Eating Healthy at Disney's Animal Kingdom

I am one of those people that enjoys my vacation time, but I am also one of those people that tends to have to wait a month after coming home from vacation to step on a scale, because to face the truth and to own up to the overindulging that occurred on my vacation, can be much too painful. One of my favourite vacation places is Walt Disney World, and anyone who has been to Walt Disney World knows that the Mouse offers a lot of yummy treats that make it oh-so-easy to fall off the eating healthy bandwagon.

Well this last trip, I was determined that this wouldn't be me. I was going to Disney on the meal plan, but I was going to be indomitable and not use my snack credits for ice cream bars or funnel cake, my counter-service credits for hamburgers with fries and my table-service credits for buttery lobster and cheesecake. I was planning on coming home and not having to Photoshop my pictures because I progressively got more bloated throughout the week.

First off, let me tell you, this healthy eating plan for my trip took a lot of planning ahead of time. I was not able to find nutritional facts on the restaurants at Walt Disney World, and when I inquired to the four major parks, I received a response that due to the menu changing so frequently they did not have a record of the nutritional facts. I didn't really buy this excuse, so I continued on my quest. I decided to take a look at the menu's myself using websites like www.allears.net and www. wdwinfo.com, and make up a menu for myself for the week.

Let's first start with the Animal Kingdom.

Restaurant/Food Stand

Meal

Description

Drinkwallah - Asia

Snack

Fruit cups, apple slices, whole fruit

Flame Tree Barbeque

Lunch/Dinner

Smoked Turkey Breast Sandwich -served on multi-grain bun, hold the cole slaw

Mixed Green Salad with Barbeque Chicken

Fruit Plate

Harambe Fruit Stand

Snack

Pineapple Bites

Apples and Caramel

Fruit Cup

Whole Fruit

Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery

Snack

Fruit Cup

Crisped Rice Treat - not so much healthy, but an alright snack

Yogurt

Pizzafari

Breakfast

Fruit Cup

Yogurt

Cereal (Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, Raisin Bran) with Milk

Rainforest Cafe

Breakfast

Forest Combo - fresh seasonal fruit and a bowl of hot oatmeal served (sans the brown sugar)

*offers substitute of cholesterol free eggs and sugar free syrup to guests

Rainforest Cafe

Lunch/Dinner

Paradise House Salad - mixed greens, roma tomatoes, jicama, carrots and cucumber

Volcanic Cobb Salad - ask for without the bacon and blue cheese

Jungle Chop Salad - ask for without the blue cheese crumble

Blue Mountain Chicken Sandwich - no Swiss Cheese or bacon, and no mayo or butter on bun, substitute salad or veggies for fries

Tuscan Chicken - substitute veggies or salad for mashed potatoes

Restaurantosaurus

Lunch/Dinner

Mandarin Chicken Salad

Vegetarian Burger with Apple Slices

Tamu Tamu Refreshments

Lunch/Dinner

Turkey Sandwich with Apple Slices

Tuna Fish Sandwich with Apple Slices

Tusker House

Breakfast

Fresh Fruit

Cereal with Milk

Oatmeal

Mealie Pap

Whole Grain Breads

Yogurt

Jams/Jellies

Fruit Chutney

Carved Rotisserie Honey-Glazed Ham

Tusker House

Lunch/Dinner

Mango Ajar, Blatjang Chutney and Mixed Dried Fruit

Mixed Greens

Tomato and Cucmber Salad with fresh mint and yogurt dressing

Tunisian Couscous Salad

Fresh Fruit Salad

Hummus and Tabbouleh

Spiced Tandori Tofu

Peri-Peri Marinated Salmon Filet

Cape Malay Curry Chicken

Turkey Coldcuts

Saffron-Infused Vegetables and Cabbage

Green Bean, Mushroom and Carrot Medley

Pearl Couscous laced with Sweet Basil Essence

Yak & Yeti

Lunch/Dinner

Steamed Mussels

Lettuce Cups

House Salad

Mandarin Chicken Salad - Dressing on Side

Seared Miso Salmon

Pho Noodles

House Stir Fried Vegetables - no oil

Sorbet