Who knew eating healthy could actually prove an enjoyable part of a Disney vacation?
It’s easy to associate theme parks with decadent comfort foods like turkey legs and funnel cakes—vacations are often a time we relax the rules, and there are plenty of options to splurge on calories at Walt Disney World. Despite this trend, there are myriad reasons why someone may choose to eat healthy while visiting The Most Magical Place on Earth and doing so doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. In fact, it can be quite the opposite.
Walt Disney World remains king among US theme parks for its incredible diversity of dining options, and in the past decades, Disney has made impressive strides making healthy eating accessible and enjoyable. In point of fact, I’ve actually found myself voluntarily choosing some of Disney’s best healthy dining dishes over alternatives because they just taste so darn good. Even if you won’t be following a strict diet at Walt Disney World, eating mindfully for part of your trip is a great idea to off-set splurges like desserts or a heavy meal you’ve been hoping to enjoy.
It is important to note that healthy eating is going to look a little different for everyone. One person’s idea might involve staying plant-based, while another may want access to dishes that highlight a range of clean options like fish, lean protein, and whole grains. Others may just be looking for a quality salad or sandwich. Whatever your goals, there are options for you throughout Walt Disney World of quality to rival Disney’s more infamous dining offerings. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should give you some good places to start.
With that in mind, here are the top places we found throughout Walt Disney World to eat healthy and love every bite…
Epcot
We wanted to start with Epcot for one reason—it remains Disney’s most impressive park for dining overall, and that leaves it with the broadest spectrum of choices for healthy eaters.
For counter-service dining, our top pick remains Sunshine Seasons at The Land. This multi-window cafeteria has been setting high standards for healthy dining for decades, and it remains one of Disney’s best choices for guests looking to eat smart. Some favorite choices include Oak-Grilled Rotisserie Chicken or Salmon, Vegetable Korma, the Power Salad, and a noteworthy selection of grab-and-go plates like Tabbouleh Pinwheels.
In World Showcase, our two favorite quick-dining choices are Katsura Grill at the Japan pavilion (offering sushi, Japanese bowls, and noodles) and Tangierine Café at the Morocco pavilion. Sadly, since Disney took over management of the pavilion, they haven’t done a great job keeping Tangierine Café open consistently, so it is possible the restaurant might be closed when you visit. If it is open, however, it is an excellent choice.
On the subject of on-the-go dining, it is also worth mentioning the booths throughout the park which open seasonally for Epcot’s annual festivals—these remain an excellent choice for tracking down healthy small plates, particularly during the Flower and Garden Festival as well as the Food and Wine Festival. If a festival is taking place during your visit, pick up an event passport from locations throughout the park to take a look at menu options without having to tour the whole park.
As for table service, our top healthy pick at Epcot is Spice Road Table, once again located at the Morocco pavilion. This gorgeous indoor-outdoor restaurant offers a delicious selection of Mediterranean small plates like Dolmas, Spiced Chicken with Tabbouleh, and pomegranate-Chili Crispy Cauliflower. We would also recommend Restaurant Marrakesh, but unfortunately, it has not reopened since closing during the pandemic.
Other excellent places to find quality healthy table-service at Epcot include The Coral Reef for seafood lovers, Teppan Edo for stir-fry, and even Space 220.
Magic Kingdom
It continues to surprise me how challenging it can be to eat healthy at Magic Kingdom. Though the park has periodically offered wonderful healthy options over the years (like the roasted corn and baked potatoes formerly available at Liberty Square Market or the vegetarian chili that disappeared from Columbia Harbour House), Disney continues to scrub these options from park menus without bringing adequate replacements. It’s not so much that you can’t find anything healthy to eat at Magic Kingdom as that you’ll have to look very, very hard if you want something beyond a simple salad or sandwich.
Our favorite choice at this park is actually a newer table service restaurant: Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen in Adventureland. This quirky eatery continues to offer an impressive range of cuisine paired with the finest selection of facepalm-worthy dad jokes you’ll find on the backside of water, thanks to the fact it is largely staffed by off-duty Jungle Cruise skippers. Besides the very, very fried chicken and fish entrees, most of the menu options actually trend towards healthy, including the Falls Family Falafel, Jungle Green Salad, Curried Vegetable Crew Stew, and Perkins Thai Noodles.
For an alternative table-service choice, Be Our Guest isn’t necessarily known as “healthy”, but they do have a few noteworthy entrees for mindful eaters to consider, such as the Vadouvan Spiced Vegetables and Pan-Seared Sea Scallops.
