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My husband and I have been wanting to try Teppan Edo at Epcot for years, and finally we did for a nice Valentine's Day evening! This Walt Disney World restaurant is one of my new favorites and I had to review it for you all to see why - plus, a few tips for not going overboard at a hibachi are at the end if you're on Weight Watchers like I am!
There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog! 
What is Teppan Edo?
Teppan Edo is a Japanese hibachi grill in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot, located in the World Showcase. Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining are both located on the second floor of Mitsukoshi, the gift shop of the Japan Pavilion. There are some gorgeous views of the Japan Pavilion here (and when you get your pager after checking in, you can roam the entire Japan Pavilion with it - you are not restricted to just the lobby!).
How do I eat there?
You will likely need a dining reservation, which you can book on the Disney website or the My Disney Experience app. To check in, head up the stairs (or elevator) and you will find yourself in the lobby. A cast member helped us check in, and as the restaurants share a lobby, it was helpful - but note that Teppan Edo is on the left side when you enter.
The dining experience
Like most hibachi restaurants, your table is communal style. Your server sets you up with your drinks and your order, and will ask if anyone would like - as our server Ryo called them - “cheater chopsticks†which a few people at our table accepted. Ryo took the paper sheath the chopsticks came in, turned them into origami cranes like it was as simple as folding the paper in half once, and then used the crane to attach the chopsticks, held together by a rubber band. Color me impressed!
Our chef was Yasuka, and let me just start off by saying if I could hire her to cook for me every night, I would. The atmosphere was very fun, and because you are at Disney, as Yasuka said, “Mickey is everywhere!†This started with her putting the soybean oil on the grill in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears (plus added a bow to make it Minnie Mouse), and continued with the onion volcano being transformed into Mickey with the help of other vegetables. Even when she put the butter on our vegetables, she put the little scoops on there to resemble Mickey ears! This is such a cute touch, even for adults.
My husband and I both ordered the chicken and shrimp. When you get an entree here, you get a ton of food - ours came with a salad (with a delicious ginger-based dressing), then udon and vegetables, then white rice, and whatever your protein options are.
Tips for Weight Watchers at hibachi grills
So it goes without saying that hibachis can strike fear in the hearts of Weight Watchers - after all, as you can see, we got a ton of food with our meal, and it can be scary to tackle when you are out and far from home. But have no fear! Here are some tips for managing if you're worried about going overboard.
What is your favorite spot around the World Showcase? Japan is my favorite by far! Let me know in the comments where you tend to hang out the most at Epcot.
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*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
Coming off the heels of the Festival of the Holidays at Epcot is the International Festival of the Arts! From January 17 through February 24, Epcot will turn into a giant artist showcase - and, because it's Disney, they'll have some seasonal food options around the world.
Festival of the Arts is my second favorite festival (only behind Flower and Garden!) for two reasons: it's colorful and highlights some amazing talents, but also because they don't go as heavy on the food offerings as some of the other festivals (while still having samplings all around the world), which is a relief for Weight Watchers wanting to sample without dipping into too many Weekly SmartPoints. Let's dive right in to the menu for this year's festival! Worth noting that I'll be sharing my Magically Fit recommendations of Disney's menu for just the food: I don't drink alcohol so it's not my expertise, and if you are looking to cut back on SmartPoints then I always recommend going for a non-alcoholic option as that will down on it quite a bit, 
The Deconstructed Dish
Food:
Magically Fit's recommendation: The Deconstructed BLT sounds like it packs a good amount of protein thanks to the pork and egg without sacrificing on flavor thanks to the tomato jam. The Deconstructed Reuben has a few extra things like the Jarlsberg Cake and dressing that are probably sneaky when it comes to calories, so the BLT is the champ here. ​
Cuisine Classique
Prepare to be amazed with these hearty braised bites and traditional Old World delights! Food:
The Artist’s Table
Satisfy hunger with these savory plates—all prepared using oven and stove-top techniques! Food:
Pop Eats!
