Once upon a time, it was no easy thing to eat healthy at Walt Disney World. Unless you were visiting Epcot, guests looking to count calorie faced the cruel fate of having to pass on juicy turkey legs and warm cinnamon rolls in favor of melancholy iceberg salads and a side of steamed sorrows.
Oh, how times have changed. Healthy eaters can rejoice, for in the last decade, Walt Disney World has become not only one of the most hospitable destinations for visitors with special diets– they have raised the bar on healthy eating entirely. With the notable exception of Disney’s Hollywood Studios (where dining may improve with upcoming developments), Disney’s parks and resorts now offer a treasure trove of healthy options often even tastier than the alternatives. You may have never even heard of #3 on this list!
1. Sunshine Seasons – Epcot
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
No exploration of healthy dining at Walt Disney World would be complete without Sunshine Seasons. For over twenty years, Sunshine Seasons in Epcot’s The Land has proven a mainstay for good nutrition done right at Walt Disney World. Whether you’re on a special diet or just want to watch your calories, Sunshine Seasons has one of the widest range of choices for healthy eaters anywhere in the parks.
For breakfast, we’ve mentioned the delicious Muesli cups (now called “Overnight Oats”) as a healthy and unique sweet treat. At lunch and dinner, meat-eaters can find rotisserie chicken, fish tacos, wraps, and sandwiches to sate their appetites while vegans and vegetarians have access to a number of flatbreads, wraps, noodle bowls, and delectably fresh sides (we love the tabbouleh pinwheels). The best part is since everything is chosen ala carte, you can completely customize your meal down to each item.
Oh, and if we didn’t already love Sunshine Seasons enough, they now offer Mobile Ordering on My Disney Experience!
2. Satu’li Canteen – Animal Kingdom
Image: Disney
No matter what your feelings are about James Cameron’s Avatar, guests across the board are agreeing that Disney knocked the ball out of the park with the debut of Animal Kingdom’s World of Pandora. While most of the focus surrounding this new ethereal land has focused on its amazing attractions and shopping experiences, our little geeky hearts just can’t stop gushing about how wonderful Pandora’s Satu’li Canteen is as an addition to Disney dining.
Sure, Satu’li Canteen has amazing atmosphere, wacky weird pods that taste like McDonald’s burgers, and they were one of the first locations to debut Mobile Ordering, but the area where Satu’li Canteen really shines is that it has taken healthy eating at Walt Disney World to a new level. You won’t find any mystery wraps, romaine salads, or yawntastic sandwiches here. Instead, Satu’li Canteen offers guests the opportunity to customize healthy grain, meat, and vegetable bowls in a wide range of zesty flavor combinations.
Each bowl starts with a protein choice: beef, chicken, sustainable fish, or crispy tofu. This is served on a base of either quinoa and vegetables, whole grains and rice, sweet potato hash, or vegetable chips. Last, you choose a seasoning of either charred onion chimichurri, black bean vinaigrette, or creamy herb dressing. The end result is pure magic and a world of healthy possibilities.
Satu’li Canteen’s food is legitimately delicious, particularly if you like bold flavors. It is the perfect choice for a party where everyone has different dining preferences, and it is definitely a must visit for anyone looking to maintain healthy eating at Walt Disney World.
3. Picabu Market – The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
Picabu Market might be the stealthiest, most delightful Walt Disney World restaurant guests have never heard of. We recently stumbled across it after a stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, and we cannot believe this amazing little quick service restaurant has stayed under the radar for so long.
Hidden away in the lowest floor of the Dolphin (seriously, you may have to ask for directions to find it), Picabu is the resort’s 24-hour dining cafeteria. If you ever find yourself hungry after the parks and other restaurants have closed, this is absolutely the place to visit.
Along with a wide range of grab-and-go items like sandwiches and salads, Picabu offers a full taco bar where guests can customize burritos, tacos, and bowls with a range of proteins. Everything is made to order, so you can have them adjust details of each order as you go to match your dietary needs. The tacos and bowls are surprisingly tasty, and the range of foods here is wonderfully versatile. Move over, Boardwalk pizza! No more late night regrets for you!
4. Tusker House – Animal Kingdom
Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is best known for its amazing character dining and charming atmosphere. However, what really keeps Tusker House at the top of our list for best Disney dining is the stunning quality of its food. It can prove very difficult to eat healthy at many of Disney’s buffet restaurants. Tusker House blows this issue out of the water with a wide range of delicious African dishes that will leave both paleo and vegan guests salivating for more.
The reason Tusker House is such a perfect choice for healthy eaters is its African cuisine. Unlike more westernized diets, the African items highlighted in Tusker House’s buffet take fruits, vegetables, and basic proteins and pair them with delicious spices instead of heavy creams and cheeses. It is seriously the best value for a buffet at Disney World if you want to eat smart and have a blast doing it. Be warned though: controlling yourself at their decadent dessert table might prove an exercise in futility!
5. Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen – Magic Kingdom
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
We’ve highlighted Magic Kingdom’s quirky new table service experience Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen before. While this restaurant still has a few kinks to work out (prices are high for Magic Kingdom dining, and it can be hit or miss whether you get one of the hilarious Jungle Cruise skippers as a server), the range of healthy options on the menu is outstanding.
Overall, Jungle Navigation Co. features items with a distinctly Asian and tropical feel. The noodle salad, curried vegetable crew stew, and sustainable fish are all great options (we would recommend skipping Nile Nellie’s Noodle Bowl which lacked flavor on our visit). If you’re looking to eat healthy while visiting the Magic Kingdom, this wacky establishment should definitely be on your list.
6. Tangierine Café – Epcot
Image: HarshLight, Flickr (license)
There is a reason the Mediterranean Diet is such a popular choice for healthy eating. Nutritionists have lauded the hallmarks of Mediterranean cuisine as a gold standard for anti-inflammatory eating. It is almost impossible to not eat healthy at Epcot’s Tangerine Café, located inside World Showcase’s Morocco pavilion. This cozy café offers guests a wide range of Moroccan and Mediterranean items including shawarma platters, couscous plates, and healthy sides like tabbouleh. Located on the far side of World Showcase, it’s the perfect stop for a healthy meal in the beautiful atmosphere of the Morocco pavilion. You can also top off your meal with a refreshing cup of hot or iced Moroccan mint tea.
7. Jiko, The Cooking Place – Animal Kingdom Lodge
Image: Disney
Many of Disney’s signature restaurants include healthy dishes on their menus. Indeed, Flying Fish Café, Artist’s Point, The Coral Reef, and Tutto Italia all offer outstanding items that fall within the parameters of healthy eating choices. However, one Disney fine dining establishment stands out if you don’t just want to eat healthy but enjoy a zesty dining experience that you’ll never forget.
Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jiko, The Cooking Place remains our favorite for healthy fine dining at Walt Disney World. Similar to Tusker House, Jiko stands out for its amazing use of African fusion cooking. Delicious proteins like lamb, chicken, fish, and even elk are paired beautifully with rich combinations of vegetables and fruits. For visitors with a plant-based diet, the options on Jiko’s vegan and vegetarian menus were some of our favorite items we’ve ever had at Walt Disney World, period (don’t miss the Egyptian Kushari!). We have yet to find any fine dining location in Disney’s parks or resorts that match Jiko’s sheer creativity while giving guests a full menu that is reasonably healthy!
What is your favorite place to eat healthy at Walt Disney World?
