Is healthy eating possible on the Dining Plan??

[KarenAylwood]

I've been to Disney a million times but a) we've never really focused on the TS restaurants and b) I hadn't been as health conscious as I've recently become.

My mom and I (58 and 23) are possibly going to Disney in September on the Free Dining (I have a courtesy reservation right now) and so I'm starting to re-think the dining plan. I have a few restaurants on my list to choose from but am worried that they won't have many healthy options. Does anyone know if they substitute? Dessert comes with every meal- can you get say, a bowl of berries or other kind of fruit instead of cake or something? Are they accomodating like that??

These are the restaurants I've come up with- we will have 7 TS to choose from (I know there are more here).

-Le Cellier (everyone seems to love this place)
-Coral Reef (went when I was 9- loved the scenery from what I could remember)
-Wolfgang Puck (we always spend a night at DTD)
-Crystal Palace (I wanted to fit in a character meal)
-Boma at AKL (figured it was a good chance to see the resort)
-Hoop de doo Revue (went when I was 9 and my mom loved it, thinking of going back but takes up 2 TS)
-Mama Melrose (went last March and loved it)
-Garden Grill (possible character meal here? thought it might be healthier too)
-Sci Fi Dine In (have been before and liked the atmosphere- most worried about healthy options here too)

What do you all think? Are there healthier restaurants than others??

I also tend to get sick if I'm eating really healthy and then eat something bad for me- makes me nauseous and that's the last thing I want on this trip!!!

I'd like to cut down the Epcot list to 2 (Garden Grill, Le Cellier, Coral Reef).

My mom and I aren't picky at all, the only restrictions I have is the healthy thing- I'll eat just about anything if it fits in that category!! We absolutely love eating out at nice restaurants so I thought the DP might work for us.

Counter service is another story, but I seem to remember them offering salads at almost every one now so I guess I could do that.

TIA!

 

[BillSears]

I tend to not worry too much about eating at WDW since I'm burning alot more calories there and I don't go often enough to really make a difference. But I understand your desire to feel good during your trip.

Have you checked out the menus? "Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Guide" has a menu list for all of the table service restaurants. Check there and hopefully you can find something that'll work for you. Also if your Mother is not a big eater you could always just split a meal. The portions at WDW tend to be fairly large. Doing this would mean you'd waste some Counter Service meals but you'd eat more Table Service meals.

 

[Christine]

I think the majority of the restaurants have healthy items on their menus. I've always noticed that there is that "one" thing on the menu that is healthy. I think Artist Point has some very healthy meals, but they can also be on the "rich" side and if you have digestive troubles, it can be difficult.

The Hoop Dee Doo does not have anything healthy. They have a set menu and it is brought to your table. You can choose to eat it or not. You can request a special meal if you have dietary concerns, but I don't think it's going to be anything spectacular.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Thanks for the heads up on Hoop de doo!! We'll have to discuss that one.

BillSears~ Yeah, it's not as much the wanting to lose weight on the trip- it's wanting to keep my digestive system from revolting against me after splurging on mac and cheese and a piece of chocolate cake!!! I didn't realize there were menus, I'll have to look around more.

I found the "Dietary Needs" page but the only "dieter" they had on there was lo-carb. Guess I'll have to find a mix between that and the vegetarians!

Thanks!

 

[Christine]

BillSears~ Yeah, it's not as much the wanting to lose weight on the trip- it's wanting to keep my digestive system from revolting against me after splurging on mac and cheese and a piece of chocolate cake!!!
Thanks!

Hey Karen, I feel your pain. I'm sure no one REALLY wants to know this but I was having to pop Immodium on the last two days of my trip. Not pretty. I had a VERY hard time getting on the plane on my departure date. I didn't eat anything "bad" but it was just from eating out 2 meals a day for a week that really did me in. If you find a way to avoid this *backlash* please let me know.

 

[patsal]

Nearly every CS and TS has a salad as an entree choice, you can substitute fruit as your dessert, a piece of fruit can be used as a snack, popcorn isn't a bad snack choice, nor would a big grab bag of pretzels. Many of the CS places have a sugar free dessert offering. Above all, you don't have to eat everything your entitiled to on the plan to still save money--only to maximize your savings. I have always found the buffets at WDW to have better choices than the local buffet places.

 

[budbeerlady]

I would check out all the menus at all ears and that would give you a better idea. And talk to the staff, they are Very accomadating.

 

[Servants of Evan]

And let's not forget one of the most important things -- It's not a competition to see who can eat the most! Sure, you get an app, main couse, and dessert but (other than 1950's) you don't have to clean your plate. Order a few apps, meals, desserts and each try a bit or two of this or that, but don't eat until you pass out...

