Living close to the theme parks makes it easy to avoid the temptation of indulging in all the “wrong” foods because we are here on a regular basis. Plus, we can easily eat before we go or pack a lunch if we plan to spend the whole day. But for those of you who are just visiting and don’t have a refrigerator at home to store all your healthy yum yums there are plenty of ways to stay on track of your healthy diet in the parks. Here I will give you some of my personal favorites at both of the Universal parks (Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure) as well as City Walk.
Universal Studios:
Beverly Hills Boulangerie is located just inside the park entrance in Hollywood. It is a quick service eatery that offers a pretty good selection of sandwiches. If you are trying to stay away from bread they also offer soup and salad combos.
Bumblebee Man’s Taco Food Cart. is located in Springfield (aka “Simpsons Land”). You may be thinking “tacos aren’t healthy!!” but at this food truck they have some great options like grilled chicken or fish tacos that are delish! So if you are walking through Springfield and want a better option than the Krusty Burger stop here…I promise you won’t be disappointed 🙂
Finnegan’s Bar & Grill is a great choice if you are looking for a table service option while walking around “New York”. The Irish Pub decorations create a fun atmosphere and the menu boasts quite a few healthy choices including sandwiches and salads. My favorite is the Dublin Chicken Sandwich. I order it without the cheese and sub a side salad for the fries. Super yum!!
Islands of Adventure:
Thunder Falls Terrace is a quick service food joint located in Jurassic Park. This is a great place to load up on healthy proteins like rotisserie chicken. They even have a rotisserie chicken salad with a citrus vinaigrette dressing that is amazing!!
Mythos Restaurant is an award winning full service restaurant located in The Lost Continent. The entire menu is full of delicious and flavorful options including my favorite the Mediterranean Chicken Salad Wrap. In fact, I’m craving this right now as I type this…might have to voyage on over there after work today!
City Walk:
The CowFish is the newest full service restaurant to hit City Walk and just happens to be mine and my daughter’s favorite. The menu is comprised of Sushi and burgers and the combinations are endless. The children’s meals come in a bento box which is sure to please and the side options include healthy options such as edamame and cucumber salad! There are even adult combos that come in a “grown-up” size bento box which is sure to please the child in you 🙂
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville is a favorite at City Walk. The food has a Caribbean flair to it and the menu has lots of healthy options like fresh fish and grilled chicken. The ambiance is can’t miss and you’ll be sure to enjoy the entire experience from the music and service to the delicious food.
I also wanted to point out that you are allowed to bring food and non-alcoholic drinks into the parks as long as they are not in glass containers. I often pack a small cooler full of bottled waters and bring healthy options like bananas (just watch out for the minions!), apples, carrots and nuts to keep us going and save some money. It also helps us not to be tempted by all the sugary treats lurking around every corner. But don’t forget that you ARE on vacation and a little treat here and there is essential. Try sharing a Butterbeer in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley (which you MUST TRY at least once). Sharing will allow you to indulge but also save on some calories.
Remember if you need tips or help planning your trip to Universal Orlando Resort or ANY of the Orlando theme parks I’m your girl! You can contact me at Bianca@ModernTravelPros.com and/or on Facebook: Bianca Medina – Agent of Modern Travel Professionals.
Sugar Sweet Single Mom 