Eating Healthy Food at Disneyland
Going on vacation is daunting when you are working to adhere to any type of diet. Let alone, one that is initially restrictive. However, even though cotton candy, churros, and hot dogs are off-limits, there really is still so much available to enjoy.
While on your magical vacation it will be important as you peruse the menus, to look for simple meals that you can easily omit items from such as dairy, gluten, soy, starch, or sugary products. You will also want to ask the chef, if possible, whether the items are cooked in soybean oil and avoid all that are. Instead, seek food that has been or can be cooked in olive, avocado, or coconut oil.
Pack Your Favorite Snacks
First things first. While you may be excited to try the many different stands and restaurants Disneyland has to offer, be sure to pack plenty of healthy snacks. These can be fresh apples, carrot sticks, and lots of easy-to-pack packaged snacks. You can find some of my favorite snacks here. All of these are approved for Phase One of the Foods Four Thought Diet.
You can also enjoy your packed lunch or snacks in any one of Disneyland’s many relaxed picnic areas. These are clean and quiet; you can find more information on where to find them on this blog. They also make for a great retreat if anyone in your party is needing a bit of a break.
The Main Street Market Fruit Cart
Before you head onto your favorite Disneyland ride, be sure to stop at The Market St. Fruit Cart on Main Street. This is always stocked with delicious fresh and dried fruit. You can also find other fresh food kiosks throughout Disneyland and California Adventure.
Critter Country Fruit Cart (Frontierland)
Fairfax Market (Hollywood Land, California Adventure)
Fantasyland Fruit Cart (Fantasyland)
Fillmore’s Taste-In (Cars Land)
Main Street, U.S.A. Fruit Cart (Disneyland Main Street)
Ship to Shore Marketplace (Frontierland)
Mortimer's Market ( Buena Vista Street, California Adventure)
Tomorrowland Fruit Cart (Tomorrowland)
Toon Up Treats (Toon Town)
Tropical Imports (Adventureland)
The Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland
Located in Adventureland, Bengal Barbecue has some nice clean options. Plus, everything just tastes better fresh off the BBQ. In addition to the menu items listed below, you could easily request a simple chicken breast barbequed with just olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Galactic Grill
Tomorrowland is one of my favorite stops while in Disneyland. Between Buzz Light Year Astro Blasters and Space Mountain I’m in happy-mode heaven. And if you find yourself hungry while there, you can stop at the Galactic Grill. This restaurant has a very allergy-friendly menu which is a good sign that they can make the necessary accommodations. For breakfast, you can enjoy eggs and a fruit cup. And for lunch or dinner, you can request the grilled chicken that originally comes on the salad, a dill pickle, and apple juice.
River Belle Terrace
If you’re in the mood to sit down and take a load off, the River Belle Terrace is a nice place to do it. Here you can order the Roasted Chicken dish with market vegetables and seasonal fruit.
Cafe Orleans
Enjoy some comforting southern classics at another dine-in location. Cafe Orleans offers Roast Chicken, Sauteed Shrimp, market vegetables, and seasonal fruit.
Blue Bayou
So many people enjoy the ambiance of the Blue Bayou. Here, you can also enjoy a diet-friendly Chicken Breast with Seasonal Fruit or Market Vegetables.
French Market Restaurant
Located in New Orleans Square, this relaxing destination has several diet-friendly options such as Herb Roasted Vegetables, a fruit plate, a side of seasonal vegetables, or Chicken Breast with Rice. Just be sure to sub the rice out for vegetables or fruit if you’re on Phase One of the Foods Four Thought Diet.
Tiki Juice Bar
Quench your thirst from a long day of walking with a nice cold Dole Pineapple Juice from the Tiki Juice Bar in Adventureland.
Flo’s V8 Cafe
If you’re in Phase Two of the FFT diet, you can enjoy an Impossible Burger at Flo’s V8 Cafe. Just be sure to sub bread for extra lettuce, no cheese, no sauce, and sub the fries for mandarin oranges.
Smokejumpers Grill
If your stomach starts growling when you near Grizzly Peak, consider stopping at Smokejumpers Grill. Here, you can enjoy a grilled chicken and an Impossible burger with the same substitutions found above at Flo’s V8 Cafe.
Lamplight Lounge
Visiting Pixar Pier is one of the many exciting places you can visit while in California Adventure. Be sure to stop at the Lamplight Lounge for brunch, lunch, or dinner. If you visit in the earlier part of the day, you can order a delicious Egg White Frittata Bake. This protein-packed dish is also chockfull of fresh veggies. Just be sure to have them hold the sour cream and sub the potatoes for another vegetable or fruit. For lunch or dinner, you can order the Roasted Chicken, and hold the couscous if on Phase One.
Buffets
And I’m saving the best for last here because buffets are truly my favorite way to get the most bang for your buck at Disneyland. The cost is generally around $55 per person, which is a lot, but you can really load up on food ensuring that everyone stays fuller longer. However, it may be hard for some to withstand the temptation of seeing so much food available for the taking, so this option might not be for everyone. Additionally, buffets have always been great at accommodating the dietary needs of our family. When we get there we just ask to talk to a chef who leads us around and lets us know what items to avoid given our restrictions. Soy is the most tricky since you can’t generally tell if an item has been cooked in it. However, in the past, the chefs have assured us that many of the items are not cooked in soybean oil. And given my husband’s severe allergy to soy, we would definitely know if he had eaten any of it. I have found that Storytellers Cafe has the most healthy options, followed by Goofy’s Kitchen, and in third Plaza Inn. Though I’ve only eaten at the latter for breakfast.
I hope this list helps you breathe a little easier as you plan your dietary needs while visiting the Magic Kingdom.
Did you enjoy this list? Or maybe you have a tip of your own. Let me know in the comments.
*This information was gathered in 2022. Menus at Disneyland are constantly changing and these may not be available at the time of your visit.