Unearth the tasty treasures and tantalizing textures of modern art-inspired eats! Food:
Decadent Delights
Indulge in a gallery of divine delectables that transform dessert into a fine art! Food:
​The Masterpiece Kitchen
Raise your glass and celebrate this fabulous fusion of food and wine—cheers! Food:
And now, let's head to the World Showcase!
Magically Fit's recommendation: This is one of my favorite booths, both because the sushi donut is a great, colorful, and protein-packed choice, but the taiyaki is a fantastic option if you really want a sweet treat since it's small and, per My Fitness Pal, only roughly 210 calories or so. Plus it's something out of the norm from what you get at a grocery store, so you'll be treating yourself to something that is special if you're like me and try to avoid sweets.
El Arista Hambriento – Mexico Pavilion
Food:
Refreshment OutPost – Outpost
Food:
Refreshment Port – Showcase Plaza
Food:
The Painted Panda – China
Food:
L’Art du Cuisine Francaise – France
Food:
Mosaic Canteen – Morocco
Food:
L’Arte di Mangiare – Italy
Food:
And, of course, if you're worried about temptation sneaking up on you, then I always recommend brining a snack! I love having a Built Bar handy since I have such a sweet tooth, and most flavors are only 3 SmartPoints on Weight Watchers (but they max out at 4 SmartPoints, and that's really just for the peanut butter bar!). I like to keep them in the fridge, so if I pack it with me to the parks, it doesn't get super melted unless its a really hot day (as any product with real chocolate would). If you're worried about melting, you could even freeze it prior to leaving for the park! Get 10% off your order of Built Bar and their other products (like Built Boost, a flavor packet loaded with vitamins for your water) when you shop with the coupon code MAGICALLYFIT.
Another reason I love this festival is there are a ton of fun photo opportunities, so its another great way to distract yourself if you are worried about raking in the SmartPoints. Focus on enjoying the experiences and you'll find yourself pretty occupied between the art and the interactive ways you can become art (photos below from 2019's Festival of the Arts)!
Which Epcot festival is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
As promised in myreview of Paddlefish for Christmas, it’s time to review its next door neighbor at Disney Springs: Terralina Crafted Italian! Italian food can be admittedly really difficult to eat out when you’re on any sort of meal plan. Pasta and cheese can be high in Weight Watchers SmartPoints no matter what plan you’re on (because, even if you’re on myWW Purple, it’s only the whole wheat variety that is Zero SmartPoints!); if you’re on a plan like the South Beach Diet or keto there are carbohydrates abound; and even if you’re just tracking your calories or macros on an app like MyFitnessPal, it’s very easy to go overboard at an Italian restaurant. 
But, there’s no need to fear at Terralina - there are a few options that you can make work, especially if you are mindful. However, I recommend just enjoying your night and using this restaurant as a “cheat meal.” Don’t forget, you’re likely getting a ton of walking in on your Disney vacation - even if you’re a local who visits often like me, it’s easy to rake in over 10,000 steps without trying at Disney in a relatively short period of time.
Related articles: Ways to get more steps at Walt Disney World! 
There aren’t a lot of options at Terralina that are Weight Watchers friendly, however you can get a salad and add a grilled protein (my recommendations are the chicken or shrimp). I’m trying to cut back on my refined carbohydrates and incorporate more healthy fats into my diet, so I switched to the myWW Green Plan for the 30 Daily Points and opted for the Terralina Crafted Italian Salad topped with grilled chicken. It was super delicious and filling! The fresh mozzarella made for a filling fat to replace any carbs, but there wasn’t so much of it that it was overkill. Also worth noting that this salad also normally includes salami and pepperoncini, but I’m not a fan of either, so I asked for them to be omitted (hence them not being in the photo). I tracked it as 10 SmartPoints using some generic foods I found in the WW app. I found that the salad was lightly dressed with red wine vinaigrette, but you could also try asking for it on the side and measuring it out with some tools you bring yourself if you wanted to get really specific with your tracking.
