When it comes to healthy foods at amusement parks, you’re usually stuck between ordering a caramel-dipped apple (that counts as fruit, right?) and a hot dog (at least there’s protein!). But with a bit of planning, you can have a great time and stay on track, says Laura M. Nance, R.D., nutrition specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina. First, give yourself some grace. “This is probably not the week for an ambitious weight-loss goal,” Nance says, especially if you intend to enjoy your favorite only-at-the-amusement-park treat. Second, follow these easy strategies:
Prep for success
More and more theme parks are picking up on consumers’ desire to eat more healthily. Disney, for instance, offers fresh fruit, hummus, baked potatoes, and vegetarian chili, while options at Six Flags include fresh fruit and grilled chicken. And almost every park posts its menus online. Map out your course beforehand in order to estimate when you’re likely to be hungry and decide where and what you’ll eat. That way, your whole family won’t suddenly be starving with no vegetables in sight.
Pack snacks
Bringing along healthy snacks, such as carrots, fruit, and nuts, means you’ll have something on hand if hunger strikes and don’t find yourself just eating whatever your kids have. “It’s easy to think, ‘I didn’t get a snack, so I’ll have just a bite of their ice cream.’ Then an hour later, you’ll find yourself buying another snack,” says Susan Peirce Thompson, PhD, author of Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin & Free.
Enjoy what you love
Looking forward to that Mickey ice-cream bar or the Butterbeer at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Balance it out with a lighter lunch or dinner. Just be sure to plan how you’ll work in your treat, and then really savor it. Another potential plus: Knowing that you’ll be having a specific goodie later in the day can help you pass on other less-healthy foods you aren’t that excited about.
Embrace the exercise options
With so much to see and do, a theme park is the perfect way to get in your steps. In fact, Connect members have reported they easily logged 20,000 steps after a day at Disney. Be prepared by wearing good walking shoes and staying well hydrated.
Eat at off times
Yes there are plenty of fast food options, but don’t overlook the excellent higher-end dining options at many amusement parks. These onsite (or nearby offsite) restaurants are the perfect place to have a calmer, tastier, and potentially healthier meal. To avoid the crowds, make a lunch reservation for around 11 a.m., and then aim for an early dinner, say 4:30 p.m. (Eat a healthy snack if you’re hungry later.) You’ll have more relaxing meals and will maximize your time on the rides, since you’ll be happily colliding in bumper cars while everyone else is waiting to eat.
Try not to always bat clean up
Amusement park food prices can leave you as dizzy from sticker shock as you are from the roller coasters — but that’s not a reason to make unhealthy choices. Sure, it’s frustrating when your child loses interest after two bites of that foot-long hot dog you paid a small fortune for, but try to resist the temptation to finish it if that’s not what you really want to eat.
The bottom line
While you can say yes to your favorite treat when visiting a theme park, you can still find healthy foods to balance it out. Try to pack healthy snacks, look online to plot out which places serve healthier options, and don’t think you need to finish all the food your kids order and don’t eat. With these strategies, you can enjoy yourself and stay on track at the same time.
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