Tell me what your best sugar free dessert at Disney World

[MikeWD]

My wife is diabetic. We have found alot of variability from table service to table service in terms of the variety and quality of dessert options. Ohanna's is our favorite, and Chef TJ always makes her something special and memorable.

What is your favorite sugar free dessert at WDW? We are looking for some really special options other than the sugar free, pre-packaged brownie and the sugar free vanilla ice cream?

 

[Chloesmom]

DD11 is type 1 diabetic and before she was on her insulin pump we would just share a regular dessert... All sugar free means is that there is no refined sugar but it could have other sweeteners like fruit juice or fruit puree in it and of course things like a brownie still have flour so we have found over the years most " sugar free " items have just as many if not more carbs than a normal item and they never taste as well either...
Case in point.. a friend bought DD sugar free peeps for Easter... they had more carbs than the normal ones and were frankly nasty.

 

[MikeWD]

very good point. One does have to be careful not to be fooled into thinking that just because something is labeled "sugar free" that it will be carb or problem free.

My wife's sugars are generally managed well with most of the sugar free options (but not all). Looking for some possible alternatives.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I think for me, it's got to be the sugar free pecan ice cream*, at most of the permanent ice cream parlours (i.e. not the little carts). I'm not sure if they have a sugar-free cone or not, but you can play it safe and have it in a cup instead. Just don't make the mistake we did, and try to eat it any where other than inside or just outside the parlour - they were half melted by the time my partner (a very fast walker) had carried them from Main Street to Liberty Square !

There are also a lot of good sugar-free treats at the confectionery stores - some of them even have a whole sugar-free section on the counters! If you're in a restaurant and can't see anything suitable on the menu, don't be afraid to ask. I'm a vegetarian, and often there is no veggie option listed on the menu, but they have one available 'out back'; it may well be the same for sugar-free stuff.

If you're planning any special meals at a TS restaurant, you should email Brenda Bennett ( Brenda.Bennett@disney.com ) in advance. She'll be able to put you in touch with the chef for that restaurant, and they can talk you through all the options, and maybe get something special in, just for your DW. I've heard nothing but positive reports from everyone who's done this, so I hope you find something wonderful!


*I'm not diabetic, so I'm not an expert on carb counts, I just find that sugar can aggravate my condition. Please do all the normal checks that you would usually do; don't just take my word for it!

 

[Belle4mygrl]

DD5 has Type 1 diabetes. Chefs have been very accomodating and will bring out fresh sliced fruit. 1900 Park fare has a sugar free jello fruit mold (pyramid shaped). DD5 said it was nasty. Of course, she doesn't like fruit mixed in anything. LOL So I would not take her word on it.

And like pp said, just because it is sugar free doesn't mean it is carb free.

Hope your wife finds something delish. come back and let us know.

Have fun!

 

[MikeWD]

We had the jello mold with fruit at Whispering Canyon. It was truly disgusting.

Chef TJ has about the best we've ever seen at Ohanna's. Each time we are there, he creates something spectacular.

Generally she does well with many of the sugar free options. We are just looking for something unique that perhaps she can't enjoy as readily back in the "real world".

On the Dis Unplugged, Pete spoke about a mango cheesecake at Yachtsman made of splenda that was incredible. Looking for those types of experiences.

 

[heatherwillmom]

This thread came up with new posts even though there haven't been any recently. Does anyone have an update on sugar-free desserts? DH is diabetic. He's not a big dessert person but it's nice to have an option.

 

[buffettgirl]

sorry no suggestions from us. DS 11 had the double brownie deliciousness at 50's prime time and we somehow over bolused for it and he was low all night. Though, I know I figured the carbs pretty accurately. So..go for that LOL..it's apparently carb free. hahaah... (that's a joke - it was one of the weirdest nights of our trip..how can an 11 year old with diabetes eat a monster desert and still be low all night...)

 

[SueM in MN]

This thread came up with new posts even though there haven't been any recently. Does anyone have an update on sugar-free desserts? DH is diabetic. He's not a big dessert person but it's nice to have an option.

It popped to the top because there was a spam post, which I deleted.
The general posts lately have been the same as in this thread - that many of sugar free options are not very tasty and are as high in carbs, if not higher.
I've noticed the counter service places pretty much all have the same options. Either no sugar added strawberry parfait or sugar free brownie.
The full service restaurants may only have one thing on the menu, but may be able to come up with something else.

