Ideas for Meals Low in Calories

[donnajz]

I'm working with my doctor to try to lose weight. So far, I've lost 16 pounds and really dont' want to gain while I'm at Disney. I don't think I'll have a problem with TS dining, but CS dining could spell disaster. We're going for 14 nights and have a total of 6 TS meals (3 breakfast and 3 dinner). The majority of breakfasts will be at CBR's food court as well as some lunches and perhaps a dinner or two. Can anyone recommend some things I can have at CS restaurants that are healthy/low calorie?

 

[cassandrap83]

Sandwiches without cheese (or bacon!) on wheat bread.

Avoid 'sauces' gravies, or 'fake' food in general.

Salads are always a good choice if you like them (Which I do NOT)

A non-breaded, non-deep fried chicken breast sandwich is always great too! (many places have one)

Scrambled Egg Whites

Lean steaks

Fruits & veggies

 

[SnwflkCts]

It is difficult for sure. Don't be too strict - you will be walking alot! I believe it does help if you share things like fries. At least you won't be eating the whole thing!

DH and I do love salads but I don't remember seeing many of them at CS ... well not without lots of toppings or dressing! But we did share desserts or not get any dessert.

Darn ... it's making me hungry thinking of things to avoid. Just try not to go too crazy and remember that you will get back on schedule when you return. Good luck and have fun!

 

[wide awake]

I eat healthy, but w/ that given I like real food. I'm not going to eat an egg white omelet. Go w/ eggs scrambled w/ veggies, or in an omelet w/ veggies. Tomato juice or water, coffee or tea, watch the sugar and cream. Fresh fruit if you're still hungry.

Lunch. Many of the CS have healthy meals. If you're at one of the fast food places get the veggie burger, top w/ pickles, onions, sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, and/or tomatoes...mustard too. Sides are carrots or apples. Give your dessert away. Water, diet soda, or ice tea w/ sweetener to drink. Some of the CS have grilled or bar be qued fish, that would be good too.

Dinner. Stick w/ a broiled/grilled piece of poultry or fish. A plain filet is okay too. Stay away from sauces. Shrimp or seafood cocktail is good. Salad w/ oil and vinegar. Vegetables w/o sauce. Fruit for dessert, or 3 bites of something yummy, then give it away. Perhaps a glass of wine or two if you like it.

Snacks...frozen fruit bar, fresh fruit, diet sodas, plain baked potato, raw veggies.

We've done free dining for at least one week/year since 2007 and I've never gained a pound. I'm at a good weight, but since I don't want to go on a diet I pretty much stick to the above plan. I still get yummy food, and I go home my normal weight. W/ the walking I'll occassionally have some bread and butter w/ dinner, or an umbrella drink, or some other splurge. This is rare. I've never stopped at Main Street Bakery, Goofy's Candy Co, Ghiredellis, etc... I also refuse to eat at buffets or all you can eat.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

This isn't a recommendation for specific food, but DH and I would often split a CS entree and have a fruit cup or veggies on the side. We usually indulged for dinner though

 

[DEA]

There is a roasted beet salad at Sunshine Seasons that I like a lot. I don't have the nutritional information on it, and it does have a goat cheese portion that is probably not the most healthy thing ever, but it seems like it ought to be pretty healthy.

Also, there's a chili salad at Fairfax Fare in DHS if you're looking for something good and mostly healthy there. Again, I may be getting fooled by the salad-ness of it.

 

[Nadjalu]

To be honest you walk so much more than at home you can eat just about anything and do ok.
Of course that means not eating dessert everyday. But just a normal lunch and dinner entree you will be fine.
Seriously the exercise you do...........you need extra calories...just healthy ones.

 

[Gigi22]

If you like sushi, it should be low in fat and low in calories. I think the Poly has a sushi stand near the Kona Cafe.

 

[TeaJay]

If you do like sushi I know that Starring Rolls recently came out with some (obviously it isn't anything special or spectacular but it is a CS). Columbia Harbor House has a hummus sandwich on whole wheat that is really good. Almost every place has a salad, and if it has bad stuff on it, you can pick it off (the problem is sometimes they put the dressing on it for you).

 

[bookworm0312]

Give your dessert away.

And, believe me, at most CS places you won't mind doing this at all!!

 

[Gigi22]

In searching for snacks for the DDP, I've noticed that you can get veggie sticks (carrot and celery) with a dip--which you con't have to eat; fresh grapes; and fresh fruit at some stands in the parks. That's the way I would be going for snacks during park days. And, water, water, water rather than sodas.
If you are going to have a drink with alcohol, stay away from the margaritas. Just recently saw an episode of Dr. Oz where he suggested mojitos as a low calorie option instead of margaritas. Wine spritzers, made with soda water, are good too.

