Healthy Disneyland Food You’ll Actually Want to Eat

Last updated on September 12th, 2024 at 11:06 am

We know theme parks don’t scream healthy eating, but I created this Healthy Disneyland food guide because you deserve better advice than packing healthy food from home or going back to your hotel fridge every time you need to refuel. Healthy food at Disneyland shouldn’t be hard. And when everyone else is indulging, having something you’ll actually want to eat is key

Healthy Disneyland Food

What if you simply want to eat healthy at Disneyland without making every meal yourself? After all, it is vacation! My goal for our Healthy Disneyland Dining Guide is to give you at least one healthier option from Disneyland’s most popular quick service and table service restaurants.

My Favorite Healthy Eats at Disneyland

While “healthy” has different definitions for everyone, I want anyone who is looking to stay on track to be able to enjoy their Disneyland trip without living solely off of apples and bananas.

For meals, these are my go-to “lighter fare” options. And while menus do change occasionally, I can usually find a similar substitute. 

  • Felucian Kefta & Hummus Garden Spread: Impossible™ Meatballs, Herb Hummus, Tomato-Cucumber Relish, Pita (Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge)
  • Surabat Valley Greens with Roasted Tip-Yip: Marinated Chicken, Mixed Greens, Quinoa-Veggie Mix, Mini Peppers, Olives, Cotija Cheese, Cilantro Dressing (Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge)

 

Docking Bay 7

 

  • Vegetable Stew (Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square and Harbour Galley in Critter County)
  • Fully plant based salads seasonally (Harbour Galley in Critter County)
  • Catch of the Day or other Fish options (available at most sit down restaurants like Blue Bayou, Carnation Cafe and at Plaza Inn walk up dinner)
  • Seasonal Salad like Cobb, Chicken Cranberry, Southwest and others. They hand add the ingredients and mix it with dressing as desired, so you can control a bit more what goes into it (available at Plaza Inn for dinner)

 

Plaza Inn Main Street Disneyland

 

The salad at Plaza Inn is my top favorite healthy dinner item in the park. I love how they mix it together right in front of you. They also serve salmon there which never disappoints. Other eaters in your family will really enjoy friend chicken and other meat and potato type choice, along with pastas. 

Grab and Go Healthy Disneyland Snacks

Sometimes it can feel like all you do is eat at Disneyland. Or maybe you’ve had a big breakfast and decide to go from something super light and snacky to tide you over until lunch. In that case, these grab and go options are supurb.

 

Fresh fruit at Disneyland Resort

 

  • Bengal Barbecue veggies skewers are a great quick snack, it’s located right by Indiana Jones in Adventureland.
  • Harbour Galley serves salads to-go and fresh fruit, located in Critter Country but near the Haunted Mansion.
  • Tropical Imports in Frontierland is your go-to place for fresh fruits and vegetables sold a-la-cart.
  • Tiki Juice Bar is what everyone’s talking about, soft serve pineapple Dole Whip and fresh pineapple spears are on the menu. Head inside the Enchanted Tiki Room queue and try the line there which is often shorter.

 

Dole Whip Disneyland

 

  • Tropical Hideaway also serves up Dole Whips and new flavors of Dole Whips like raspberry or orange (seasonally).
  • Fruit Stands are located around the park with snacks like grapes, apples, cuties, bananas, pineapple spears, I’ve yet to have one I didn’t devour! They also have pickles which are super popular.
  • Frozen Bananas throughout the park also make a great treat while still staying healthy.
  • You also get a beautiful fruit platter if you make a day of it by the pool, in a cabana at the Grand Californian Hotel.

 

Grand cabana fruit

Healthy Disneyland Restaurant Menus

Table service restaurants at Disneyland Park encourage reservations. You can make reservations 60 days in advance on the Disneyland App or use MouseDining for free alerts. It’s seriously a life saver. 

And be sure to check out more healthy food options at California Adventure here

  • Blue Bayou: This is the iconic restaurant is located inside Pirates of the Caribbean. If you’re eating here, you will likely need a reservation. Healthier options here including the fresh catch of the day. I love ordering fish at Disneyland, it’s always delicious! They also have various salad starters and vegan options.
  • Cafe Orleans is best known for its deep fried Monte Cristo sandwich, skip that a head toward the salad or roasted chicken instead. Cafe Orleans salad pictured below.

 

healthy disneyland

 

  • Carnation Cafe on Main Street, U.S.A. is where you’ll find a few healthier dining options in this picturesque restaurant on Main Street, U.S.A. including garden salads and fresh fish. 
  • River Belle Terrace often changes their menu, there is nothing I recommend at this time but I am hopeful it will be updated with some healthier options soon. See the full menu here

Disneyland Quick Service Healthy Foods

Quick service restaurants are available without reservations, and now that Disneyland has implemented mobile dining orders via the Disneyland app, you can order your food and pick it up at your convenience with little to no wait. 

  • Bengal Barbecue healthy options aplenty at this outdoor quick service eatery in Adventureland is known for its famous jungle skewers. Combine a protein packed Chicken Skewer and an Outback Vegetable Skewer for a satisfying and balanced meal. You can also order a spring roll or hummus trio.
  • Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo in Galaxy’s Edge has so many new food choices. I really enjoy the oven roasted tip yip (chicken) salad. Ask for the dressing on the side. 
  • Galactic Grill located in Tomorrowland, this Star Wars themed eatery has healthier options like Veggie Sandwich or a Chopped Salad with grilled chicken.

