This might be anti-vacation, but any healthy food recommendations?

[Tinkerbellie16]

I love to eat at Disney World and there are lots of yummy things out there that I will definitely partake! But every so often, I do like to eat something a little healthier. So at lunch I might ask for carrots or grapes but I'm looking for some really good choices whether it is counter service or table service. Any recommendations? I'm looking for something that might have more fruits and vegetables, less refined carbohydrates, and usually lower in fat (or at least not soaked in butter and oil).

 

[sydneysmom]

When we go, we're doing all breakfast buffets. I'm going to try to stick to fruit and eggs and stay away from the beloved croissants and danish! . I'm sorry dear carbs, you aren't my friend afterall.
But alot of the buffets have "make your own omelette" so you can add some veggies in there (and pass on the cheese).

Same w/ dinners.... I'm going to try ( and yes, I say try) to stick to fish / chicken / meat and veggies. Things w/ light or no sauce (and grilled or steamed) I'm planning on asking them if I can have the sauce on the side so that I can add what I want . ( for dinners and salads) But I'm going to try not to be crazy about it. We're going to be doing alot of walking, so I know we'll be burning some good calories.

I also noticed in the menus that most all the restaurants have a sugar free dessert....now, probably unless there's something that we really want for dessert, we'll probably skip it. (or get the sugar free or split something)

But I do think you can find / adapt a healthy meal at any of the restaurants. That was one of the reasons we chose DxDpl....we wanted sit down and I also wanted a menu for our DD4 that wasn't always something fried or greasy. But I do think, from past experiences, that the buffets offer the best variety where you can pick and choose what you want to eat.

 

[Snurk71]

blasphemy!!!

 

[sydneysmom]

blasphemy!!!

I now have to wipe soda off my computer screen !

did I mention that I'm having alot of fruit and eggs so that I won't feel guilty at Starring Rolls getting one of the gargantuan cupcakes ? No, I think I forgot that part.... oops....

 

[Euphoria027]

The Wave seems pretty healthy, from what I've seen.

 

[LMO429]

The Chefs at WDW are great for cooking to your request. You could maybe ask the chef at the restaurant to not cook certain dishes in butter or oils that might make certain dishes less nutritional.

 

[mmtska]

I have to completely change my diet, so that means changing what I eat at Disney too. I'm still going to eat, but cut down to A plate at a buffet, or actually get fruit for one of the snack credits instead of something sweet. I also booked an ADR at the Wave-that looks perfect for healthy food!

 

[smiller]

I had a similar question last year - one idea was to peruse the menu for other healthy sides that you could request with your entree. Or, simply request double veggies and hold something else. If it's in the restaurant's kitchen, they're usually happy to oblige!

One of my favorite semi-healthy (or at least not fried) snacks is the fruit and cheese plate at Boulangerie Patisserie. Three kinds of cheese, grapes, demi-baguette. The perfect combination of fresh and yummy!

did I mention that I'm having alot of fruit and eggs so that I won't feel guilty at Starring Rolls getting one of the gargantuan cupcakes ? No, I think I forgot that part.... oops....

Ahh!!! I love the Butterfinger cupcake!

I was walking back from ToT with DBiL and said, "I'd like something healthy for a snack." Alas, the Anaheim Produce stand wasn't open yet, so when we met up with the rest of the family at Starring Rolls, I decided to have the cupcake instead. DBiL got a good laugh at my definition of "healthy snack."

 

[catne]

The Wave is a bit misleading, I think...it has new-agey descriptions and tossed around lots of folksy-pseudo-healthy-sounding words on it's menu like "organic" and "sustainable" etc. Course, if you look a bit more closely, it's talking about "organic" fusion vodka on the drinks menu, too, lol. Love the stuff, but not sure vodka really makes the list of health foods. Ditto with the filet...and the desserts are every bit as decadent as all other Disney desserts.

It's really just a steak house...love the place - have eaten there several times - great food, but also plenty of butter/fat/oils on the foods just like every other Disney Steakhouses.

 

[mom of princessx2]

I think just about every place has some healthy options. Most TS have fish and chicken dinners. I am sure you could have them broiled without much, if any, oils. Get the veggie choices as sides or a salad with the dressing on the side. Plenty of fruit options as snacks. We love the fruit bowls as much as the Mickey ice cream bars!!

They are there and you probably don't have to look too hard.

 

[~Brandy~]

My favorite CS location for selections with at least the appearance of being healthier is Sunshine Seasons food court in the Land pavilion in Epcot. They have simple, grocery store type sushi, salads (which you can get anything on the side, they make them fresh in front of you), rotisserie chicken, grilled salmon, etc.

I also heard once that much of the produce there is grown in the greenhouse from the Living with the Land ride.

 

[Leota]

A couple of my favorite, healthier choice items are :

the Tuna Nicoise Salad at GF Cafe for lunch

the Tabbouleh Wraps at Tangeirine Cafe in Morocco

Heirloom Tomato & Mozzerella di Bufala at Flying Fish

Fresh Squeezed/Pressed juices at breakfast at Fresh

 

[hkeller27]

blasphemy!!!

Ah, but honestly, OP I am with you. I enjoy a splurge, a treat (it is vacation, after all!), but my guilt and my system can't handle too much indulgence, vacation or not.