 

[Stitch65]

As backwards as this sounds, I tried to book as many buffets as I could. I belong to the "clean your plate" club and I figured if I'm in control of what goes on my plate, I'll be less likely to overeat. Will see if my psycho logic pans out in May....

 

[pezpam]

I'm with Stitch - buffets, if you have self-control - are easiest since you can pick up just the salad, veggies, fruit, light items, etc.

Most places have something, though. Definitely check the menus at allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm and go from there. Enjoy!

 

[KarenAylwood]

I've been looking around on allears and I'm seeing a good amount of options, or at least the ability to sub things. After thinking it over, I really like Stitch's idea! I think that the buffet style might work better for me... I remember going to CRT last March and wanting to DIE after I left because I had stuffed myself so much thinking I had to finish everything on my plate. If it's on my plate, I'll eat it... so this way I can put less on my plate!

I'm thinking the Crystal Palace for the Pooh breakfast buffet and Boma, and possibly Chef Mickey's if we can stand two character meals

Others I might look into are the Biergarten as another buffet option (although I know how bad German food can be for you!), and I think Le Cellier would be a good choice as well because I wouldn't overdo it on steak.

Thanks for the ideas and the advice! I'm going to keep trekking through all of the menus and see what else there is. I want to try as many new places as possible since this will be our first time eating TS every night! Gotta take advantage!!

 

[rigs32]

To not be overloaded with food, we're splitting meals at 2 TS restaurants in order to "afford" the points necessary for a two credit restaurant. We wanted to splurge and have a really great meal that last night and takes some pressure off of eating all that food.

On previous trips, I've looked at the menus to find what CS restaurants are cheap and healthy. We love the rotisserie chicken and veggies at Cosmic Rays at MK - easily split between two people. The platter at Tangeriene Cafe at Epcot is also plenty and fairly healthy.

In fact, in my last two trips that were mainly CS, I never had a burger or chicken
fingers. Spending some time with the menus can make your choices while there easier - on your mind and your tummy.

I am an adult who loves eating at Crystal Palace for dinner (with no kids). I don't like most breakfast buffet foods - carbs and grease. Their dinner was great and had lots of healthier options.

 

[goodeats]

I almost always have some 'bathroom issues' when I'm travelling due to eating outside my norm. I guess I don't get it that badly since I'd rather just deal with it than eating perfectly healthy all trip. I don't go that overboard, but I'm not skipping dessert on vacation, kwim. But I'll probably avoid the tempura next time. Too much grease!

I think it's possible to do the dining plan and keep eating healthy, but I would definitely share with your mother (for both CS and TS). I would also avoid buffets (since you can't share a credit and you'll probably overeat). You *know* (salad, fish, fruit, etc) what the healthy items are, but on vacation it's hard to choose them. Sometimes you have to live a little.

 

[jann1033]

i recently heard a good idea ( i thought) for desserts.. just take 3 slow bites, savor them then mess it up( put salt or something on it ) so you won't want any more...i used to feel guilty( to many stories about starving kids ) but i figure if i ate it all it would be gone so what difference does it make if i put it in the garbage or me? no one else if going to profit from it. an alternative would be split an appe and dessert and either give one away or just don't get it.

 

[Sammie]

Definitely. There are many salads offered for appetizers and entrees are not a problem.

If you don't want the dessert some places offer fruit sorbet or just a fruit cup. Or before you order the dessert find a new friend nearby and offer them the dessert of their choice.

Of course be careful about this, people might begin to follow you around to dinner.

 

[chrome64]

I recently had this same question and decided to ask the Mouse about this. Here is the response that I got back from them:

"We appreciate your interest in learning what arrangements might be possible in our theme park and resort restaurants for guests with specific dietary restrictions. First, please know that the chefs and managers in our full-service restaurants are always happy to provide information regarding not
only the ingredients of menu selections, but also how items are prepared. In
many instances, food may be specially prepared to accommodate particular dietary restrictions.

It is also sometimes possible for our restaurants to prepare food items using
special ingredients (gluten-free flour, for example). For this reason, we encourage you to make your particular restriction known when booking advanced reservations arrangements for our full-service restaurants,
so that the appropriate notation may be made. Reservations may be arranged up to 180 days in advance for selected restaurants by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).

You may also be interested to know that with very few exceptions, our
restaurants use only canola oil in the preparation of our food. According to our Epcot Executive Chef, canola oil contains the lowest percentage of saturated fat of all the commonly used cooking oils. Peanut oil, however, is
used in our restaurants featuring oriental cuisine, because of its higher smoke
point. This is an important consideration for items being stir-fried, for example, as other oils tend to burn when used at such high temperatures."