Healthy eating

[Magic Mom]

How do you balance eating healthy but still enjoy eating out at Disney? I have been slowly losing some weight, and I don't want to ruin it on vacation, but I really don't want to eat lettuce while everyone else is enjoying the buffet at Boma or cheeseburgers and milkshakes.

 

[Jetta8300]

How do you balance eating healthy but still enjoy eating out at Disney? I have been slowly losing some weight, and I don't want to ruin it on vacation, but I really don't want to eat lettuce while everyone else is enjoying the buffet at Boma or cheeseburgers and milkshakes.

I am in the same boat as you sort of, I am in my sister's wedding the weekend after I return from Disney! So gaining weight is really out of the question for me, the dress is already tight!

I plan on eating pretty much what I want for dinner, but during the day I will have no desserts, or snacking. Bagels for breakfast, for lunch I will not eat anything fried (just sandwiches, salads, fruit etc.) Hopefully with all of the walking I will be able to eat mostly what I want for dinner within reason!

 

[babyrich]

How about eating the same foods as everyone else; but eating less? I know that might be a waste of food; but why stuff it in just because its there. Or maybe order a kids size meal.

I try to eat well or less during the day while at Disney but at TS dinner, I just eat what I want. We do more walking at Disney than I do normally so I figure I am balancing out exercise with a little over-indulging.

 

[Safari Queen]

There's lots of healthy food at WDW. Every park offers fresh fruit and sandwiches made with turkey or grilled chicken. There are even no sugar brownies and other low-sugar desserts. Also, you're much better off to have a larger lunch and light dinner if you're trying to lode or minimize weight gain.

 

[Justsyd2]

I agree. WDW has so many healthy options they make it easy for you as long as you order it! Take a look at the menus at www.allears.net to see what the restaurants you're going to offer.

 

[Cindyrellablue]

I tend to over indulge while I'm on vacation and Disney is no exception. This next trip coming up, I'm going to try very hard to dedicate myself to eating healthier options...from the menus I've seen online...it can be possible, even at most QS locations.

 

[winterman]

When I am at WDW, I frequently have an appetizer and a salad rather than an entree. The only problem is you can't do that on the DDP.

 

[bicker]

How about eating the same foods as everyone else; but eating less? I know that might be a waste of food; but why stuff it in just because its there.

This.

I know that feeling that the OP described: Everyone else is eating this extra-special stuff, and so selecting the healthy choices leaves you feeling left-out, because only some of the chefs are capable of making a healthy meal as extra-special-feeling as they can make a normal meal. Eating less is the perfect solution. That perfect whateveritis is best in the first bite. From there, it is just repetition. There is no wasting of food, when the reason why you're leaving half the plate over is because you're choosing to eat only an appropriate number of calories.

 

[babyrich]

This.

I know that feeling that the OP described: Everyone else is eating this extra-special stuff, and so selecting the healthy choices leaves you feeling left-out, because only some of the chefs are capable of making a healthy meal as extra-special-feeling as they can make a normal meal. Eating less is the perfect solution. That perfect whateveritis is best in the first bite. From there, it is just repetition. There is no wasting of food, when the reason why you're leaving half the plate over is because you're choosing to eat only an appropriate number of calories.

I am currently in a contest at work that requires you to change your bad habits. I have a man on my team who has taught me not to deny myself my favorite foods but to eat less of them. This has really changed my attitude about losing weight. Instead of a diet, I am just making better choices. I use a salad plate at home so my portions are smaller. When we go out, I ask for a container as soon as I get my meal and put 1/2 in the container. I usually eat it for lunch the next day. Especially on vacation, you dont want to miss out on all the good, well "bad" food.

 

[USAswimmer626]

You have many many options.

1. Eat the same foods as everyone else, but just eat smaller portions.

2. Choose healthy options offered at each restaurant.

3. Forget about eating healthy, go all out while on vacation, and then get back on your diet immediately upon returning home.

I tend to follow #3. If I'm going on vacation, I'm eating all out! I can just readjust to healthy eating when I get home.

 

[Brook1099]

I have lost 65lbs. and in same boat as you. I do not want to go on vacation and pack on alot of weight,but I do go with the mindset IT IS VACATION, I get to go here once a year, and I am on track the whole rest of the year. I went last Nov. and gained 6lbs on a 2 week Disney vacation on DDP. I did eat what I wanted, probably not as much as I could have prior to weight loss. But this Nov. trip, I have checked allears to look at menu and previewed what I would like. I may getting something higher in calories but half it. I will not give up Ohana's bread pudding, so I will go lite on dinner, stick to the protein and brocolli. Counter Services have a lot of good choices, grilled chicken sammys,grilled chicken salads just watch the dressing. Fruit instead of fries. Take dessert back to room if fisabale.(hubby and kids can have them later)Drink lots of water, stay away from sugary drinks. ( except I have to have at least one pina colada in Florida)You will be walking alot, and their is always the gym if u like them.Swimming is great too. I used to sit onside of the pool while kids swam, now I am in swiiming with them.
So I know there are always ways to cut calories without depriving yourself on vacation of the things u love. (Especially Disney vacations)You may also find yourself just not wanting the things u used to like, I took a bite of my DD canoli the other night, and thought it was the most discusting thing in the world(WHAT) dessert disqusting.But when u are not used to eating rich things your tastebuds change.



Remember it is vacation, have a great time, and whatever happens on the scale when u get home, just remember it will come back off.

