Re-thinking our BOG lunch

[Canadian Girl]

I have booked BOG lunch with a buffet dinner ( we have the DDP for two days) but just looked at the nutrition report and the fat and sodium amounts for pretty much every choice on the lunch menu, and they are both high. We will be coming off a four day cruise and now thinking we might need to either cancel the lunch or the buffet. I am not sure why it is necessary to add so much salt to everything. I realize Disney is not exactly the place to try and eat healthy, but when a lunch menu has a days worth of sodium and fat, it is a bit unnerving.

 

[DeanDoug]

Hi, Canadian Girl-
BOG has a French-inspired cuisine so that will account for some of this, but if you look at menus around the world, I fear many are similar. That said, I do think that you can find healthy options. BOG is a great experience. BOG doesn't have a buffet. Lunch is QS and dinner is sit down, served. If you're worried about fat and sodium, you can ask to speak to the chef and they will work to accommodate you... maybe a chicken breast or piece of salmon with veggies. Hope this helps.

 

[Cinderella94]

In the name of full disclosure, I've never looked at the nutritional info in Disney. I figure I'm on vacation, I'm walking a lot, I don't splurge like this at home (please no one tell me that my justification is bad ). But, I've eaten at many QS and TS restaurants in Disney, and I cannot imagine that Be Our Guest is particularly worse than anywhere else. If this is going to be a stress for you, I would probably advise against the DDP.

ETA: The reason it is "necessary" to add so much sodium is that it makes things taste good. I agree that it is quite excessive.

 

[Ratzo]

... but just looked at the nutrition report and the fat and sodium amounts for pretty much every choice on the lunch menu, and they are both high.

The dangers of sodium and fat are for all intents and purposes non-existent. Salt does not cause hypertension nor does it significantly raise blood pressure in normal adults. (If you already HAVE hypertension AND are salt-sensitive, then I understand the concern.) Dietary fat is not your enemy with the exception of trans-fats. Saturated fat is not unhealthy even though there are STILL organizations who have not come around to accept the latest research. Cholesterol in the diet need no longer be considered a “nutrient of concern.” Serum cholesterol is most negatively influenced by sugar and excess carbohydrates rather than fat or dietary cholesterol.

If you're concerned about your health, dig into the meats and veggies and skip the sweets. Having said that, I eat cleanly throughout the year with the ONLY exception being my yearly vacation away from home. I abstain from sugar 100% for the rest of the year. I don't even eat even a taste of birthday cake on my birthday. This year my vacation plans include Disney, and yes, when I'm at BOG I will try the grey stuff.

 

[Lizo18]

I have never before looked at nutritional content at WDW, either, but:

1) You will find healthy options on the cruise, if you want them.

2) Depending on what you like to eat, BOG might not be so bad either. For example, I had the Niçoise salad. The fat in that is mainly in the dressing - you could ask for it on the side.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I wasn't crazy about the BOG lunch that I had. No great loss if you cancel your BOG lunch and choose something else you're more comfortable with. IMHO this is one of those places where the atmosphere is way better than the food.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I also don't look at the nutritional content while on holidays. I did have to take my wedding rings off halfway through our trip though as I was so puffy they were hurting! lol. (Assuming that was from all the salt in everything!)

We did enjoy our BOG lunch. Salt, fat, calories and all. But, disclaimer, we couldn't eat like that every day, so coming off the cruise you might want healthier options.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I walked out of my hot BOG lunch because it was served cold and frankly was school-cafeteria quality. That said, if Disney reported the nutrition facts for every item in every restaurant, you might never eat on property again. Don't fool yourself into thinking that the nutrition facts you found horrifying at BOG are somehow different than anywhere else on property. And probably no different in nutritional content than the food that you'll be eating on your cruise, especially if it's DCL.

 

[buzzrelly]

Our last dinner at BOG we had the SALTIEST meal I've ever had. I wasn't necessarily checking the sodium content, but it just tasted TOO salty. We haven't been back since.

 

[VACamm]

In the name of full disclosure, I've never looked at the nutritional info in Disney. I figure I'm on vacation, I'm walking a lot, I don't splurge like this at home (please no one tell me that my justification is bad ). But, I've eaten at many QS and TS restaurants in Disney, and I cannot imagine that Be Our Guest is particularly worse than anywhere else. If this is going to be a stress for you, I would probably advise against the DDP.

ETA: The reason it is "necessary" to add so much sodium is that it makes things taste good. I agree that it is quite excessive.

I agree with this... I've never looked at the nutritional information at WDW. I'd probably faint of shock!!

There are salad options at most WDW restaurants which may be a healthier option!

 

[Canadian Girl]

Actually, Sodium can raise BP in sensitive people who do not have high BP. In some of the Scandinavian countries which have imposed lower limits, strokes declined significantly. North American restaurant food is very salty and it is an acquired taste like sugar. Perhaps if they listed it people could make better choices and restaurants would be forced to change. Fresh food with spices does not need to be drowned in sodium to have flavor.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Actually, Sodium can raise BP in sensitive people who do not have high BP. In some of the Scandinavian countries which have imposed lower limits, strokes declined significantly. North American restaurant food is very salty and it is an acquired taste like sugar. Perhaps if they listed it people could make better choices and restaurants would be forced to change. Fresh food with spices does not need to be drowned in sodium to have flavor.

IN SENSITIVE PEOPLE is the key here, and not even in everyone that is sensitive. And, correlation does not mean causality.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I walked out of my hot BOG lunch because it was served cold and frankly was school-cafeteria quality.

My BOG lunch also reminded me of cafeteria food, except that the cafeteria food would have been a bit better.

 

[DisBuckMan]

My opinion, but BoG will never improve as long as the restaurant stays fully booked. There are countless people here on the boards that freely admit they make reservations there simply for the "ambience". They don't really care that the food is average or below.

 

[Ratzo]

IN SENSITIVE PEOPLE is the key here, and not even in everyone that is sensitive. And, correlation does not mean causality.

Winner winner chicken dinner! In fact, lower salt diets may end up being MORE harmful, not less. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/opinion/sunday/we-only-think-we-know-the-truth-about-salt.html