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).

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:

• Rising Moons Overnight Oats: Oats, Dragon Fruit, Yogurt, Seasonal Fruit 
• Mustafarian Lava Roll: sweet galactic delight (think a cinnamon roll with a cookies and cream twist)
• Bright Suns Morning: Three-Cheese Egg Bite, Pork Sausage, Purple Potato Hash, Mini Mustafarian Lava Roll       
• Bright Suns Youngling Breakfast (for kids, but it’s quick service, so you can order too!): Scrambled Egg, Purple Potatoes, seasonal fresh Fruit served with choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani® Water

​
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:

• Felucian Garden Spread: Plant-based "Kefta", Herb Hummus, Tomato-Cucumber Relish, Pita       
• Smoked Kaadu Ribs: Sticky Pork Ribs, Blueberry Corn Muffin, Cabbage Slaw (also available for dinner in Florida)     
• Fried Endorian Tip-yip: crispy Chicken, Roasted Vegetable Potato Mash, Herb Gravy     
• Roasted Endorian Tip-yip Salad: Marinated Chicken, Mixed Greens, Roasted Seasonal Vegetables, Quinoa, and Pumpkin Seeds, tossed in Green Curry Ranch
• Yobshrimp Noodle Salad: Chilled Shrimp, Marinated Noodles, Vegetables, Cilantro 
• (Kids Disney Check) Yobshrimp Noodle Youngling Salad: Chilled Shrimp, Noodles, Vegetables, and Sweet Orange Dressing served with choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani® Water
• (Kids Disney Check) A Taste of Takodana: Black Bean Hummus, Edible Soil with Nuts, Chilled Dipping Vegetables, Multigrain Crisps served with choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani® Water

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: 

• Braised Shaak Roast: Beef Pot Roast, Cavatelli Pasta, Wilted Kale, Mushrooms (this is also available for lunch in Florida)
• Ithorian Garden Loaf: Plant-based "Meatloaf", Roasted Vegetable Potato Mash, Seasonal Vegetables, Mushroom Sauce (California only)    
• Smoked Kaadu Ribs: Sticky Pork Ribs, Blueberry Corn Muffin, Cabbage Slaw
• Roasted Endorian Tip-yip Salad: Marinated Chicken, Mixed Greens, Roasted Seasonal Vegetables, Quinoa, and Pumpkin Seeds, tossed in Green Curry Ranch
• Fried Endorian Tip-yip: crispy Chicken, Roasted Vegetable Potato Mash, Herb Gravy      
• Yobshrimp Noodle Salad: Chilled Shrimp, Marinated Noodles, Vegetables, Cilantro 
• (Kids Disney Check) Yobshrimp Noodle Youngling Salad: Chilled Shrimp, Noodles, Vegetables, and Sweet Orange Dressing served with choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani® Water
• (Kids Disney Check) A Taste of Takodana: Black Bean Hummus, Edible Soil with Nuts, Chilled Dipping Vegetables, Multigrain Crisps served with choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani® Water

Magically Fit’s pick: Same as lunch, though the Ithorian Garden Loaf also sounds great and a good option for going meatless.

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:

• Mustafarian Lava Roll: sweet galactic delight (think cinnamon roll with a cookies and cream twist)
• Rising Moons Overnight Oats: Oats, Dragon Fruit, Yogurt, and Seasonal Fruit       

Magically Fit’s pick: The Overnight Oats! Also, worth noting that the blue milk comes with a vanilla-butter sugar cookie.

Lounge:

• Batuu Bits: a light crisp Snack Mix from the galaxy (dried snacks with some spiciness; tortilla chips, wasabi peas, and dried fish).

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!

These menus are identical, which keeps things simple to remember whether you're landing on Batuu from California or Florida!

Breakfast

• Ronto Morning Wrap: Scrambled Eggs, Grilled Pork Sausage, Shredded Cheddar, and Peppercorn Sauce wrapped in Pita Bread
• ​Rising Moons Overnight Oats: Oats, Dragon Fruit, Yogurt, and Seasonal Fruit   

Magically Fit's pick: I'd say either option is good, just depending more on what you're in the mood for! The only thing to watch for is the cheddar and sauce in the Ronto Wrap, and I wish they used turkey or chicken instead of pork so you could have a leaner meat source.

Lunch & Dinner

• Ronto Wrap: Roasted Pork, Grilled Pork Sausage, Peppercorn Sauce, tangy Slaw, wrapped in Pita
• Nuna Turkey Jerky - Spicy or Sweet

Magically Fit's pick: I'd go for the turkey jerky as a snack, and have lunch at the Docking Bay. That's a lot of pork, haha!