 

[Donut23]

I agree. WDW has so many healthy options they make it easy for you as long as you order it! Take a look at the menus at www.allears.net to see what the restaurants you're going to offer.

Aren't those menus GREAT. It really helps choosing something new.

I also scann these are the trip draws closer. We are not megga planners with 3 ADR's a day setup. We often have no ADR's for an individual day. I take a little time before we leave and try to find something new (tough when you have gone as often as we have). This way we have options.

I have found there is healty food at most stops. TS restaurant chefs will also work with you (substituting more veggies for potatoes, for example). I remember the chef at O'hana (years ago) when I was first diagnosed as a diabetic.....he came out and went through the entire menu with me and then....made a special dessert just for me at the end. It was so comforting for someone facing new changes and fears.

You will be fine......and if you want to taste your friends, double-dutch, extra chocolate, mile high mocha-chocolate cake......have a forkfull and not the 5 inch slice.

Have a great trip!

 

[Magic Mom]

This.

I know that feeling that the OP described: Everyone else is eating this extra-special stuff, and so selecting the healthy choices leaves you feeling left-out, because only some of the chefs are capable of making a healthy meal as extra-special-feeling as they can make a normal meal. Eating less is the perfect solution. That perfect whateveritis is best in the first bite. From there, it is just repetition. There is no wasting of food, when the reason why you're leaving half the plate over is because you're choosing to eat only an appropriate number of calories.

That's probably what I will end up doing. Most of the portions are too big for Dh and I anyway, so we can share. He'll go along with that because it means he has room for dessert. LOL

 

[NSL]

I was on a diet prior to our trip, we just returned a week ago, and I was very worried about stepping on the scale when I got home. I went knowing I was going to eat whatever I wanted while I was there. Well what do you know, I couldn't eat nearly as much as I used to, apparently my body had already adjusted to the smaller portion sizes. I did eat whatever I wanted desert and all, as we were on the DDP. When we got home I had gained 3 pounds and in one week I had lost the three pounds. So I wouldn't worry about it too much. You probably won't want as much as you normally would have. I am still down 35 pounds from when I started my diet, 15 more to go!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I tend to eat pretty healthy while at WDW (and at home). I may ogle all the food porn on here but when I get there I'm not really interested in eating a bunch of junk all day, every day. My family eats a little bit unhealthier than I do (although since my Dad's heart attack last year the whole family's been eating a lot better as every gram of saturated fat helps!). I'm not a big meat eater so I've found the vegetarian or fish/seafood dishes are usually a bit lighter or I'll get a big dinner salad. Once a day or once every other day I'll have a snack or treat I want like a cinnamon roll from Main St. Bakery or some ice cream. Also if you get a snack that can be saved for later carry a few extra Ziploc bags with you and put half in the bag for later or the next day. I do that with cookies or popcorn or whatever and just throw it in my purse.

I've lost 37 lbs. in the past 4 years and I've found when I started eating healthier at home and losing weight I didn't really feel great when I did go to WDW and pig out. I felt sluggish and overly full for awhile after eating. That doesn't happen anymore.

Another thing is that I LOVE to work out on vacation. Whether it's hitting the nice gyms or just running/walking around the resort I love to get up in the morning and do that and have that quiet time to myself.

 

[nytimez]

If you're eating healthy before the trip and will return to that after (that's the toughest problem -- making sure vacation habits to creep into your return back home) you can relax a little at WDW. Don't feel like you have to make the best choices, just make better choices. If you skip dessert and snack less, you don't have to sacrifice as much during meals.

My feeling is if you're on a diet and go to WDW, the goal isn't to keep losing weight while you're there, but to at least come home without any extra pounds.

Just my opinion...

 

[acc82]

I, Like others on this board, don't believe in dieting on vacation. *usually* I don't worry about it - eat what I want, till I am full and loose whatever I gained when I get home (mostly water weight anyway). However, on this vacation I'm doing the deluxe dining plan and really want to participate in the culinary experience (i.e. eating my desserts )

So, normally I watch what I eat all the time but, I'm trying to go on the vacation in a 'negative' state. Basically, I'm trying to loose an extra 6 lbs knowing I'll gain it back and then when I come home, I'll be at my normal, stable weight that I have been at for the last month or so. I worked really hard earlier this year doing nutristystem and pulled off 20 lbs or so and am at the lowest weight i've seen in the last 6 years, so I don't want to sabatoge that but I do want to enjoy the food on vacation. This means, I'll be exercising a lot pre-trip.

But, as others have pointed out, the walking you do in the parks burns a lot of calories and normally, I gain less weight on a disney vacation than I do on say a cruise because of that.

 

[FOXFIELDZOO]

I lost 20 before going and at first was worried about gaining a bunch back ,When I got to the world I decided to not be so freaky about it ,I found that I made good choices sometimes and not others ,But I shared the not so good choices so that i could have a taste ,I did gain 3 ibs but it came off in a week of being home,and most of the desserts are the same or slightly different so a taste is usually good,also your stomach is smaller now and hold less good luck

 

[MusiqChic99]

Last year I ate everything I wanted to eat there...right down to the ice cream!!! But I shared with my son. We had the dining plan and I had a couple bites of my dessert and that was it. Just enough for a taste, not enough to ruin the waist line. I never ate until I was stuffed, just satisfied. And with all the walking and moving around...not a pound gained!

Drink lots of water too!!