If you aren’t avoiding carbs, I also recommend trying one of their pizzas. My mom got their margherita pizza, which was very flavorful. It's a larger sized personal pizza with six slices, so if you’re concerned about portions, consider splitting it with your family or a friend! The crust was thin, too, so that knocks another SmartPoint off of it in your tracker! You could probably also ask for a grilled protein to be placed on top of the pizza; not sure if they do that, but it’s always worth asking! Plus if you are worried that you won’t have enough, you can get a side of broccoli for an additional $8 (a bit pricey for a side, in my opinion, but that’s Walt Disney World for you!).
What’s your go to Italian dish when you’re trying to stick to your plan as best as you can? Let’s discuss!
*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
For Christmas Day, since it’s just my fiancé, parents and I, we like to keep things pretty lowkey. We got a reservation at Paddlefish for lunch, which I was excited about since I’ve been here before for a company Christmas party and knew it would be good but also manageable for my SmartPoints budget.
Let’s take a look at some of my recommendations for a delicious lunch you can enjoy even on myWW (Weight Watchers): the chicken breast, fish tacos, and blackened catfish sandwich. 
We got the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer, which is a good choice on really any diet plan. I didn't photograph it, but it came with about seven large pieces of shrimp, some cocktail sauce with horseradish, and a lemon for squeezing. If you're trying to either go low-carb or resist temptation, also note that our server did not bring bread to our table - I'm sure they would have if we asked, but we didn't, so that was nice to know that I wouldn't be loading up on just straight carbs before my meal.
I opted for something I knew to help me track it on Weight Watchers that I also knew was really good: the chicken breast. You get a large portion of chicken between some salad greens and a succotash, and it’s cooked in a Carolina mop sauce, which is flavorful yet light since it’s vinegar-based. The mop sauce from the chicken is also on the bacon succotash, which consists largely of edamame and corn with some real bacon bits thrown in the mix (not a lot of bacon in there to worry about it, and if you aren’t a fan it’s easy enough to pick out). This made for a lower in SmartPoints dish that was extremely filling and satisfying to my tastebuds. It’s also a great option if you’re carb-cycling and on a low carb day.
My mom enjoyed her fish tacos which included a red cabbage slaw, papaya-mango salsa, sweet chili aioli on top of whatever the catch of the day was. In her instance it looked like tilapia or flounder. The tortillas weren’t massive, so this is another dish I’d recommend if you’re trying to not overdo it but also not sacrifice on taste or being filled!
My dad ordered the blackened catfish sandwich - he said the bun wasn’t buttered, so that’s a plus! However he said for sides, the asparagus was delicious but, in his words, you’d be just as good off getting the French fries (unless you’re doing a high fat diet like keto) due to how much oil the asparagus was sitting in. This is definitely something worth noting! If you do opt for a veggie side, my fiancé got the green beans for his, which had significantly less oil but still some in the dish. But as for the sandwich itself, the fish was light and flavorful without being super oily. Definitely a good choice if you’re in the mood for a sandwich!
On top of everything else, the atmosphere and the view is awesome at Paddlefish. You have a gorgeous view of the water and Disney Springs while you dine, and is definitely one of Disney’s finer-dining locations without being super expensive. Prices here can get pricey for certain seafood dishes, but it’s really comparable to anywhere else at Disney Springs that isn’t a quick-service place.
Tips for Success
For New Year’s Eve I’ll be at Terralina, so look forward to that review next! But in the meantime, I want to hear from you: what’s your favorite restaurant at Disney Springs?
*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
It's the most wonderful time of the year... unless you're dreading having to go to countless holiday parties between work and families and you know that holiday deserts threaten your healthy lifestyle and weight loss goals. Just when you think Epcot is safe territory because the Food and Wine Festival is over, in rolls the International Festival of the Holidays, which used to showcase just different cultures' wintertime traditions... but now is just as loaded with food and drink as Food and Wine is.
Have no fear - the menu is out so we can peruse in advance! As I always say with the Epcot festivals, what's great about these seasonal events is that most of the options are in a smaller, sample-sized portion - that means you shouldn't worry too much about food guilt if you do indulge. I've snagged the menu right from Disney so that way you can see what's what and I'm also highlighting some of my recommendations if you're still trying to count your calories or Weight Watchers SmartPoints. GF = Gluten/wheat friendly | KA = kid-approved 
Photos in this graphic are from DisneyParksBlog!