There are some links to contact WDW about dietary needs in post 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Chef TJ is no longer at 'Ohana. He's now at the Grand Floridian but he doesn't seem to work directly with guests any longer. The chefs at 'Ohana are still wonderful and it is a great meal for a diabetic but the amazing desserts are not longer created there.

DH has T2 diabetes. He doesn't usually get sugar free desserts. He just shares a dessert or skips it completely. When we stay club level at the Polynesian, chef Kim arranges for sugar free desserts for him every night as an alternative to the evening dessert bar in the lounge. I'm not sure that there are actually less carbs but boy does he love it. LOL

When we stayed at Pop, he was talking with one of the chefs who came out to discuss our kids' food allergies. The chef checked the carb counts on the sugar free butter pecan ice cream (which DH enjoys) and discovered that a milkshake made out of the vegan Toffuti ice cream and rice milk was lower in carbs than one made with the sugar free ice cream and milk. Just goes to show you that the sugar free options aren't necessarily the best way to go.

With T2, moderation is very important. DH's blood sugar is more likely to have problems when he overdoes artificial sweeteners than when he has a bit too much simple carbs. Knowing the way your body processes different kinds of carbs makes a huge difference as well. My DH can handle much higher total carbs if his carbs are primarily from fruit, vegetables and legumes rather than grains. Rice is easier on him than wheat. A dessert like creme brulee is easier on his blood sugar than a piece of cake, even sugar free cake. Know how your body reacts to different foods. Make balanced choices. If you want dessert, skip the starchy side dish that comes with your meal (or just have a taste). You can always ask a chef if you can get extra vegetables instead of the starch; most at TS locations will accomodate a request like this.

DH didn't seem to have problems with his blood sugar from the cake we bought at Babycakes at DTD. They sweeten using agave nectar instead of cane sugar; agave nectar is easier on the blood sugar. They use rice flour or garbanzo bean and fava bean flour in everything as the entire bakery is gluten free. This just works out really well for him. He was able to have a couple slices of the birthday cake without a spike in his blood sugar.

DH tries to limit his artificial sweeteners to his drinks during the day. At WDW he drinks Coke Zero, Sprite Zero and Lite lemonades. If available, he'll choose seltzer but that seems to have more limitted availability.

ETA: Oops, I didn't realize this was a dredged up old thread. Anyway, it's hopefully info somebody can use.

 

[mskermit]

i was diagnosed in june 2010 type 2. we went to disney in august 2010. i thought oh no this is going to be horrible. i as so strict with myself , my sister has been diabetic for 30 years and is a mess, doesnt take care of herself, and i wont let that happen. i did eat pizza and some other things i should not have but found that if i took my meds, 500mg metformin, and all of the walking, my sugar was fine. sometimes you need to watch the sugar free things as they can cause horrible stomach aches!!! i can home to find I lost 7 lbs while on vaca!!! in 6 months my A1c went from 6.6 to 5.6, very excited. I also find that broccoli lowers my sugar. I did get the special dessert at Ohana's that was to die for!!!!

 

[mskermit]

one more thing.. the bakery on main street has sugar free chocolate muffins,and somewhere in epocot there is sugar free key lime pie!!!! i unfortutately didnt get it. if you check allearsnet.com, you can find info there on sugar free desserts. there is also some sugar free candy available in the shops

 

[mskermit]

also the more proteins and higher fibers and less carbs with meals , you can probably sneak in a regular dessert then walk right after. next time im going to carry a bag of broccoli!!!

 

[Ashton7]

You guys are killing me -- now I want that sugar free key lime pie. Like now! LOL!

 

[mskermit]

You guys are killing me -- now I want that sugar free key lime pie. Like now! LOL!

i think it was the electric umbrella in epcot that had it in 2010. i dont see it listed on the menu now i am the only one in my gang that likes key lime pie!!! mmmm..mmmmmm

 

[MikeWD]

Yep, we know Chef TJ isn't at Ohana's any longer. We actually celebrated his last day with him on June 30th of last year. What a loss. We haven't had as good of luck with the chefs there now. We went to Grand Floridian 1900 Park Fare -- saw him, but as you know, it's a buffet and little hope of getting those special desserts. There still seems to be a lot of inconsistency from restaurant to restaurant at Disney in regards to options for diabetics -- which is a suprise given that most grocery stores carry a variety of options these days. Go figure.

 

[Stellaluna]

This was the No Sugar Added option at Tutto Italia for our April trip:

It was a Lemon Ricotta cheesecake and really fantastic. No one in our party is sugar restricted, it simply sounded good so we ordered it. Didn't miss the sugar in it at all, it was creamy and yummy.