"Healthy" Disney

I wanted to start off by saying that ultimately, it's YOUR vacation! You can pig out, have some churros, turkey legs, and all the insanely yummy food that Walt Disney World has to offer if you want- BRB, dreaming about churros now. This blog is for those that want to eat on the lighter side of Disney fare or those that just want to know more about what the magical resort offers.

Healthy? At DISNEY?!?!?!

Yes! It's actually completely possible to eat more than just typical theme park food while you're in the Most Magical Place on Earth. I've compiled a list of some of my favorites for you and your crew to try if you're up for it!

Whispering Canyon Cafe

The Whispering Canyon Cafe is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. Known for throwing napkins at guests and making guests pass 11 bottles of ketchup to another table (not since reopening, though), this restaurant is a rootin' tootin' good time! This is a great location for a healthier breakfast and just happens to be one of my favorite breakfasts at Walt Disney World! The "Lighter Side Skillet" is an All-You-Care-To-Enjoy meal, but it comes with turkey sausage, turkey bacon, fresh fruit, yogurt, oatmeal (that's the BEST oatmeal I've ever had), spinach and egg frittatas, roasted potatoes with peppers, and just in case you feel like cheating a bit or having something a little heavier- mini Mickey waffles! As I mentioned before, all of these items are All-You-Care-To-Enjoy, so the starting portions are a bit smaller. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with this one!

The Garden Grill

This table service restaurant is located in the Land Pavilion within EPCOT. It's a circular restaurant that rotates and (pre-pandemic) offers the chance to meet Chip and Dale and a few of their friends! The food here is nice and fresh (though some sits a little heavy) and parts are even grown right next door at the Living with the Land attraction. Right now, the menu for lunch and dinner are both the same and offer an All-You-Care-To-Enjoy meal that comes with "harvest-inspired" garden salad, sliced turkey breast, herb and leek stuffing, seasonal veggies, mashed potatoes, and more. Bonus points- it even comes with a berry shortcake for dessert! YUM!

Tusker House

A great way to ensure that you're getting the best foods for you and your needs is by choosing them yourself! It's a no-brainer, right? Tusker House (located in Africa within Animal Kingdom) is a character dining experience with Mickey and his safari friends complete with you guessed it- a buffet! This isn't your typical buffet though, it's complete with African inspired fare and also provides a wealth of healthier options like spiced tofu, stewed veggies, mealie pap, and so much more. Tusker house celebrates the wonderful and fresh flavors of Africa in the best way!

Columbia Harbour House

If you love seafood and quick service meals, look no further than this Magic Kingdom staple. Columbia Harbour House has several great options to choose from like a grilled shrimp skewer, grilled salmon, or a Harbour salad with chicken (that one is my favorite!). If you're not into meat, the Columbia Harbour House also has a Lighthouse Sandwich that has toasted multigrain bread, hummus, tomato, and broccoli slaw and is served with french fries (but you can easily sub out the french fries for something else if you'd like. If you're looking for healthy eating in the Magic Kingdom, this is a great option.

Important To Note:

There are a few important things to note when visiting the Walt Disney World resort and trying to eat healthy. Here are a few tips to help!

Mickey Check Meals- These are the healthier kids meal options that you'll find at almost every quick service and table service restaurant at the resort. Please note that you can always exchange or change the sides that come with the meals based on availability.

Beyond Meat- The plant-based meat substitute has gone viral after proving to taste as close to the real thing as possible! Luckily, you can experience Beyond Meat products at several dining locations throughout the parks. Tony's Town Square spaghetti and meat(less) balls, PizzeRizzo's spicy italian sausage(less) sub, and the 'Ohana plant based breakfast skillet are personal favorites!

Special Vegetarian or Vegan options are always marked on the restaurant menus, but if you don't see something you can eat, make sure to talk with your server. Often times for special diets, the chef will come to your table and you'll be able to discuss what may work the best for you- and it may not even be on the menu! Disney goes a LONG way to ensure that their guests are happy and healthy.