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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!

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

• Plan ahead if you can help it. If you book your reservation before the day of, take a look at the menu and play around in your Weight Watchers or calorie tracking app. Like I said, I found some generic options for what I ate and was able to guesstimate pretty fairly for how many points I had. If you book your reservation the day of, try to get a quick glance at the menu (available on the My Disney Experience app) when you can. If you're really stressed about it, you can always check my recommendations in my Restaurants Guide (or use this blog post!).  
• Watch the sauce! If I could go back in time, I'd ask for the sauce on the side if at all possible. But if, like me, you forget to do this, don't worry - try your best to wipe some of the sauce off or to the side and use it more like a dip (the 'dip your fork in sauce before the food' trick is a beautiful thing in situations like this) so you aren't eating food smothered in sauce that will rack up your points. 
• Use this as your cheat meal. Lots of programs allow some sort of cheat meal, whether it's a designated cheat meal for the week or WW Weekly Smart Points. Just relax and enjoy! There are plenty of other restaurants at Walt Disney World where you can enjoy the food without having to modify much of anything, so use this opportunity to just enjoy some Italian food.
• Evaluate the menu options. Like I said, the pizza was mediocre. Whether you're trying to watch your points/calories/etc. while you're on vacation or using this as a cheat meal, I personally find it's always good to ask myself if this meal is worth it. In the case of the pizza, no - I can get better pizza elsewhere on property, so I opted for a pasta dish with grilled chicken (that provided some much needed and filling protein to an otherwise carb-heavy dish!). 
• Bring a measuring cup! I know you're probably sick of me recommending these portable, collapsible measuring cups, but situations like this are perfect for them! This way, you can accurately measure out a serving of pasta. 

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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We've got exactly one month to go for the Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World! This is my all time favorite festival because it makes a stroll around Epcot that much more of an experience with the different topiary characters, flowers in full bloom, and butterfly garden! Now, the festival also has food stands that offer seasonal treats for sampling (a la the Food and Wine festival). After strolling around the world a few times, here are my personal recommendations if you want to try to not overdo it as you sample (but, luckily, you can still indulge if you want without guilt, as the sizes are much smaller!). 

Arbor at the Gardener’s Terrace
I’d say your best bet here is the Smoked Salmon Stack with Avocados, Tomatoes, Sour Cream, Caviar, and Focaccia Crostino.

Flavor Full Kitchen
Either of the non-dessert options look like they’re on equal footing, depending on if you eat fish or not: Citrus-poached Salmon with Ancient Grain Salad, Roasted Vegetables, and Citrus Greens, or From the Garden: Roasted Beets, Cashew Cheese, and Micro Herbs with Lemon-Oil Dressing. Both are safe if you have a gluten intolerance!

La Isla Fresca
While I’m more prone to reach for shrimp before red meat, the Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro is probably the better bet since the shrimp is a sugar cane shrimp.

The Citrus Blossom
Your best bet is one of the seafood options: Lobster Tail with Meyer Lemon Emulsion and Grilled Lemon (gluten free!) or Tuna Tataki with Spicy Yuzu Glaze, Mango, Avocado, and Pappadam Crisp.

Pineapple Promenade
Dole Whip is here, my friends!

The Honey Bee-stro
Your best bet is the gluten free and vegetarian friendly option: Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey-blistered Grapes, Sunflower Brittle, and Coriander Flowers.

Northern Bloom (Canada)
This gluten free option sounds pretty tasty: Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette, and Applewood Smoked Bacon. Because it’s a sampling size, the brown butter vinaigrette doesn’t worry me as much as it would if it were on a full-sized entree.

Fleur De Lys (France)
Your healthiest option sounds like the Vichyssoise aux Concombres: Chilled Cucumber Vichyssoise Soup (gluten free and vegetarian). There’s also the Canard Confit à la Provençal: Braised Duck Confit with Tomatoes and Olives on Polenta.

Florida Fresh (between France and Morocco)
Neither option sounds super healthy, but these are probably on equal footing: Carne Guisada with Black Bean Cake and Cilantro-Lime Sour Cream, or Spicy Blackened Shrimp and Cheddar Cheese Grits with Brown Gravy and Local Sweet Corn Relish. I personally would go for the shrimp and just be cautious of how much gravy they put on it.

Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco)
The Harissa Chicken Kebab with Dried Fruit Couscous Salad sounds delicious and healthy!

