Keeping New Year’s Resolutions at Disneyland

by Autumn Hilden
AllEars® Guest Columnist

Feature Article

This article appeared in the January 19, 2016 Issue #852 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)

So you're about ankle deep into your New Year's resolution to "be healthier," right? It may delight you to know that a trip to Disneyland can actually jumpstart your efforts, and it's not just the seven miles you'll likely be walking in a full park day. Resolve to stay resolved, because we have lots of tips and tricks for keeping it together at your Happiest Place on Earth.

Just like you, Disney Parks are making strides toward better food choices. Of course we don't have actual nutritional information and we're not doctors, but we can see there are some sensible and still-delicious options for you if you want to stay focused on your New Year's health goals. Goodbye, fried everything and piles of iceberg lettuce!

How about a spinach-artichoke and egg white frittata with avocado relish from Ariel's Grotto for breakfast, or perhaps a Tangaroa Terrace tropical fruit plate? Disney fruit has some kind of delicious, magical mojo that cancels out the damage of the purchase price to your wallet. Or, if you want a classic, healthy start to your day, sit down for some steel-cut oatmeal with brown sugar and berries at Carnation Cafe.

Your lunch options are just as yummy. Go ahead and give in to those siren smells wafting toward you from Bengal BBQ. The Chieftain Chicken skewer and Outback Veggie skewer won't derail your efforts at New Year nutrition. If you're meat-free and loving it, opt for the Portobello-Mushroom Philly from Award Wieners (who knew?!). It comes with a sprinkle of pepper jack cheese and onions and bell peppers sauteed in Karl Strauss Red Trolley Ale. Get it with apple slices instead of chips for extra brownie (no, not the edible kind!) points.

At dinner time, Cafe Orleans serves a lovely N'awlins vegetable ragout with Atlantic salmon. It's a mix of squash, red onions, and bell peppers, piled on a sweet corn cake and garnished with shaved, aged parmesan. They are not messing around with that cheese, either. It will melt in your mouth. Or, for another light Disneyland dinner, get yourself a trio of street tacos at Rancho del Zocalo. Keep it simple and savory with chicken, salsa verde, onions, and cilantro served in corn tortillas.

For snacks, pick up some chilled and lightly salted edamame from the Lucky Fortune Cookery, or stop in at one of those healthy food stands you've skillfully avoided until now. Fairfax Market, Fillmore's Taste-In, and Tropical Imports offer fat-free yogurt, part-skim string cheese, whole fruit, fruit and veg cups, hummus and pretzels, and more. There's a lot of wonderful crunching to be had there. And honestly, the new year is the perfect time to finally try one of those giant pickles. At the very least, who hasn't secretly wanted a juicy, Disneyland pineapple spear in a plastic baggie? Spread your culinary wings and fly!

Healthy lounging at Disneyland is also a legit possibility. Indulge in a glass or two of red wine (free antioxidants!) and order from tons of healthy menu options. If you can pry yourself away from the panko-crusted longbeans (best of luck), Trader Sam's has ahi poke, sauteed shrimp tacos, and chicken lettuce wraps. Hearthstone Lounge offers a seafood cocktail of chilled shrimp, avocado, tomatoes, red onions, and cucumbers in cocktail sauce, while the Napa Rose Lounge serves pan-roasted diver scallops in lobster-lemon sauce. Cheers to no skimping!

When it's time to indulge your sweet tooth, pick one truly decadent treat in a finite amount. Perhaps some Diamond Celebration Truffles to share with a friend? You can't really go wrong with boozy chocolate, and with the hefty price tag of $16.99, you'll make sure to savor every bite.

Alright, now that your food worries are a thing of the past, it's time to have some fun. Start by working your arms at Mad Tea Party, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, and Toy Story Midway Mania. You're probably already familiar with the burn that is the bonus round on Midway Mania. Now you can look forward to it instead of just sitting back and letting your partner crush you.

Next get some legwork in at Tarzan's Treehouse. Just let the soothing sounds of Phil Collins's movie score carry you up flight after flight of wooden steps. When you feel like the king of the jungle, exit for a cool down at the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough.

For a light total-body workout, scramble around Disneyland's Toon Town houses and playgrounds, then walk it out toward DCA and repeat at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. The Games of the Boardwalk also totally count as light exercise.

Once you're exhausted, take a seat — on some thrill rides. Roller coasters will keep your heart rate up with basically no work on your part, and they're wicked fun. For the highest beats per minute, try the inversion and hills on California Screamin', the whip-around turns on Goofy's Sky School, Space Mountain's hyper drive, the heart-pounding competition lap of Radiator Springs Racers, and the sheer drop in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Finish it off with an ice-cold winter spray on Splash Mountain.

Here's to a 2016 that is both healthy AND happy!

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RELATED LINKS
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Disneyland Resort Menus

Disney World, the Dining Plan and a Diet

The Walt Disney Company Sets New Standards for Food

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Autumn Hilden is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor. She has worked for Disney Publishing Worldwide and The Jim Henson Company and is currently writing books for young adults. Autumn grew up taking family photos in front of the waterfall pool at the Polynesian Village Resort and selecting "desert" for the final flight on Horizons. She now embraces Disneyland as her happiest place on Earth. You can follow her on Twitter here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Would you like to be an AllEars® Guest Columnist? Check out our Writers' Guidelines and send your idea for a feature to AllEars® Editor Deb Koma HERE.

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Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.