Smart Healthy Eating at Disney

[Kid_@_50]

We just got back from 8 nights/9 days at WDW. Total damage done with what I felt was reasonable meal and snack choices was + 4lbs.

Last year we had DxDDP, this year we had only the DDP. Driving home my wife suggested we needed to invest more snack credits next year on bottled water to drink rather than anything to eat.

So for those of us that are weight challenged, what is your strategy for smart, healthy eating at Disney? Alternatively, do you just take the weight gain, then
work off the pounds when you get home?

 

[jlm]

This will be our first trip with me at my goal weight. I'm 5 ft tall and lost 30 pounds. I am more aware of what I am eating and am sure will also be at Disney. I will be on vacation and plan on eating desserts....but we also have a lot of bkfst plan...so no desserts! That helps. I will work out 7 of the 9 days we are there, and of course do tons of walking every day! I am giving myself 5 pounds. I hope to maintain and off set with exersice, but that may not be possible.
I try and chose healthier options no matter where I am, and will in Disney too. But...I will have treats~
Jen

 

[Moms]

Just returned from a six night stay. I recently lost more than fifty pounds but decided to enjoy the vacation and not worry about what I did or did not eat. I worked out every day and of course walked, walked, walked (we were at Boardwalk so we walked to both Epcot and the Studios). I ate what I wanted ... even desserts ... but stopped when I was full and drank plenty of water. We used our snacks from the dining plan at the F&W festival on our last day as most of the kiosks took the DDP snack credits for at least one of their options.

I have been home for three days now and finally stepped on a scale this morning. I gained one pound. No worries!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Skip the desserts with lunch and ask for a bottle of water instead

Look for CS places that have things other than burgers/fries

Even if the double burger is included on the DP, get a single instead

Use snack credits to get yogurt or fruit cup for breakfast.

Review TS menus in advance and select restaurants based on healthy choices available. Stay out of buffet restaurants.

Look for fruit plate and sorbets on TS menus for dessert.

Don't feel compelled to clean your plate, or get the most bang for your buck from the DP

 

[ZoZo]

There are healthier options if you just look for them.

I love the places that have rotisserie chicken and veggies (like Sunshine Seasons). I also went to places like CHH and had sandwiches (their tuna sandwich is great, and is a little more healthy than fried stuff!).

For snacks, I often grabbed the carrots/celery/ranch dressing packs (they even had them at POR's dining hall, and other places at the parks). I even brought my own peanut butter and raisins from home, and had my favorite summer camp snack, "ants on a log!" Jif makes "to go" cups of peanut butter for dipping, so I brought some of those from home and dipped my celery and apple slices in them. I had also brought some homemade trail mix and granola bars from home for snacks.

Also brought cereal from home, and bought half-gallons of milk at the resort gift shop. With bananas purchased at POR's food court, that took care of breakfast!

So I try to eat more like I do at home, with occasional forrays into the sinful stuff (love the fish and chips in England at Epcot!). There are healthy choices out there!

 

[focusondisney]

I also lost weight this year- 15 lbs. Not as much as some, but to me that was a lot. I started with a goal to lower my BP & cholesterol, & ended up with the added bonus of losing weight. And I could use to lose another 15. So I wanted to enjoy vacation, but not totally undo all the good I had worked for.

I found lots of places that had great entree salads, with chicken, shrimp or salmon. You can have any cheese left off to lower the fat & calories. A low fat dressing or dressing on the side helps, too.

I think I had grilled salmon 3 times in 7 days. So there are good choices available. I ate steak a few days , too. Ask for any sauces or gravy on the side or just left off altogether to make it more healthy.

I skipped soda & drank unsweetened iced tea. I did add sugar, but not as much as if it was a soda. More thurst quenching, too.

I will say I didn't feel the need to finish every bite of every course. Just stop when you're full.

I even had ice cream 4 times. We had the regular dining plan for 3 nights & deluxe dining for 3 nights. With all that food, I only gained 2 pounds! I was pretty happy about that. Lost it within a week of being back home!

 

[aenelson]

Too be honest I have lost weight every time I have gone to Disney, which is a good thing because I can use to lose it lol. It always ranges from 4-10 pounds, every trip.

Honestly I eat pretty much what I want, I do not over do it though. I will try to get fruit for dessert, instead of cakes. Also at the buffets I only eat until I am full. I snack on healthy items through out the day, and drink lots of water and tea.

I think the thing that helps me is that I walk from 7 am, with a loop around my resort, to the parks not coming home until they close, and then I do another lap around the resort or go swimming and do laps. So I am literally going from 7 am to 12 am. I rest while I am waiting in line, but I have been doing this for years.

 

[scdak]

We just got back from 8 nights/9 days at WDW. Total damage done with what I felt was reasonable meal and snack choices was + 4lbs.

Last year we had DxDDP, this year we had only the DDP. Driving home my wife suggested we needed to invest more snack credits next year on bottled water to drink rather than anything to eat.

So for those of us that are weight challenged, what is your strategy for smart, healthy eating at Disney? Alternatively, do you just take the weight gain, then
work off the pounds when you get home?

I wondered about the same thing when I booked the DDP, and really questioned my sanity when I upgraded to the DxDP but then I realized that no one says I have to clean my plate, I have leared to sample small bites of food from a buffet (lots of cruises), I have no trouble buying snacks that can be taken back to the room for later etc. So I decided that I would enjoy my DxDP and not worry about the weight gain. I also told myself that after a 12 day vacation earlier this year -8 days of which I was on a cruise , that it is possible to actually lose weight and eat, I lost 5 lbs while my traveling companions gained 3, 7, 12 respectively! I know that I will be walking even more at Disney in a few months, so I am just going to enjoy the experience.

 

[carrie1626]

I used almost all my snack credits on fresh FRUIT, especially PINEAPPLE- DELISH and healthy!!!!