If you’re looking for a counter-service meal, you’ll be in for a bit of a challenge. There are a few scant healthy options available at Columbia Harbour House, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café, and Pinocchio Village Haus, but none are anything we would write home about. For now, it seems Magic Kingdom still has improvements to make if they want to impress healthy diners looking for a memorable experience.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Unlike Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom remains another excellent park for guests looking for mouth-watering healthy eats.
For counter-service, our favorite choice is Satul’i Canteen in the World of Pandora. While this sci-fi dining hall lost a few menu items during the pandemic, it remains another top contender for guests looking for a truly unique healthy dining experience at Walt Disney World. The menu is mostly comprised of customizable bowls made up of a base, protein, vegetables, and sauce of your choice. Thanks to a dash of Disney magic, the flavors can be truly striking. Expect some exotic elements as this eatery is themed like something straight out of Avatar.
Another good option is Harambe Market over at the Africa pavilion, offering salads, bowls (with familiar proteins like ribs and chicken if Satul’i Canteen is a little too adventurous for your palette), fruit, and even a vegan Hot Link Bowl. Both Yak & Yeti and Flame Tree Barbecue also include a few healthier dishes on their menus, though most of their food is on the heavier side.
For table service, our favorite choice remains Tiffins, arguably one of the best restaurants in the park. This classy signature restaurant is themed after the international adventures of Disney Imagineers and offers a respectful selection of healthy dishes with impressive flavors. A few of our favorites are the Gobi Manchurian, the North African-Spiced Tofu, and the Spiced Chickpea Falafel. If you’re looking for a more casual alternative, Rainforest Café offers an extensive menu of healthy appetizers and entrees for careful eaters.
So, that just leaves Disney’s Hollywood Studios which may come as quite a surprise…
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios used to flag at the rear of the pack for dining options at Walt Disney World, but this park has seen improvements in recent years, including in its offerings for mindful diners.
Our favorite spot to eat healthy fast remains Docking Bay 7 at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Like everything else at The Black Spire Outpost of Batuu, Docking Bay 7 is designed to feel like a spacer’s eating hall straight out of the Star Wars saga. Our go-to healthy choice is the Felucian Garden Spread. If you’re looking for a meat-based option, consider the Peka Tuna Poke or the Roasted Endorian Chicken Salad.
For a more traditional counter-service option, you may want to try the ABC Commissary. Disney recently updated their menu to introduce new healthy options for guests including sandwiches, a Mediterranean Salad, and a plant-based California Burger.
For table service, the only place we might suggest is The Hollywood Brown Derby. I will admit, our last experience here some years back wasn’t great, but they still remain one of Disney’s classic signature dining locations. Healthy eaters will find a good selection including Sea Scallops, an Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad, the Seasonal Fish, and of course, the Brown Derby’s famous Cobb Salad.
The resorts and Disney Springs
We could spend an entire article looking at healthy eating options at Disney’s resorts and shopping districts, but there are a few noteworthy locations we wanted to highlight.
Our favorite resort quick-service location is Picabu Market at the Walt Disney World Dolphin—a restaurant most guests have never heard of. Tucked away in the deepest corner of the Dolphin, this nearly 24-hour cafeteria is an absolute gem for those looking to eat healthy (or late!). We have had good luck eating healthy here thanks to their Chipotle-style burrito / bowl bar, where guests can choose their choice of a protein, base, and vegetables to put together a taco, burrito, or bowl that matches your health preferences. Other locations to consider for quick resort dining include both Contempo Café and Steakhouse 71 To Go at the Contemporary Resort, as well as Spyglass Grill at Disney Caribbean Beach Resort.
For table service, the restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge reign supreme for healthy eating done delicious. Our two favorites are Boma (thanks to its incredible African-inspired buffet, which includes plenty of healthy choices) and Jiko, one of the best places we have ever eaten at Walt Disney World. Over at the Epcot resorts, The Flying Fish is another excellent signature option if you’re looking to toe the line between healthy and fine dining. For those looking for sushi, both The Contemporary’s California Grill and Kimonos at the Walt Disney World Swan are good choices to consider.
A quick word about Disney Springs—the dining scene here is extremely diverse and ever-changing. We recommend spending some time surfing menus to narrow down choices here. A few popular suggestions include The Boathouse (beloved by many paleo diners we know), Morimoto’s Asia, Rainforest Café, and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill.
What are your favorite places to eat healthy at Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook! Thanks for reading!