Feast of the Three Kings (Near the Mexico Pavilion):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendation: Despite the queso, I'd actually reach for the Arepa with Shrimp - you've got a little protein from the shrimp, and it's a leaner protein than the beef option. Holiday Sweets & Treats (Promenade Refreshments):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendation: This is a tricky one because it's all sweets - definitely know your food triggers before hitting up this food stand! If you're worried about calories, the sugar cookie is probably the lesser of two evils here. And while I'm not saying not to have any alcoholic beverages, option for the hot cocoa without any booze will help cut back on some calories too. Want something sweet but don't want to set off any food triggers! I always like to bring a 3 SmartPoint Built Bar! Flavors range from 110-130 calories (except for the 4 SmartPoint, 170 calorie peanut butter flavor) and they're coated in real chocolate. It's a great way to curb your sweet tooth but since it's a protein bar, it'll be much more filling! Plus the coupon magicallyfit gets you 10% off. Pro tip: I like 'em refrigerated! 
L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen (Between Morocco and France):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendations: Latkes - especially sample-sized ones - probably won't be too much of a heavy hitter, so I'd reach for one of those to feel more festive. Shoutout to the smoked salmon one for packing some extra protein and a healthier fat than the sour cream! Refreshment Port (Near the Canada Pavilion):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendations: Not really many options here - just your eggnog, really, and the turkey poutine which I'd personally stay away from. If you really want these things, it would be much more satisfying to just have a Thanksgiving-style meal instead of a copycat version of it on French fries!
Yukon Holiday Kitchen (Canada Pavilion)
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendations: I'd go for the Canadian Wild Rice and just be cautious of the size of the pretzel roll due to everything that comes on the salmon! Plus there are other healthier salmon options at different stands. Canada Popcorn Cart (Canada Pavilion):
UK Beer Cart (United Kingdom Pavilion):
UK Tea Caddy (United Kingdom Pavilion):
Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen (France Pavilion):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendation: I'd go for the Turkey and Mushrooms - even though it's in a cream sauce, you can push some of that out of the puff pastry if you've got a lot of it that you're worried about. L’Artisan des Glaces (France Pavilion):
Boulangerie Patisserie Les Halles (France Pavilion):
Sapphire Holiday Kitchen (Morocco Pavilion):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendation: This is another good pavilion to visit if you're set on sampling around the world showcase! Your Lamb Kebab is grilled, and the Chicken Drum comes with mostly-healthyish (for a theme park, anyway) options. I'd probably lean towards the lamb, though - less sugar! Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen (Japan Pavilion):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendation: Japan always offers up some of my favorites, and for the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, it's no exception! Buckwheat soba noodles are Zero SmartPoints on the MyWW Purple Plan, so even though there's some vegetable tempura going on, it makes for a good option. The sushi Christmas tree is also adorable and a great option! However, don't be fooled by the matcha creme brulee - even though matcha is packed full of health benefits, this is a sugar-loaded dessert! However, if you're looking for something sweet that won't necessarily trigger a chocolate craving and don't want to bring your own dessert or aforementioned Built Bar, then this may be a good choice of indulgence. American Holiday Table (The American Adventure):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendations: Either of your options here probably are comparable, so you're looking at two options with decent protein! The cranberry sauce with the turkey and the sweet potato casserole are probably a trade-off as far as a sugary side dish goes. However, if you are worried about having more sides, I'd go for the ham. If you're here for something sweet, the gingerbread cookie will probably pack some similar flavors to the tart without as many calories from the whipped cream and sauce!
