Written By Kendra Thornton
Theme parks are a lot of fun for kids and adults alike, but they
can pose challenges for health-conscious parents. Many parks do not allow
outside food or beverages, and the fare inside the park can be overpriced and
chock full of sugar and sodium. Fortunately, it's possible to have a fun
day out at the park without resorting to expensive and unhealthy meals; you
just need to do a bit of planning in advance. Here are some ideas for
maintaining healthy habits at a theme park destination:
1.) Eat a healthy breakfast before you arrive at the park.
Filling up at the start of the day will give you energy and prevent the
urge to buy additional snacks inside the park. Most Orlando
hotels serve complimentary breakfast, and some of the nicer resorts will
provide excellent healthful options. Focus on filling, nutritious fare
like oatmeal, eggs and fresh fruit and skip the sugary pastries.
2.) When eating out, opt to share entrees rather than
ordering individually. Many theme parks have restaurants that are worth
sampling, but the prices can be quite high and the portions very large.
Solve this by ordering one or two entrees and sharing them among the
family. You can fill in any gaps with more inexpensive side dishes.
3.) Keep plenty of snacks in the fridge at the hotel.
By keeping the hotel room stocked with healthy snacks like fruit,
vegetables, protein bars and whole wheat crackers, you can stave off hunger
after returning to the hotel and prevent any late-night cravings for fast food
or vending machine visits. If the theme park allows you to bring your own
food, you can pack a small cooler of healthy snacks to bring with you wherever
you go. If you have to get something on the go at the park, I would encourage
you to still make
healthy fast food decision to avoid repercussions later!
4.) When traveling by car, take frequent rest stops to allow your
kids to run around and blow off some steam. This will help prevent them
from being too out-of-control once you arrive at the destination, and it can
give them some exercise as well.
5.) Encourage hand washing. Before you sit down to eat, make
sure your kids wash their hands properly. Theme parks can be a breeding
ground for germs, especially if kids are going on rides that may not have been
sanitized all day. Teach
your kids proper hand sanitation habits to protect them from contaminants.
Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean that you and your kids need to be eating fattening processed foods. By focusing on ways to eat nutritious meals wherever you go, you can give your kids a dose of healthy energy that will last throughout the day.