I do find myself longing for vegetables and fruit, so any buffets we do I fill myself up on those two things. I will try to do a salad at a counter service lunch when I can find a good one. Water at every meal, skipping the less than stellar counter service desserts and getting grapes instead. And honestly, the pineapple dole whip is not nearly as bad for you as say a Main Street ice cream sandwich!!!!

 

[Pumbaa_]

there are SO many choices in the world, it is easy to make good choices (well, if you are so inclined that is )

Here is a link to the DIS Menus

Most CS restaurants list combo meals that include fries. You can get the main itme only, burger or chicken or whatever) or you can substitute healthier sides

There are so many great CS these days. You can go all week and never see a french fry or a burger!

Have fun!

 

[jwfla422]

The Wave seems pretty healthy, from what I've seen.

OH yes, one of our "new" favs at WDW! We love breakfast and dinner there. The food is really authentic and fresh. Highly recommend a meal here and there's lots of healthy options...

Another place to try is FRESH at the Dolphin (they serve breakfast and on the weekends or on Sundays they also serve lunch). While this is a buffet type of set-up, most items are made to order from scratch. They also have some healthy drinks and if you're feeling like you're being too healthy there are some or those less healthy options like bacon, biscuits and some other yummy treats.

 

[Nina1]

blasphemy!!!

Will still be laughing tomorrow...too funny...

 

[pigletto]

Thank you for asking this! I have recently just lost 25 pounds and I still have 20 to go. While I will deffinately enjoy myself and have some things I don't normally eat, I'll be looking for healthy options too. The way I eat and how I feel has changed so much and I really have no clue what to eat on vacation. I just want to fidn a balance of enjoying myself and not overdoing it

 

[gillep]

I normally try to eat really healthy at home but at disney I let that go and ate some amazing but horribly unhealthy food being on the DXDP for 7 days, and I could feel the difference. My last meal at disney I needed something healthier. We went to Sanaa and I ordered:
Tandoori Chicken - Tandoori Chicken wrapped in Naan Bread with minted greens, tomato and cucumber-yogurt Raita. - $14.99

The chicken was moist and delicious with great flavor but not cooked in tons of oil/fat (I assume they cook it in an authentic tandor oven) the naan was wonderful but you could easly not eat this part and still have an awesome meal because there were TONS of greens and tomato and the raita was very light but really added to the flavor. I would absolutly get this again it was huge and had great flavor and tons of vegys and a lean protein source. Just note that I believe this is only served at lunch but it was soo worth it to make the trip over plus I got to watch the animals on the savanna from the table!!!!!

I am also really looking forward to going to CHH to try the lighthouse sandwitch I love that it is vegetarian and has hummus

I also believe that at the mara (possibly other cs locations) you can get a thing of hummus and some vegetables for a snack/ small meal

 

[ocalla]

gillep:

I LOVED the lighthouse at CHH. Tried it last week, and had it twice.

OP, we snacked on lots of fruit bowls (although it's a TASK getting the bowls open), had salads at some of the CS places, DH had the salmon at Sunshine Season.

We eat very clean here at home, and after a burger with fries for lunch on our first day my stomach was paying for it. Stayed away from that the rest of the week!!! Disney has come a long way with healthier options.

DD13 and I ordered the kids meal a couple of time (PB & J, with carrots and grapes, bottle water), not to be cheap...but because it was simpler food.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Thanks to everyone for the responses! I know - Blasphemy - but I need to balance out the 'bad' with the 'good'. I am a generally healthy eater and I run and excercise a LOT. For the past couple of vacations to Disney, I haven't even gained weight. But I get bored with substituting carrots for fries so I like to hear what others recommend for a healthy meal.

But don't misunderstand my question, I LOVE my filet and pretzel breadsticks at Le Cellier, dole whips, cookies, mickey waffles, etc... I just need to balance it out.

A couple of my favorite, healthier choice items are :

the Tuna Nicoise Salad at GF Cafe for lunch

the Tabbouleh Wraps at Tangeirine Cafe in Morocco

Heirloom Tomato & Mozzerella di Bufala at Flying Fish

Fresh Squeezed/Pressed juices at breakfast at Fresh

Thank you, this is just the thing that I was hoping to hear about!

I normally try to eat really healthy at home but at disney I let that go and ate some amazing but horribly unhealthy food being on the DXDP for 7 days, and I could feel the difference. My last meal at disney I needed something healthier. We went to Sanaa and I ordered:
Tandoori Chicken - Tandoori Chicken wrapped in Naan Bread with minted greens, tomato and cucumber-yogurt Raita. - $14.99

The chicken was moist and delicious with great flavor but not cooked in tons of oil/fat (I assume they cook it in an authentic tandor oven) the naan was wonderful but you could easly not eat this part and still have an awesome meal because there were TONS of greens and tomato and the raita was very light but really added to the flavor. I would absolutly get this again it was huge and had great flavor and tons of vegys and a lean protein source. Just note that I believe this is only served at lunch but it was soo worth it to make the trip over plus I got to watch the animals on the savanna from the table!!!!!

I am also really looking forward to going to CHH to try the lighthouse sandwitch I love that it is vegetarian and has hummus

I also believe that at the mara (possibly other cs locations) you can get a thing of hummus and some vegetables for a snack/ small meal

Thanks for this recommendation!

Keep anymore coming!!!!

And one of my recommendations is the salmon with olive tapenade at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot. You can pick your sides too so you can get something 'healthier' if you want.