 3) But, we seldom worry about "healthy eating" at WDW. * 4) MrsRustyScupper and myself either . . . share appys-entrées-desserts, and/or . . . leave LOTS of food on the plate 5) I think WDW weight gains are not due to food contents, but overeating. . . . to warrant the high prices, WDW piles the plate high with food . . . just look at the volume of food set before you . . . then, try to compare what you put on your plate at home * This is not to say that we have ice cream for appy/entrée/dessert.

Yes! Exactly! Who needs a 1000+ calorie dessert every meal!

 

[1andrea]

I've lost a lot of weight in the past and usually vacation to WDW for 3 weeks so I can't afford to eat whatever I want during tat time. When I have on previous trips, even with the extra walking, I'd gain around 1stone.

So I eat breakfast at the bills, usually a bagel or breakfast biscuits and maybe fruit.

Mid morning snack was usually almonds or a snack bar

For lunch I take a small cool bag with a frozen drink I and a salad along with a 100 calorie snack and some strawberries.

Another small snack in the afternoon

Then a tea out where ever we wanted. It was usually Cheesecake Factory, Longhorns or somewhere similar.

I tended to order from the lower calorie menu and wouldn't always have dessert.

Sometimes we'd go for a cooked chicken from Walmart or Pizza.

As I'm from England I loved eating American in too so sometimes we'd ave breakfast out and tea in.

I'd also have my must have snack list as treats!!

I know the way I vacation might be too strict for most but I only eat food I love!! I don't deprive myself and I enjoy my meals without feeling guilty after!

Good luck!

 

[Rosy Robin]

I've lost a lot of weight in the past and usually vacation to WDW for 3 weeks so I can't afford to eat whatever I want during tat time. When I have on previous trips, even with the extra walking, I'd gain around 1stone. So I eat breakfast at the bills, usually a bagel or breakfast biscuits and maybe fruit. Mid morning snack was usually almonds or a snack bar For lunch I take a small cool bag with a frozen drink I and a salad along with a 100 calorie snack and some strawberries. Another small snack in the afternoon Then a tea out where ever we wanted. It was usually Cheesecake Factory, Longhorns or somewhere similar. I tended to order from the lower calorie menu and wouldn't always have dessert. Sometimes we'd go for a cooked chicken from Walmart or Pizza. As I'm from England I loved eating American in too so sometimes we'd ave breakfast out and tea in. I'd also have my must have snack list as treats!! I know the way I vacation might be too strict for most but I only eat food I love!! I don't deprive myself and I enjoy my meals without feeling guilty after! Good luck!

Thanks! I'm on a diet plan now and I'm trying to pre plan how I'm gonna keep my weight down and not up. Like you, walking doesn't affect my weight loss like it may affect others. I am happy to avoid the dining plan as it provides way too much food. I am planning protein 15-20 gram bars with low sugar, Also a lot of water since we will be there in June = Hot!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[alex9179]

I'm going to share most of the time so that my portions are reasonable. Honestly, I think the salt content is what does me in when I'm there! Luckily, the retention goes away after a few days, but it can be really uncomfortable!

Drink a LOT of water and share, that's my game plan.

 

[supergoofy]

Sorry, but for me "WDW" and "Healthy Eating" are mutually exclusive. The one place where a Ghiardelli's Sundae is a perfectly acceptable breakfast.

This reminds me of a great story. At Disneyland on one of our trips our daughter who was no more than 8 asked for ice cream. Now this being a vacation and all I didn't think about it nor the time of day it was. I simply said sure we can get ice cream. My wife kinda gave me a look as it was past 9pm


As to the OP's question I would say drink water over soda or sugary drinks like sweetened ice tea.

And like said ask for side of fruit or veggies.

And the miles you walk will help offset some of the calories you eat.

 

[Rosy Robin]

I'm going to share most of the time so that my portions are reasonable. Honestly, I think the salt content is what does me in when I'm there! Luckily, the retention goes away after a few days, but it can be really uncomfortable! Drink a LOT of water and share, that's my game plan.

Thanks! It's part of our family game plan as well!

 

[Belle83]

I agree that all of the walking generally makes me worry less about what I eat.
I think the best thing to do is just watch your portions. Some places have more reasonable portions than others (like the restaurants in Japan).

I've noticed fruit and yogurt at a lot of places. If you google "healthy eating disney world" or something like that you'll find a lot of links. I tried posting one here but can't get it to work for some reason.

 

[JJ in wonderland]

I was looking through the food blog and this randomly came up!

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

Some tips hints and restaurant choices

 

[DisneyMomLJ]

This might sound silly, but drinking water is the biggest help for me. Your body doesn't have a great way of telling you you're thirsty- instead you'll crave sugary drinks or think you're hungry. When I make sure I'm drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day, I'm not hungry and can eat more healthfully without really trying. It seems to me that this would be especially true in the Florida heat! Good luck!