Flower & Garden Festival Survival Guide 2018

My favorite Epcot festival is upon us: International Flower and Garden Festival!
Flower and Garden didn’t always have a ton of food stands but now, it’s similar to Food & Wine Festival but with different theming and the beloved topiaries.

If you want to enjoy sampling different food items but also don’t want to feel the guilt, here are some of the better-for-you options at every stand at Flower and Garden (as of 2018), running February 28-May 28!

While some of these options may be best described as the lesser of evils, it’s worth noting that these food items are more meant for sampling, which is awesome for people who don’t eat a lot of junk food because if you really do want to try something, you’ll get a small portion versus some large, super high calorie meal.

The Berry Basket: Field greens with fresh strawberries, crisp quinoa, strawberry vinaigrette and spiced pecans
Northern Bloom: Either the seared scallops with French green beans, butter potatoes, brown butter vinaigrette and apple-wood smoked bacon or the beef tenderloin tips, mushroom bordelaise sauce, whipped potatoes with garden vegetables; depends on how you’d rather spend your calories/points/etc (butter and bacon vs sauce)
La Isla Fresca: Caribbean conch salad with mango, papaya, and pickled red onions or Jamaican-braised beef with pigeon pea rice and micro cilantro
Cider House: Pear cider-brined shredded corned beef with braised cabbage and Branston dressing with pears
The Honey Bee-stro: Roasted cauliflower with buckwheat honey carrot purée, wild rice pilaf, asparagus, honey blistered grapes and sunflower brittle
Pineapple Promenade: Dole Whip! Listed as pineapple soft serve on the menu
Jardin de Fiestas: Pork taco
Lotus House: Vegetable spring rolls
Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market: Potato pancakes with house-made apple sauce
Primavera Kitchen: Frittata di Asparagi (asparagus frittata, mixed greens and citrus dressing)
The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews: Pulled pig slider with coleslaw (everything at this booth seems pretty high fat, if we’re being honest)
Hanami: Teriyaki salmon with Furikake seasoned brown rice; the frushi also gets an honorable mention if you want something sweet!
Taste of Marrakesh: Harissa chicken kebab with dried fruit couscous salad
Florida Fresh: Spicy blackened shrimp and stone-ground cheddar cheese grits with brown gravy and local sweet corn relish
Fleur de Lys: Provencal tomato tart with sautéed onions, fresh thyme and rosemary on a flaky pastry crust

Some of these are really anybody's guess, but based on your menu options, these seem like the best choices - and at some stands, it'll be more obvious than others. Enjoy the topiaries and have fun!