Tips for Healthy Eating in Walt Disney World

One of the best parts of any Walt Disney World Resort vacation is enjoying the countless dining options offered throughout the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Disney Resorts, and more. Every single dining location is unique and offers Guests the chance to enjoy everything from grab-and-go snacks to quick-service meals to signature dining experiences, all with impressive menus and immersive themes.

With so many dining options to choose from throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, Guests might automatically think that the food is going to be typical theme park fare, like chicken nuggets, fries, burgers, and more. Or Guests might focus on the thought of indulging throughout their vacation in over-the-top dishes and treats that are truly decadent.

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While these options certainly exist throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, it is also completely possible to enjoy healthy eating throughout any vacation, thanks to delicious, fresh, and hearty options that don’t tip into decadent and splurge-worthy bites. In fact, healthy eating has become a huge initiative at the Walt Disney World Resort in recent years, with menus expanding and changing to include fresh and healthy options for Guests to enjoy throughout the property.

Looking to enjoy healthy eating while at the Walt Disney World Resort? Check out these tips and tricks to enjoy delicious healthy options every single day!

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Look For Healthy Menu Options

The most obvious way to enjoy healthy eating while at the Walt Disney World Resort is to seek out healthy menu choices, and thankfully this has become very easy to do with options found literally everywhere. Every single restaurant throughout the property, whether a lounge, quick-service, or table service, features at least one healthy option designed to please Guests who are looking for a fresher, lighter, or hearty option. Also available on every single menu are alternative menu options for dietary or allergy restrictions that often are also very healthy and delicious.

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While there are indeed healthy menu options to be found on every menu at the Walt Disney World Resort, some locations simply have more or better options than others. Sunshine Seasons can be found in The Land Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Nature and is open daily for quick-service lunch and dinner with several ordering stations that serve up fresh options including ingredients grown right there in The Land. Some fresh and healthy options that Guests can enjoy at Sunshine Seasons include Oak-grilled Salmon, Asian Vegetable Noodle Salad, Spicy Fish Taco, and Caesar Salad.

Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square is another wonderful quick-service option for healthy dining and is open each day for lunch and dinner. The charming restaurant focuses on seafood favorites and Guests can enjoy healthy menu items including the Grilled Shrimp Skewer, Grilled Salmon, and Hail to the Leaf!

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Kids’ Disney Check Meals

Another important factor to consider when thinking about healthy menu items at each restaurant is the option to enjoy a kid’s meal. Many dining locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort feature a regular kids’ menu as well as several Kids’ Disney Check Meals, which are deemed to be healthy and nutritious options. Guests are allowed to order from the kids’ menu regardless of age, and some of the Kids’ Disney Check Meals are filling and delicious options that shouldn’t be overlooked.

RELATED: The Best Quick Service Meals for Kids in Walt Disney World

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Ask for Modifications

Despite so many healthy options on various menus throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, Guests might spot a food item that isn’t particularly healthy but looks delicious. Luckily, many restaurants are very accommodating when Guests ask for modifications to meals, and simple changes can take any meal from more indulgent to healthier with slight changes. Guests for example can ask for sauce on the side, switch out sides for healthier options like fruit or vegetables, and even ask for certain elements of the meal to be excluded. By making slight modifications to any meal, Guests can make it healthier and still enjoy indulging a little bit.

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Opt for Quick Service Meals That Are Customizable

Similar to asking for modifications, some meals throughout the Walt Disney World Resort can be customizable, making them fantastic options for Guests who are looking to eat on the healthier side. The perfect example of a restaurant that offers up customizable meals is Satu’li Canteen in Pandora – The World of Avatar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This quick-service restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves up a menu of customizable bowls in an immersive and serene setting filled with Na’vi cultural items.

Guests who dine at Satu’li Canteen can choose from several proteins including Slow-Roasted Sliced Grilled Beef, Chili-Garlic Shrimp, and Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken, and then customize their meal with the choice of a base like Red and Sweet Potato Hash or Hearty Salad and sauce including Charred Green Onion Vinaigrette or Creamy Herb Dressing.

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Bring Healthy Snacks from Home

Another easy way to ensure that a Guest can continue healthy eating habits throughout the Walt Disney World Resort is to pack their own healthy snack options from home. Filling and fueling options with fresh and healthy ingredients such as granola bars, fresh fruit, and more are easy items to pack in bags, and having them on hand throughout each day is the fastest and easiest way to make healthy choices. While there are healthy options available for purchase throughout the property like the Grilled Street Corn at the Harambe Fruit Market and selections of fresh fruits and vegetables at various locations, having items on hand at all times makes healthier choices that much easier.