Hanami (Japan)
I highly recommend the Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry, and Melon rolled with Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut, Whipped Cream with Raspberry Sauce on the side. It’s lightly sweet and great if, like me, you tend to get a sweet tooth after a meal but don’t want a full blown dessert!

The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews (America)
Of all of these, none of them sound good for you, but the lesser of evils would be the Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw.

Primavera Kitchen (Italy)
The Pizza Toscona and the Tri-colored Tortellini are probably on equal footing, however you probably get more protein out of the Pizza Toscana’s toppings (Sweet Sausage, Caramelized Onion, Mozzarella, Asiago, and Parmesan Cheeses)!

Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market (Germany)
I’d go for the Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce (which is also vegetarian!).

Lotus House (China)
The Vegetable Spring Rolls would be my personal pick!

Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico)
These are probably on equal footing!

• Tlacoyo: Blue Corn Masa topped with Black Bean Spread, Ground Chorizo, Queso Fresco, and Mexican Cream
• Beef Torta: Braised Beef served on a Crispy Sourdough Roll with Queso Oaxaca, Avocado, Pickled Onions, and Jalapeños in a Spicy Habanero Sauce

Like I said, because these are sampler sized, it wouldn’t concern me as much as it would if it were a full entree. Everything in moderation!

Trowel and Trellis (near Mexico)
They’re offering Grilled Street Corn with a savory garlic spread that’s gluten free and vegetarian friendly! I’d go that route for sure.

Have you been to the Flower and Garden Festival? Let's chat in the comments about your favorite part of the festival!

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For Easter this year, my family and I went to Whispering Canyon Café, where they were serving an all you can eat  Easter brunch. This got me thinking: a lot of people ask me what I think of the Disney buffets because they’re worried they’ll completely go off the wagon. Surprisingly, if you play your cards right, they can actually be one of the healthier routes for meals at the parks. Hear me out - you can have your Mickey Waffles and eat them too! - and enjoy some of my best practices for handling the two types of Disney buffet.

Firstly, it’s important to note that there are two types of buffets at Disney World. Some restaurants will bring you a platter or skillet of sorts with multiple food options for the table and serve it family style. From there, if you want more of specific items in your platter, you can let your server know. Others are a more traditional buffet. You’re seated, order your drinks, and then get up and serve yourself from the buffet options. Here’s a list of all the different restaurants on property that offer buffets or family-style meals at Disney World:
​

• The Wave Restaurant of American Flavors
  
• 1900 Park Fare
  
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
  
• Biergarten Restaurant
  
• Boma - Flavors of Africa
  
• Cape May Cafe
  
• Chef Mickey’s
  
• The Crystal Palace
  
• Fresh Mediterranean Market
  
• Garden Grill Restaurant
  
• Garden Grove
  
• Hollywood & Vine
  
• Liberty Tree Tavern
  
• Luau Cove
  
• Ohana
  
• Pioneer Hall
  
• Pizzafari
  
• Ravello (at the Four Seasons)
  
• Trail’s End Restaurant
  
• Tusker House Restaurant
  
• Whispering Canyon Cafe
  

And, in case you’re heading to the west coast, here are Disneyland’s buffet and family-style offerings:

• Disney’s PCH Grill
  
• Goofy’s Kitchen
  
• Plaza Inn
  
• Storytellers Cafe
  
• Princess breakfast at Napa Rose
  

And, of course, some of these restaurants will have characters that come to mix and mingle with you, or one of the mealtimes (i.e. breakfast only)  will be a character breakfast. These can be a little bit more pricey, but are great for either families with children who want to get a bunch of signatures in a short timeframe, or for the kids at heart who don’t feel like waiting in lines to meet characters!

Because you have control over what goes on your plate, buffets are usually options that can be pretty good for calorie counters, Weight Watchers, etc. You can bulk up on lean proteins, veggies, and fruit but still indulge a little on some special Disney treats you won’t get to enjoy once you’re back home from your vacation or, if you are a local like me, usually refrain from having. But that can also be dangerous if you worry about portions, so here are some of my best practices to follow when you’re enjoying a Disney buffet.

1. Make sure you eat something prior to your buffet! I do not mean to snack right before, but if your reservation is scheduled for a late brunch, lunch, or dinner, please make sure you have a meal beforehand with enough time to digest it. I made the mistake of not having anything when I woke up on Easter morning, and our brunch reservation was for just a little bit before 11. Even though we checked in on time, we ended up getting in a little closer to 11:30 because they were so busy, so by the time we got our food, I was starving and was going to eat anything that they put in front of me. Hindsight is 20/20, and I probably should have had a yogurt  or something before I left my house! Plus, after overeating because I was starving, I felt bloated and uncomfortable for the next two days.
   