Funnel Cake (The American Adventure):
Fife & Drum (The American Adventure):
Food Items:
Block & Hans (The American Adventure):
Beverage Items:
Tuscany Holiday Kitchen (Italy Pavilion):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendation: I'd go for the Bianca Neve flatbread; beef is protein, but it's white-wine braised and not the leanest of protein options. You're also getting to skip out on "caramelized" and "creamy" aka dressings that are high in SmartPoints even in tiny amounts. Bavaria Holiday Kitchen (Germany Pavilion):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendation: I'd split the cheese fondue in the bread bowl with a friend and hog the baby vegetables! Prost! (Germany Pavilion):
Beverages:
Refreshment Outpost (African Outpost):
Food Items:
Shanghai Holiday Kitchen (China Pavilion):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendation: I'd opt for the barbecue pork with steamed rice - easier to control your carb count than a bao bun! Norway- Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe (Norway Pavilion):
Magically Fit's notes: In case you aren't sure what this is, typically a Norweigen holiday rice cream is essentially a leftover rice porridge refresher with whipped cream, vanilla, and/or sugar added. It's usually topped with a red berry or fruit sauce. Similar to my Matcha Creme Brulee note on the Japan Pavilion's offerings, this might be a good dessert option for someone who doesn't want to bring their own sweets but would rather indulge in Disney's without triggering a chocolate craving, and would likely be a lighter sweets option than a Christmas Yule log cake or a pumpkin spice funnel cake. Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen (Mexico Pavilion):
Food Items:
Magically Fit's recommendation: Because it's a leaner protein, my vote goes to the Tamal de Pollo. However if you're watching your carb intake, the Tostada de Puerco might be easier since you can just opt to not eat the tostada it's served on. Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company:
Future World East: Choco-Latte: Latte with Chocolate Sauce and Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur
Canada: Ginger Chai Madness: Chai Latte with Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur and Gingerbread Syrup Showcase Plaza: Coconut Snowstorm: Latte with RumChata and Coconut Syrup The American Adventure: Toffee Coffee: Latte with Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur and Sea Salt Caramel Toffee Sauce
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays starts on November 29th and runs through December 30th! What are you most looking forward to trying? Let me know in the comments, on Instagram or on Facebook!
Feb 2020 Update: What we thought we knew about myWW turned out to hold true! This plan is an exciting way for members to customize their experience. I personally have been swapping between Green and Purple depending on where life takes me (and avoiding Blue because it does not work for me personally, but I'm glad knowing it is there for those who love and need it!). This makes it something sustainable in the long term, and in research, WW (Weight Watchers Reimagined) was actually found to be the best long-term diet plan by Consumers Advocate! For more info on that research, you can check it out on their website.
On to the article!
There’s a new Weight Watchers plan coming around, and I’m so excited about it! As many of you know, I lost the bulk of my weight with Weight Watchers during their Beyond the Scale program that launched in 2015 and introduced SmartPoints. But I struggled immensely when they updated to Freestyle, and have switched to a third party knock-off WW app to continue using my 30 points per day program that actually worked for me. Many of us wished to Return to 30, but many did see success with Freestyle because one size does not fit all with weight loss programs.
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This is why I am so excited for the new WW program launching, myWW. MyWW launched in Australia already, so we have a sneak peek at what it will look like for those of us in other parts of the world, and it launches here in the United States on Monday, November 11.
myWW is being advertised as their most ground-breaking program ever because it’ll be, to a degree, customizable. Here’s what we know so far… 
There are three plans offered
Which one is right for me?
This is all so exciting because I’ve so desperately tried to make Freestyle work for me, but it hasn’t. I think giving users the option to try different things that all have similar cores is a great idea and will help people find success without feeling trapped!
Are you looking forward to myWW? Let's discuss!
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
Let’s take a trip there - specifically, to Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu, otherwise known as Stars Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. If you’re heading to Disneyland this summer or really excited for this fall at Walt Disney World, then like me, you’re already planning every detail down to the minute to maximize your Galaxy’s Edge experience. This new theme park expansion is entirely immersive and I can’t wait to visit Batuu on August 17 for my Passholder Preview. Of course, that means dining like a local, too, so let’s take a complete, comprehensive look at the dining options at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge through the lens of a Weight Watchers Lifetime member! And fair warning… we’re in another galaxy, here. I’ll be sure to let you guys know what you’re in for in case terms like “tip yip” are confusing to earthlings. Also, the offerings look to be the same whether you’re landing on Batuu from California or Florida, so I’ll be sure to keep an eye out and make updates if necessary once Hollywood Studios opens up the gates (but based on Disney’s website, I don’t see any differences). Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
This is a quick service location (and mobile ordering is available!) and their lunch and dinner menu is thus mostly the same.
