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| Longingly wishing that their dad would just buy them ice cream |
I just returned from Disney World and while it was super packed, very hot, and kind of expensive, it was also awesome. The parks are immaculate, the staff is patient beyond what normal people should be, and despite the waiting (and a little whining), all 3 of my children thoroughly enjoyed it.
But as I schlepped my 5, 3 and 2 year old children along sun-baked paths, through crowds and onto various rides, I noticed that I was one of the younger (and thankfully thinner) child-schleppers out there. The percentage of obese grandparents, parents, and children that populate Disney World was somehwhat disheartening but not as much as the remarkably limited food options for the Disney goers.
It first hit me when I saw an elderly couple dividing up their pill box contents at lunch. I thought that many of these generous and loving grandparents were likely diabetic and hypertensive. And what would they eat? Finding healthy food options in Disney is harder than getting seats at the Princess Breakfast. I am certainly no Disney expert and this is just an opinion, but the vast majority of nourishment options were of the hamburger/hot dog/fried variety. There was a definite lack of fresh fruit and vegetables but you couldn't spit without hitting an ice cream/candy/frozen sugary concoction stand.
I know, I know. What should I expect? It's an amusement park, not a wellness center. But it also is supposed to be a magical place and it is indeed a family-oriented destination that prides itslef on making memories. It would be my hope that in the future they begin to provide healthier options for those grandparents and parents who may not want to bring their own food and stay healthy. There is a a movement afoot in this country to get healhtier and greener and our children are learning this in school. So where better than Disney World to set the example and begin providing healthier lunch, dinner and snack options to all those millions of people who love to make memories.
If any of you have differing opinions, or similar ones, we always love to hear from you! Comment below...
I couldn't agree more! It is often frustrating to just spend the day at 6 Flags because you have to pack your own "healthier" (and obviously cheaper) lunch.
ReplyDeleteSo I am following up on this post.... I went to the Bronx Zoo to run a 5k (So, I'm looking for healthy options since I just exercised!). Well, the map they handed to me had a grid of all their eateries and bulleted "healthy" options. I'm assuming New York is a little more on the ball with all their strict rules being enforced, but it was still nice to see that even though there was a dippin' dots and a pretzle stand around every bend!
ReplyDeleteNew York is indeed ahead of the curve in demanding healthier food options. TO that end, they require all food chains to publish nutritional information, including caloric content, on theie menus. Although, I also recall that Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx had a McDonald's on the ground floor and it was a regular occurrence to see patients in their gowns, with IV poles in tow, waiting in line to gte a cheeseburger and fries.
ReplyDeleteIt is possible to eat heart healthy in Disney World. Like anything else there, it takes planning. November was the first time I had to try it, so I documented the efforts:
ReplyDeletehttp://dogfoodforchairs.blogspot.com/2011/05/carnivores-guide-to-cardiology-disney.html