2. Front load your plate with vegetables, fruit, and lean proteins. This way, you are enjoying something that is healthy without having to worry about over stuffing yourself later. The food isn’t going anywhere, so if you do you want to enjoy a Mickey waffle or a tiny little dessert, this way you can do so without worrying that you’re going to over indulge on it because you are mostly full from of the healthy options that you picked.
   
3. Eat slowly so your body can truly know when it is full. It is very easy at these Disney buffets for your eyes to be bigger than your stomach. Remember, like I said, the food is not going anywhere so if you do really want it later, it will be there. There is no need to stuff your plate to the point of overindulgence when you first get your food if you are at a traditional style buffet, and if you are at a family style one, you can always ask for more - plus, you’ll be the hero of the table when someone else who really wants that extra Mickey waffle gets it and you offer to wait until the next round from the server!
   
4. Drink plenty of water! This is important for any Disney trip and no matter what restaurant you go to, but this is especially important if you’re at a Disney buffet. Make sure you drink plenty of water, so that way you can stay hydrated and don’t overstuff yourself (like I did on Easter, haha!).
   
5. If it is a character meal, is that to your advantage. This will help you eat slowly, especially because you probably do not want to have food in her mouth when the character approaches your table and you’re about to take photos. Usually, the cast members will let you know what route me characters cake so you know to keep an eye on them and to be at your table. if your cast member does not tell you this, you can always just ask.
   
6. Lastly, don’t deprive yourself. If you walk in to the (expensive!) buffet and tell yourself you aren’t going to have any of the Mickey waffles or a mini cupcake, then you’re setting yourself up for disappointment if you do decide to indulge. Just start with one after enjoying you healthy options first - in my experience, frontloading your plate with the healthy stuff really does help me cut back on the not-so-good - and that way you can enjoy it without any guilt.
   

Which Disney buffet is your favorite? Characters or no characters? Let’s chat in the comments!

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While some of these may be better suited for Instagram than WW or My Fitness Pal's logs, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself while on vacation and completely give up. If you're going to indulge, though, you want to make sure it is worth it, right? At least that's how I'm wired! So without going for the cupcakes or cookies, let's take a look at some of these Instagrammable Disney treats and if they're worth the splurge or not!
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Dole Whip is a great cheat meal treat that has a bit of a cult following on Instagram - and now some more variants - that you can enjoy without guilt. At only 90 calories per half cup per Dole's website, you can try the various flavors at the parks and it makes for a great treat on a warm day. In my experience, I typically get about 1 full cup in my Dole Whip cups from Disney (if you really aren't sure, you can bring a measuring cup and scoop it in there - they even make collapsable ones so you can shove it in your bag without worrying about it being bulky or in the way).

While the classic pineapple-vanilla swirl is my favorite, I heard the Rapunzel inspired lemon cone made with Dole Whip is also delicious! They also have a Hei Hei cone inspired by Moana (pictured above) and an Up-inspired cone (with white chocolate bits) made with mango and raspberry flavored Dole Whip, respectively, as opposed to pineapple. Over at the Pineapple Lanai at Polynesian Resort is the Heart of Te Fiti cone featuring lime flavored Dole Whip (which is the base of the Peter Pan float in Magic Kingdom)!

It’s hard to say exactly how many calories are in a Disney churro because while the estimated amount per churro is about 150-250 calories (depending on size), Disney’s are very long (so likely closer to a 200-250 range) and I question their definition of a serving size because some of the serving sizes on their cookies is for half of it. However, regardless, this sweet treat is a bit lighter than many other options if your sweet tooth is feeling needy, and if you aren’t terribly hungry but just need a bite of something sweet, they’re great to share with a friend! Plus, because churros tend to be lighter, they probably won't sit as heavily in your stomach as something else that's super high in carbs or sugar.

There are a variety of rice krispy treats available at the parks, so the calories can vary from whether you want chocolate dipped ears, the entire thing with chocolate and candy, or just a traditional rice krispy. You may think you're not doing too bad by having a plain one... but they come in at 270 calories! Ears alone covered in chocolate? That number spikes to 300. If you really want a Rice Krispy Treat with manageable calories, just have the name brand mini ones! This is a shame, too, because they used to make a plain one that was 170 calories... but that seems to be a thing of the past. 