If you are in need of something friendly to a food allergy, their menu is very clear about what is and isn’t allergy friendly. To be safe, though, I’d always clarify when ordering from the residents of Batuu. For breakfast, here are your options:
Magically Fit’s pick: Personally, I’d go for the Bright Suns Youngling Breakfast! Or, you can pick the overnight oats or the Bright Suns Morning and give the mini roll to someone not counting calories in your party. 
Photo courtesy of Disney Parks website
Here’s what we got for lunch:
Magically Fit’s pick: I’d go for the Roasted Endorian Tip-yip salad or the Yobshrimp Noodle Salad if I wasn’t going low-carb for lunch. I’d likely get the kids version of the Yobshrimp Noodle Salad as to not have an overabundance of noodles. And for dinner:
Magically Fit’s pick: Same as lunch, though the Ithorian Garden Loaf also sounds great and a good option for going meatless. 
Oga's Cantina
Photo courtesy of Disney Parks website
Queue up the music, DJ R-3X! Similarly to the cantina on Tatooine, you never know what sort of scum and villainy may show up… but the menu is readily available for us smugglers and travelers heading to Batuu.
Oga provides many a drink, some with and some without alcohol. However, our focus here today is going to be on the food to this hot ticket item of a dining experience. There’s not much, so this article will be fairly short; Oga’s Cantina is a cantina bar, after all, which means that people come here to enjoy some drinks from a galaxy far, far away. If you’re like me and you’re just in it for the blue milk, you can try that (and green milk from The Last Jedi) at the Milk Stand. This is where the menu seems to differ a bit more; at the Florida location, looks like lounge covers the overnight oats and lava roll regardless of the time of day with no Batuu Bits to be seen on the menu. However, it’s broken up this way for Disneyland: Breakfast:
Magically Fit’s pick: The Overnight Oats! Also, worth noting that the blue milk comes with a vanilla-butter sugar cookie. Lounge:
The rest of the menu is a bunch of crazy cool drink concoctions. While it’s impossible to say which of these would be healthier than the others, I can advise that anything with alcohol is likely going to be higher in Weight Watchers points or clock in more calories on your tracker depending on the size and what you get. But otherwise, sit back, relax and enjoy the music and the atmosphere - it’s not every day that you get to travel to a galaxy far, far away! Ronto Roasters
These menus are identical, which keeps things simple to remember whether you're landing on Batuu from California or Florida!
Breakfast
Lunch & Dinner
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What are you most looking forward to trying at Galaxy's Edge? Let's chat in the comments!
I can hardly believe that the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is already nearly upon us! The festival starts August 29 this year and runs through November 23, which will give you plenty of time to indulge in the smells and tastes that the World Showcase has to offer.
I mention this every year, but in case this is your first Food and Wine Festival, have no fear: none of these menu options are huge enough to derail your efforts on Weight Watchers, My Fitness Pal, etc. So while I would not recommend sampling everything, I do always recommend sampling strategically: this way, you can do so without guilt and really enjoy what you want with no regrets.
There are a few new booths this year, so I’m really excited to see what they all have to offer! 
This Father’s Day, we took a trip over to Paradiso 37 for a Taste of the Americas! My dad had been wanting to try this place out for a while but we don’t go out to eat super often, so Father’s Day was the perfect excuse to check it out.
The atmosphere was great with some hints of Central and South American flair, but not too much as to represent all of the countries in the Americas. It was pretty laid back, which felt nice compared to the hustle-and-bustle that Disney Springs provides. Because it covers everywhere from North to South, there are quite a few menu options, many of which I found to be great for dieters. There’s something for everyone here, and as I’ll get more into, they work with you if you want to change something around! The Bad
I honestly don’t really have any negative things to say about this restaurant. They were so accommodating that the only thing I could potentially list as a con would be if you struggle to control yourself when faced with tortilla chips at a Mexican restaurant.