 

Bengal Barbecue Skewer

 

  • Hungry Bear Restaurant —who doesn’t love a view like this when dining at the often overlooked Hungry Bear Restaurant? Tucked back in Critter County, you’ll find lower level seating and a deck above with more spectacular views while you dine. Enjoy a salad or plant based burger. See current menu here
  • Red Rose Tavern is a busy spot in the heart of Fantasyland, you can grab a garden vegetable burger with fresh fruit or a basic salad for a healthier fare.

Rancho del Zocalo

  • Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante Mexican food has its pros and cons when looking for healthy choices. I stick to street tacos, citrus fire-grilled chicken, fish tacos or the Hacienda chicken caesar salad with black beans on the side.

 

Headed to Disneyland soon? Don’t forget to grab discount park tickets here. Discount Disneyland tickets

 

Disneyland Nutrition Facts

Disneyland Nutrition Facts & Calories. Disney is making progress toward easy healthy dining, but still has a lot of room to grow. One major set back? Nowhere does Disney make public the nutrition facts for their food.

When I wrote to Disneyland dining services about access to nutritional information, their response was, “We are not able to provide Guests with nutritional information. However, we are happy to attempt to work within any dietary requests and may suggest some menu alternatives that may satisfy the request.”

 

Healthy goofys kitchen

 

The fact that Disneyland doesn’t share calorie counts and other nutritional information is a huge disappointment. It makes our healthy eating habits a bit of a challenge.

One solution is using apps like My Fitness Pal which offers a limited database of their “best guess” for Disneyland food, calories and nutrition content. I’ve also created these additional dining guides to help keep you on track:

Remember, no matter what eating plan you’re following, Disneyland makes it easy to customize meal options. Don’t be afraid to ask for fresh fruit instead of fries or other fresh options like bagged carrots or apple slices (the latter two are great to carry with you for a quick pick-me-up).

Disney Check Meal

Disney is moving in the right direction with their “Disney Check Meal.” Select kids’ meals (but you can order them too!) are designated as a “Mickey Check Meal” which means they “meet Disney Nutrition Guidelines that limit calories, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar.”

 

Healthy Disneyland Dining Guide. Kids' Mickey Check Meal from Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. 600 calories or less.

 

Disney Check Meals have 600 calories or less when eaten as a complete meal and includes 3 or more food groups. On a recent visit, I enjoyed this Turkey Sandwich Mickey Check Meal from Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, served with 32 ounce Dasani water, sliced apples and baby carrots.

I actually couldn’t finish the entire meal. The bagged fruits and veggies made it easy for me to stash in my bag for a snack later on.

Disneyland Dietary & Allergy Concerns

If you’re coming to Disneyland Resort with special dietary and allergy concerns, you can use these resources as a starting point:

Tell us what food you love, what items we missed and help us make our Healthy Disneyland Dining Guide the most complete healthy Disneyland resource online. What healthy food will you try at The Happiest Place on Earth?

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9 thoughts on “Healthy Disneyland Food You’ll Actually Want to Eat

  • Steve Jackson

    This article is what I have been looking for and a little bit more. we are going to Disneyland this September and beginning of October. I emailed Disneyland and ask them about a sodium count on their bigger items. they told me that when we go in to a restaurant to ask the server and they will get those counts. my only concern is the server has to go ask the shop and bring that information back and they might not have that information so I can’t eat what they have if they don’t have that information. I just had a stroke 4 months ago and I am on a 1500 mg of sodium diet by my cardiologist. so I know most of the foods and treats I have come to know at Disneyland will not be available for me to have now. I am going to reread this article, but I did not see anything mentioned about sodium counts just that you did list it as a possible restriction. if you have any information on sodium counts that you have available or I can get a hold of please let me know. thank you and have a magical day

    • Hi Steve, yes it’s very tricky. And getting those numbers often applies only to sit-down dining establishments. To keep yourself on track, I would strongly consider speaking to a nutritionist prior to your visit and coming up with low sodium snacks and foods you can bring into Disneyland with no prep required. Disney allows you to bring in food in a small soft-side cooler with ice packs. Just no glass. If you bring most of your food and then aim for one Disneyland meal, I bet your doctor or nutritionist can help you choose that one meal per day in the parks.

  • Amy

    Thank you so much! I’m interested in character dining on my upcoming trip, but I’d like to make the monte cristo at New Orleans café my splurge. What can I eat at the breakfast buffets. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!!

    • Hi Amy! I just did another character dining and was very happy with the selection for healthy eaters. Of course, there’s plenty that’s not so healthy. But, for example, at Miinie and Friends at Plaza Inn there is a variety of fresh fruit. It was all ripe and delicious. I usually choose my sides during any meal as fresh fruit and I’ve never had any that wasn’t ripe and ready to eat. I also had an omelet from the omelet station and added all the veggies they had to it like spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, jalapeños, etc. I asked the chef for a “teeny bit” of cheese but he probably put like 1/4 cup in it. I said, “Oh boy if that’s a teeny bit I’d hate to know what a regular amount is!” So if you’re counting calories, maybe don’t add cheese to your omelet or be more specific like 1 tablespoon or whatever works for you. Basically, I’d stay away from the pastries and maybe steal one bite of a Mickey waffle :).

  • I haven’t been to Disneyland since I was a small child, I’d love to go back, though. All the different restaurants look so interesting. I’m just used to ours here in FL, I guess.

    My husband is a chef at MK, at least at the signature restaurants, they will accommodate pretty much any allergy or health concern you have. They had a woman come in for lunch the other day who had a list of 26 different allergies and food issues. It might have taken a few minutes, but they created something that she was able to eat!

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