Love them or hate them, these snacks are pretty popular… and also probably the worst possible thing you can get at Disney for your health! Your average roasted turkey leg runs at about 1,100 calories and 54 grams of fat, per the USDA. Need I say more?

Remember, most of my recommendations wouldn’t classify as healthy... but are more so meant to be enjoyed on occasion if you’re determined to have something but not experience guilt. What’s your favorite Disney snack? Let me know in the comments!

There are a few go-to snacks that I like to bring to the parks with me when I know I'm going to be a while and I don't feel like spending money. 

• Weight Watchers popped chips 
• 1/2 oz bag of Pirate's Booty white cheddar puffs
• PB Fit or PB2 on a bagel thin
• Tuna to-go pouch; I'll also bring some low calorie bread to put it on! 
• Fiber One cookie (if the Confectionary gets too tempting!)
• 100 calorie pack of nuts 
• ThinkThin protein bar 

I don't bother bringing fruit with me because it's sold all throughout the parks, and while it's cheaper to bring your own, it can weigh down your bag, so for me the convenience is worth not bringing it!

Same goes for bottles of water; they're about $3 in the parks, so it depends on what bag you're bringing, how long you're planning on spending in the parks, and your food budget if you bring it or just buy a whole case at the grocery store and pack some in your bag. You can also get free cups of ice water from Starbucks and snack stands.

You can also get some portable measuring spoons as well, which come in handy for measuring things like coffee creamer or when you bring your own PB2! They also make measuring spoons that act as a digital food scale, and this way you're only carrying one around (and will be a great little tool to have at home, too!).

Looking to meal prep a little bit more? You can get reusable containers to pack your meals with you if you don't want to use plastic baggies!

​Starbucks is located in all four parks and also has two locations at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney).
Here's a list of the locations:

Magic Kingdom: Main Street, USA, on the right hand side. It's about halfway down Main Street, where the bakery used to be if you've ever been to Walt Disney World before Starbucks was there. It's still called the Main Street Bakery.

Epcot: To the right of the fountain behind Spaceship Earth before you get to the World Showcase. Next to Club Cool.

Hollywood Studios: Under the name Trolley Car Cafe, it's near the intersection of Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd when you first enter.

Animal Kingdom: Under the name Creature Comforts, it's located just before the bridge that takes you to the Africa section of the park on your left hand side.

Disney Springs: One is near World of Disney, and the other is on the other side of Disney Springs near Cirque du Soleil and House of Blues (directly across from the Star Wars Galactic Outpost and next to the food trucks).

So, what's the big deal?
Starbucks being at Disney is a Weight Watcher member's or calorie counter's dream come true because it's something you can track and be certain about. Not only are there so many 0 Smart Point drink options available (an unsweetened iced tea on a hot day at the parks? Yes please!) and some other low point and calorie drink concoctions that we've all whipped together at Starbucks, but unlike the rest of Disney Parks, you can actually accurately track the food here since Starbucks offers more than just junk food and pastries. If you're desperate and you don't mind skipping out on park food (which, in my opinion, isn't anything super special so you wouldn't be missing much) if you're eating at the park, know that these are options available to you that you can count your points for.

 ​What is a Mickey Check Meal?Mickey Check was introduced to kids menus at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in 2013 to all menus - quick service and table service.

In case you aren't familiar with Disney Dining terminology, quick service restaurants are grab and go type places whereas table service is more of a traditional, sit down type of restaurant.

According to Disney Parks Blog, Mickey Check "must meet Disney Nutrition Guidelines that limit calories, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar... Kid's Complete Meals must be ordered without substitutions and include at least three of the following food groups: fruits and vegetables; low-fat dairy; whole grains or lean protein, beans, eggs and nuts."

For the full guidelines, you can check out this PDF from The Walt Disney Company here. Unfortunately, exact nutritional information of menu items is not available (more on that here), but if you order off of the Mickey Check menu, this can offer you a good foundation. At a quick glance, full meals must be 600 calories or less, but you can break it down even further if you check out the charts in the PDF. That's all well and good... But it's a kids menu item. I can't order that, right?

​Not necessarily true! While Mickey Check is a kids menu exclusive, if you're dining at a quick service location, you can order off of the kids menu... Even if no children are present. So if you're not at a table service restaurant, feel free to save yourself some calories and some money by ordering off of the kids menu, especially if you get something with a Mickey Check next to it. 

​To know if a menu item is a Mickey Check meal, it will have a little Mickey Mouse head silhouette with a check mark in the center of it next to the name of the menu item.