The Good
Everything was absolutely delicious and I did not feel guilty walking out of this restaurant, which made me so thrilled!
My dad really wanted one of their burgers that has pineapple on it, but with grilled chicken since we don’t eat beef. They were able to make the switch for my dad without any problem or eyebrow raising, and my dad said that his chicken was grilled to absolute perfection. If you’re watching what you eat, his order - the Columbian Bacon-Pineapple Burger - also usually comes with queso, cilantro-crema, and (as the name suggests) bacon, but it made for a good cheat meal with the grilled chicken swapped out for beef. But if beef is your thing, it’s normally cooked with an
8 oz. Angus steak burger. 
Anthony got the ribs and also said they were great, so if you or someone you know is curious about these, they sound worth it based on Anthony’s description!
He mentioned that the meat was tender, but still stayed on the bone so it was easy to eat. They came with fries, but if you wanted a different side, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to oblige. Anthony is just lucky and has the metabolism of a Derby race horse, haha! 
My mom and I both got the fish tacos, but with a twist. I asked if it was possible to get grilled fish as opposed to battered like it lists on the menu, and again, this was absolutely no problem. The grilled fish was perfect and everything came on the side: corn salsa, a lightly dressed cabbage slaw, and the cilantro-lime crema. There are enough generic options of all of these things to track it with a good guesstimate in My Fitness Pal or Weight Watchers, so I was able to do so with confidence and feel in control of how much food I was eating.
The service was great, the food was wonderful, and I couldn’t recommend this place highly enough! I also wanted to give an honorable mention to their house-made fire-roasted salsa. It comes when you order some tortilla chips, and it was super smooth and mild with a great black bean salsa flavor.
Have you been to Paradiso 37? What did you think?
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In the mood for Italian?
I recently went to Tony's Town Square at the Magic Kingdom with my soon to be in-laws and parents! It was the only place I could grab a reservation for as we planned the Disney day with them on a relatively short notice (at least in the world of Disney reservations where things get snagged so far in advance), plus Anthony had been wanting to try this place for a while now.
The atmosphere was very charming once you got past the waiting area (a noisy spot next to the lobby where you go to meet Mickey or Tinkerbell), with cute nods to Lady and the Tramp throughout the restaurant. But I couldn't help but worry about my Weight Watchers points and calories since everything on the menu was looking to be high in carbs and loaded with sauces.
But all hope was not lost! With some mild caution, you too can make it work here without fearing the scale the next day. Here's my full review, keeping a Weight Watchers oriented lens on the whole while. The bad
From a healthy eating standpoint, none of your options are truly healthy. Even the salads are loaded with stuff! That’s not necessarily bad - just head in to the restaurant with the mindset that you’re going to enjoy an Italian meal in a pretty location and track as best as you can.
My mom had the margherita pizza, which wasn’t really a margherita pizza - it was basically your typical thin crust cheese pizza with basil on it, so she was a bit disappointed that it was lacking in plum tomatoes and ricotta cheese. The pizza wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t extraordinary either, so if you’re tracking Weight Watchers points or calories, I’d recommend spending those points or calories on something else.
The good
There are a few menu options here that are very trackable. My dad enjoyed his gnocchi, which appeared to be about a cup’s worth so he could track that with ease. My spinach and ricotta ravioli, as well, was trackable, especially since I found a generic option for spinach ravioli in my tracking apps. The sauce is what the diet killer here is, but I found that my plate was essentially a pool of it when all was said and done, so you can easily still enjoy the flavor of it without overindulging. Also, both my dad and I found that our plates had a decent amount of vegetables!
Also worth noting that there are some nasty reviews of Tony’s on TripAdvisor, but it appears as if they’ve revamped their menu and tried to make it a more enjoyable experience for guests. If you go into it expecting it to be a step or two above Olive Garden or Carrabba’s, then you definitely won’t be disappointed. Tips for success
Have you ever eaten out and thought to yourself, "Oh no, this meal was so not worth it?" Let's chat about our restaurant blunders in the comments!
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SearchAuthorJessica is a huge Disney and Star Wars nerd who channeled that love into motivation to lose 75 lbs. Categories
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