 

[TDC Nala]

Almost all the larger CS have salads, so I don't know where the folks are going who say they don't find any salads. I also believe that you can ask for them without dressing. You can also ask them to leave off any toppings you don't want (or pick them off)

 

[DISaholic's]

No soda, no soda, no soda. Even Diet. Diet soda's tend to make people eat more because they think they are sacraficing by having the diet soda

Drink lots and lots of water and eat lots of fruit and veggies.

Don't totally deny yourself of what you love. If you love desserts, have one every other day. Or if you love a good burger, have one and then the next day have a salad.

Really the key is the exercise (which you will be getting no matter what), watching the amount of fat and sugar you take in

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

In the past 9 months Ive lost 90 lbs and for Disney this is my plan
- If ordering a burger or chicken nuggets they offer grapes, fries or carrots instead of fries at most locations. If they offer fries I just won't touch them
- Often you only see double burger on the menu so ask for a single. Now this is just me but I take off the bottom of the bun and fold the burger in half to have less breading
- Order fruit as dessert if you must have dessert
- Turkey and Chicken are always your best options for proteins
- Oatmeal without brown sugar or egg whites for breakfast
- Drink water you don't need drinks with calories such as soda, juice etc.
- Remember you are walking alot like someone said so factor that into your caloric in take
- Drink your 8 cups of water so you dont gain your water weight back (The first 10 lbs most people lose is water weight!)
- If you are at a hotel with a gym I'd still do 30 minutes (Im a creature of habit so I like to keep my diet routine on vacation)
- Make sure to get 8 hours of sleep as sleep is important to weight loss
- Eat alot of protein instead of carbs or fats your body will feel more full and happy from that
- Ask for salad dressing on the sides as thats where the calories tend to be in a leafy green salad.
- Opt out of cheese, and bacon where possible.
- If having soup the cream soups are far more fattening and heavier opt for vegatable stock based, or chicken stock based soup!

I went to Vegas for a week not long ago and lost weight there. If you need and help finding good counter service places in the parks etc just ask !

 

[missycj96]

Disney had great food and is so easy to special order. You'll have lots of good choices (no worries).

Here is what I can think of for good CS choices in different places:

AK - Flame Tree BarBQ has a a good big fruit salad with yogurt dip for lunch.

MK - Main Street Bakery has a fruit and yogurt parfait

MK - Dole Whip is surprisingly low in fat and calories. I once saw a link to the nutritional information on these boards - look for it. I recall Pineapple being the best.

MK - The Main Street ice-cream parlor has fat free chocolate and vanilla swirl ice cream.

MK - Columbia Harbor House has good salad (you can special order to leave off anything you want).

AK - In AK, the ice-cream carts offer a small non-fat ice-cream cup.

EP (FW) At Epcot, Sunshine Seasons will be a great place for you to get something.

EP (WS) - Try Yakitori House for salads (dressing on the side) and miso soup.

Resorts:

The Contempo Cafe at CR had a good steak salad - special order if you don't want cheese.

Wolfgang Puck's Cafe (which is CS on DDP) in the marketplace had a great salmon with salad and lots of other healthy choices - portions are big though.

Roaring Forks at WL has a grilled vegetable sandwich. My mom asked them for the sandwich filling to be over greens instead of bread and she had hummus on the side. Since salads and sandwiches are made fresh there, its no problem.

Captain Cooks at Poly has pre-made veggie sushi in the fridge.

Most of the resort CS locations have one of my favorite disney snacks - the sliced apple with a small caramel dip.

Good luck!

 

[pigletto]

I was wondering the same thing and found this article on some of the healthier CS in Epcot. Tangerine Cafe looks great (vegetarian platter)..

http://aroundthemouse.blogspot.com/2010/05/around-mouse-fitness-healthy-eating-in.html

I wonder if it's possible to get the nutritional info for the counter service restaurants before your trip?

 

[TDC Nala]

If ordering a burger or chicken nuggets they offer grapes, fries or carrots instead of fries at most locations. If they offer fries I just won't touch them

You can order burgers or other CS meals that come with fries without the fries, or substitute the packaged fruit or veggies for the fries. It is possible they won't even charge you for the fries if you just say you want the entree without the fries. Just ask.

 

[CathieArms]

Congratulations on your weight loss!

A couple of thoughts for you, not specific to any restaurant.

1. Look for Chicken or fish.
2. Look for Grilled
3. Hold the sauces
4. Substitute fruits/veggies for fries.
5. Try to order things without bread. Some places have things like rotisserie chicken. Remove the skin and you're good to go.
6. Listen to your body. Stop eating NOT when you're full, but when you're no longer hungry. BIG difference.
7. Don't skip the desserts, but remember that the first and second bites taste wayyyyyyyy better than the last bite. So have your dessert, but only eat a couple of bites and then pass it along to someone else.
8. Water cannot be understated.